Chapter 24: The Five
Renee:
Loki and I went to sit down inside the gazebo.
He was staring off into the distance, clearly troubled by our conversation.
I tapped his shoulder. "Should I ask what else is on your mind?"
He exhaled heavily and adjusted his posture so that he was sitting upright and glanced over to me.
"I take it you feel that a war is coming."
I nodded. "What's bothering you about it?"
"Ullr."
Hmm.
"You mean because you helped him start the last one, then you realised you were on the losing side and flipped-flopped?"
He gaped at me.
I was just going off of pure speculation but I thought I was on to something.
"You helped him to kill Baldr because he got into your head, telling you that as long as Baldr lived you will never rule Asgard. Not to mention Thor was also a favourite, but he was never interested in taking over; so you felt that Baldr was your biggest obstacle and played right into his plan."
He stared at me blankly not saying anything, there was no famous Loki clap back or any sarcastic humour.
"Odin was so distraught by the loss of his most beloved son that he left and put Ullr in charge in his absence didn't he?"
He opened his mouth to say something but no words came.
Oh my God! I was actually right???
"Let me guess. Odin punished you and banished you to Svartalfheim with the dark elves where you had to stay."
He clapped slowly and smirked at me.
"Well..." he paused, "you've almost figured it all out. I was called back to Asgard a decade after the war, when everyone was certain that Ullr had left completely."
"Does Odin trust you?"
"To an extent." He shrugged.
Hmm. I shook my head, "I guess Odin really does have a soft spot for sons."
"Don't patronise me, love." He sulked.
He looked really cute and vulnerable sulking, it was almost... well... human.
I smiled to myself.
"So are you going to be staying on our side this time?" I raised a brow at him.
He bit his lip and looked away from me.
"I really wouldn't like to have to fight you out there," I teased, "besides I would much rather have you as an ally anyway."
He chuckled, "I'd prefer if you stayed away from the battle, you're just a human. You haven't even eaten the fruit like William did, at least he would stand a small chance out there."
"Hah," I grinned, "someone actually cares about humans."
"Just you." He held my hand. "Really, you shouldn't be anywhere close by when this all goes down," he paused, "you should go back to Midgard."
"No." I shook my head angrily, "How could you think I would ever leave Kaylee and William behind?"
"They can handle themselves!" He snapped.
Ugh! I turned away and stormed off into the direction where Kaylee's and my room was.
Loki quickly caught me before I got out of the gazebo, grabbing my arm tightly enough to stop me from getting loose.
"I don't mean you should abandon your friends, I just mean they can all fight against what Ullr may bring. You're still very fragile. Wouldn't you at least eat the fruit?"
He pleaded.
"Of course I would." I glared at him, "If it meant that I could stay with Kaylee and have her back, I would eat it in a heartbeat."
"I think I've upset you a great deal." He frowned, "Please, talk to Kaylee, decide what you're going to do and I will support any decision you make."
I gaped at him, I'd never seen him like that, he was so open and vulnerable I couldn't help but feel myself soften.
But, in the back of my mind I had to remember that this was still Loki, he warned me not to think too highly of him... Not to mention he hadn't even given me a definitive answer about which side he was actually going to be on.
I pulled away from him.
"Okay," I exhaled, "if Kaylee asks me to eat the fruit so that I can stay with her, I will, and I will train as hard as I can to be able to fight alongside her and William."
I pulled him in close so that I was staring directly into his eyes.
"And you best believe, come that day, and you're on the wrong side, Loki, I will do everything in my power to defeat you."
He gaped at him and I glared back to make sure he understood how serious I was.
I let him go and walked off.
...................................
Kaylee:
Forseti and I walked arm in arm to the training grounds, to find Thor, Sif and William waiting for us to join them.
There were a few others there that I had yet to be introduced to, and they all cheered for Forseti on his return.
Forseti thanked them and put his arm around my shoulders proudly. He introduced me them, telling them officially I was his sister and I was the reason that he came back.
I blushed shyly and smiled to them.
"These are the finest warriors of Asgard." Forseti beamed.
One of them was a giantess with the demeanour of a great warrior. She smiled and bowed to me with her large lance in hand, and I bowed to her in return.
"This is Hyrrokkin, she's the strongest warrior in all realms."
Forseti walked up to another god who was sitting quietly by the target dummies cleaning his axe.
"And this is, Hermod." Forseti, tapped his shoulder, "There's nothing much to note here."
Hermod chuckled, "Welcome back nephew, I see your jokes still fall on deaf ears."
They had a playful scuffle and I rolled my eyes which made Sif and Hyrrokkin laugh.
"This is what we had to put up with back in the old days." Hyrrokkin smiled.
"They're as silly as ever." Sif crossed her arms. "Behold the five legendary warriors of Asgard."
Thor smirked, "Enough playing around, we need to train Kaylee and William so that they are ready."
"And me."
Renee came up to us determined.
"Kaylee, let me join you guys."
"Ren," I held her hand, "are you sure about this? You could seriously get hurt."
"I don't care Kay," she said sternly, "I won't leave you and William to fight without me there."
I could see the determination in her eyes and I hugged her.
"Ren, I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you because of me."
"What if she ate the fruit?" William asked looking at Sif and Thor, "Couldn't that help build up her strength?"
"In theory," Forseti said, "if she ate the fruit it would help a great deal with her speed and agility. Her strength will depend on her resolve."
"Oh, I am resolved to fight with you." She pleaded, "Kaylee, please. Let me do this for you."
Renee only ever called me Kaylee when she was dead serious about something. I had to make a huge decision here. Do I really want her to risk her life for me? William was already risking his, but he was training with Sif since we arrived and had eaten the fruit because he definitely wanted to.
Was Renee doing this just for me or did she have alternative reasons.
I sighed. I knew it wasn't because of Loki because she wasn't sure about him, and as airheaded as she could be, she would never do anything just for a guy.
I stared her in the eyes. "Tell me why you really want to eat the fruit."
She looked down at ground trying to avoid my gaze.
"Ren!"
She exhaled heavily and looked up, "Because... Because Kay, I could never go back home and leave you here or never be able to return to see you."
"Is there any other reason?" I raised a questioning brow at her.
"Yes, because no matter what, I will always have your back."
I couldn't help but wonder what she was trying not to say. I sighed again.
"Okay."
She beamed at me, "Really?"
"Yes, eat the fruit and stay with me." I looked at William and the others, "Stay with us."
She screamed excitedly and squeezed me, kissing my cheeks.
"You don't know how happy I am to be able to stay with you."
"I know." I pulled away after a bit. "Well, I guess we should head over to the tree of rejuvenation."
"Wait a minute."
Loki interrupted making us all look around in shock.
"What do you want now," Renee scowled at him, "you're making an annoying habit of showing up at the most inconvenient times."
"Listen to me," he raised up his hands in appeal, "let me take you to the tree, just you and me-"
"Excuse me?" I held onto Renee's arm, "You want her to go with you alone? No way in hell, I'm coming with you!"
"This is between Renee and myself."
"You really think I'd let her go to do this alone with you, this is an important step for her, her friends should be there when it happens."
"Kay." She rubbed my shoulder, "It's fine. I'll go with him, I'll meet up with you all after."
"Seriously?" I gaped at her, "Are you sure about this?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you."
"Then I'll come and find you later. Trust me, okay?" She smiled and hugged me.
"Okay," I shook my head and shrugged, "be careful."
She nodded, "I will."
Loki vanished with her.
I looked back at the others.
"What was that?"