As expected, the Templars weren't happy with the news we had to share with them. As a matter of fact, they were furious about how much we had withheld from them. I was glad Thor was with me.
All we could do was warn them, there was very little concrete information we had to share about Beaumont and Halja's whereabouts or plans.
At least now they knew, the vast intelligence network the various agencies shared between them would be looking out for Beaumont as well.
Loki and Jessie had come up with a way to make certain she always knew whether it was really him; a phrase only the two of them were aware of, a safeword if you will.
Loki did the same with the rest of us, so we'd also always know he was really our Loki if we were in doubt.
The Templars had agreed to assign an agent to Jessie as her bodyguard so she would be protected at all times and could continue her studies at university. Richard had been kind enough to assign Calinda, who was someone that Jessie and I both knew and trusted.
Until we learned more, there was not much else we could do.
"This should help distinguish me from the others," Loki said with a wry smile. He walked out of the bathroom while drying his hair. Without the black dye, the silver strands were clearly visible. He was shirtless, and the scars on his back and chest were no longer hidden either.
"At least now you'll know it is your husband and not an inferior version of me when you wake up in my arms."
"Oh shit, I hadn't even considered that!"
I was already in bed and held my arms out to him. Loki looked strangely insecure, preferring to hide the scars from his past even from me.
He curled up in the bed beside me and snuggled up in my arms.
"You are beautiful," I whispered, stroking an errant strand of hair out of his eyes. I was rewarded with a small smile.
For a while, we both lay there, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
"I still don't understand what Beaumont's plan is," I finally admitted. "I understand Hel wanting to create an undead army large enough to conquer Midgard, but how does that gain Beaumont access to Asgard?
The Bifrost is broken, and from what I understand it takes a lot of magic to send someone from there to here. Besides that, Odin hasn't interfered in Midgard's affairs for centuries."
"Hasn't he?" Loki raised an eyebrow. "I think Odin broke that resolution the moment he sent Huginn and Muninn to aid you on Solomon Island. Not to mention when he sent his son and the leader of the Valkyrie. Asgard has been embroiled in Midgard's affairs for quite a while now.
Beaumont's plan is to force Odin's hand, to create a large enough threat that will be impossible to be ignored. Perhaps he's even hoping to draw Odin to Midgard himself."
"Is that likely to happen?" I still had a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that Asgard and the gods truly existed. Loki and Thor were one thing, to me they were simply people I love dearly, and besides their longevity and powerful magic, not all that much different from the rest of us.
I couldn't imagine the rest of the pantheon walking amongst us again.
Loki, knowing me well enough to know what I was thinking, grinned and shook his head.
"What is that ancient curse again? 'May you live in interesting times?' It couldn't get more interesting than right now, my darling.
As for your question: I don't know. But I can't imagine Odin being content to sit by the sidelines once Hel starts her war. He is likely to at least send some of his Einherjar, which means somehow opening a way between both realms.
And once that happens, Beaumont will have his way back to Asgard."
We lay together in silence. All Loki had wanted ever since we met was to leave Asgard and his past behind him. Now his past had caught up with him, in the most catastrophic way possible.
"What will happen to you if Odin sends more of his men?"
"I'll be made to stand trial."
"This is going to end badly, isn't it?" I whispered softly.
"I am afraid so," Loki agreed quietly. "There is no way for this to end but in blood, fire and tears."
Neither of us slept much that night and when we finally did fall asleep, our rest was disturbed by one of Loki's night terrors.
I was bleary-eyed when I stumbled into the kitchen the next morning. Sif had gotten there before me, looking just as tired.
"Didn't sleep much either?" she asked.
I shook my head. The fact that the big warrioress was as worried as I was didn't feel particularly reassuring. Sif was wearing skintight jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt, leaving her arms bare. She was muscular, the curves of her biceps well-defined. I couldn't help but notice the tattoo on her arm; a stylized pair of wings with rows of Asgardian runes underneath.
Sif followed my gaze.
"All the Valkyrie have one," she explained. "The runes underneath are the names of the Valkyrie that have fallen while I was in command."
There were about a dozen of them.
"I am sorry," I said, not sure what else to say.
"All of them were my sisters in arms, but this one," she pointed at the third name, "was my sister in blood as well."
We sat down at the large kitchen table. I reached out and squeezed her hand. "I am really sorry about that. I can't imagine losing a sister."
"Trude was a lot younger than I was. Growing up, she was the pesky little sister that would not leave me alone. As she grew up, she was determined to follow in my footsteps. I was the youngest ever to join the Valkyrie, but Trude was only a few years behind me. She was fearless, reckless, always the first to run into danger, the last to get out of it."
Sif smiled sadly.
"I promised mother I'd do everything to keep her safe, a promise easier made than kept."
Her eyes met mine.
"You think that I treat Loki unfairly. You believe I needlessly hold on to old grudges. So hear my story, and see if you still judge me thus.
Loki has aligned himself with Halja, and her mother Hel, more than once in the past. One of those times, he helped Halja set a trap.
Trude was one of a small squadron of Valkyrie that was caught in it. Thanks to her, the rest of them managed to escape. Trude wasn't so lucky.
A week later, we found her body."
Sif looked down, trying to hide the pain that was written on her face.
"The things they had done to her... never have I seen a body so tortured and abused."
Sif looked up again, eying me defiantly.
"She was my little sister! I will never forget, and I will never forgive Loki for the part he played in her demise. Never! So judge me all you wish."
I closed my eyes. I had suspected Sif's anger at Loki was personal, but I had not expected anything like this.
"Loki has changed," I said finally, hoping I'd find the right words to say. "And I love him dearly for the person he is today.
But I will never excuse his past, nor do I condone the things he has done. I would never expect you to forget, and whether you can forgive him is up to you. I would not blame you if you can't.
Loki can't change the past, none of us can. The past is written in stone and all we can do is keep moving forward, no matter the burden we carry.
And the burden Loki carries is a heavy one. I am his wife, and I'll do anything I can to make carrying that burden a bit easier.
I don't judge your anger and pain, Sif, it is not my place. But neither do I judge Loki because that is not my place either. My place is to love and support him, just like you love and support his brother."
Sif held my gaze for a moment, neither of us blinking. Finally, she nodded.
"I like you," she said. "I really do. Loki doesn't deserve you, but I am glad he found you.
Perhaps you can keep him on the right path.
Norns know everyone else who tried that has failed so far."
I didn't know what to reply to that. I didn't consider it my job to try and control Loki, or to try and change him. Nor did I want it to be.
"I'll be leaving soon," Sif said. "I know it will probably be another wild goose chase, but I got word of another sighting and I'd rather be out there than sit here twiddling my thumbs."
I smiled at her. I could understand that. Sitting here in the hold was like waiting for a storm to arrive; we knew it was coming just not exactly where or when.
Loki was feeling the same way and left for Jotunnheim less than an hour later.
"Maybe I can learn something more that can help about the portals from that side," he said.
"Aren't they the same as the working one here?" I asked.
"Probably," Loki shrugged, "but it's better than sitting here and waiting for the world to end." He kissed me on the top of my head.
"Come and get me if you need me, you know where I am. Shan't be long, love you!"
And with that, he stepped through the portal to the ancient ruins that made up all that was left of Jotunnheim.
Jessie was at university. Carter was visiting her old headmaster, Hayden Montag, at Kingsmouth Academy to pick his brain about why the teleporters were more like tele-exploders (her words, not mine). Anthony was working away and Thor was taking his problems out on the frost golems in the training room.
I wandered around the hold aimlessly, feeling too restless to sit down and read or play a video game.
I almost jumped out of my skin when the alarm went off. Thor had already opened the doors before I could stop him.
"Wait! You have no idea what is out there!" I tried to stop him, but Thor ignored me and stepped outside.
With a sigh, I followed.
Outside the keep stood what was either a very lost renaissance fair visitor, or what was, and this was the more likely option, another Asgardian.
I ran back in to turn the security off before a wave of frost golems would come flying out to take down what they would surely perceive as an enemy.
"Fandral, you old scoundrel!" Thor's voice boomed loudly.
That explained my sudden urge to start humming "Men in tights" I thought to myself.
"Thor! What in Ymir's name are you wearing?" Fandral greeted his friend with a grin.
Thor was wearing dark grey combat trousers and a dark blue sweater, I thought it looked quite nice on him. It probably wasn't what his friends were used to seeing him wear though!
Fandral was wearing a perfectly tailored deep green coat with matching skintight trousers. Over it was draped a black cloak with a soft golden fur collar. A metal breastplate was just about visible underneath the coat and long black boots finished the ensemble. His hair was short and blonde, and he sported a neatly trimmed and oiled beard and moustache. He was handsome, if in a bit of a foppish way. He reminded me more than a little of Errol Flynn.
Fandral noticed me looking at him, and walked right past Thor.
"Oh my! If I had known there were maidens this fair gracing Midgard with their presence, surely I would have visited again decades ago!
Who is this beautiful lady by your side Thor? Has Sif finally bored you enough with her nagging to seek out greener pastures?"
Thor's face turned an ugly dark colour, but Fandral continued before the big god could say anything.
"Oh, fairest of maidens, please grant me the pleasure of learning your name, for surely with a visage like yours you must have a name as beautiful to match?"
There was a time I would have blushed and wouldn't have known what to do with myself if someone had greeted me that way.
Now I just raised an eyebrow in amusement as Fandral took my hand and kissed it at the same time as he bent down in a sweeping bow.
Before I could say anything he continued:
"My name is Fandral the Dashing, but you, my gorgeous, may call me Dashing. Ouch!"
The effect was slightly ruined by a rather indignified yelp as Fandral clutched at his shoulder.
"Take a step back." Loki came walking out of the keep behind us, another dagger already in his hand."And another."
"Loki, is this any way to greet an old friend?" Fandral asked as he stumbled backwards.
"And another."
Loki wasn't satisfied until Fandral had put about ten paces between us. I looked at him in surprise. What on earth had gotten over him?
My eyes widened. Surely he wasn't jealous?
"This is the distance you will maintain between yourself and my wife at all times, or the next dagger won't be in your shoulder," Loki spoke matter-of-fact, but his eyes were narrow and his jaw was set.
What the hell?
"Do you want to pee on me as well to mark your territory, or are you quite done?" I hissed at him.
Loki winced at my crudeness but I couldn't care less. It was what he deserved for behaving like a caveman.
"Your wife?" Fandral began to laugh and winced as the movement hurt his shoulder. "Surely you jest? That is a jest, right?" he asked, looking at Thor for support.
Thor just grinned.
"Fandral, meet one of the least available women on Midgard. You are wasting your time here, truly.
This is Her Royal Majesty Sorcha, Goddes Queen of Jotunnheim, Worthy of Mjolnir, Chosen of Gaia, Knight Elect of the Knights Templar, and the most powerful Witch of Midgard. And also the only person insane enough to marry my brother."
"Huh..." Fandral looked stunned for a moment, then quickly composed himself with a deep bow.
"It is both a pleasure and an honour, your Majesty."
I gave Loki another withering glance and walked towards Fandral while embracing my blood magic.
"I am going to pull out that dagger and cast a healing spell on you if that is alright," I said with a sigh as he promptly backed away from me.
Fandral eyed Loki as if to gauge his reaction first, then nodded.
"I am going to count to three, then I'll remove the dagger," I warned.
"One, two..." I pulled the dagger out and healed his wound.
"Ouch! You said on three!" Fandral yelped.
"I lied," I grinned.
"I'm starting to why Loki married you," he grumbled as he sadly fingered the hole in his coat. My magic can mend flesh, not fabric.
Thor eyed Fandral with curiosity.
"It is not that I am not glad to see you, my friend, but what are you doing here? And how did you get here? Did my father send you?"
"The AllFather sent me indeed, your Highness. I am here to offer Asgard's aid to Midgard and to facilitate the arrival of said aid in the form of Asgard's staunchest warriors.
As for how?" Fandral gave a rogueish smile.
"With everything that is happening here, your father thought it would be prudent to have a more reliable way of travelling available to us.
As of yesterday, the Bifrost has been repaired!"