You were still curled safely in your Lokitty's arms when you woke again. He was purring softly, the half-purr that he usually only had when he was asleep. You smiled and thought about how you could very much get used to waking like this. "It is a most pleasant way to wake indeed," Loki's voice was husky with sleep when he spoke. He kissed your forehead and then kissed you lightly when you tilted your head up to look at him. "Put your shields back up, little sorceress," he answered your unasked question of how he'd heard your thoughts. The nightmares had stripped your shielding away, which is how you'd been projecting your nightmare in the first place. The shielding kept your mind safe from intruders, and outsiders safe from your thoughts.
"Sorry..." you murmured and concentrated for a moment to settle the shielding back in place.
"I don't mind, but there are others here who can hear thoughts as well. I do not trust them not to meddle, thinking a Midgardian an easy target,"
"You still should have told me so you didn't have to deal with me projecting all night," you reminded him as you sat up and absently started petting Sera, who curled happily in your lap.
"Darling, you were distraught enough last night without me bringing up your shielding. I was perfectly capable of protecting us both until you were feeling better. And don't you dare apologize for having a nightmare," he added quickly before you could do just that.
"Bossy cat," you grumbled good naturedly at him. He laughed in reply and gave you a Cheshire cat grin.
"Hungry cat," he corrected and stood from the bed. "Breakfast will be starting soon. Don't worry, it's less formal than dinner," he added quickly at your discouraged look. You weren't sure you were cut out for Asgardian court life. Loki insisted you were doing fine and making a good impression, but you didn't believe him. He was a known liar after all.
Loki offered you a hand and pulled you to your feet. "You must be hungry," you teased as his magic shimmered over the pair of you so he was dressed in a green tunic and black pants (and sadly missing his adorable cat-ears again) and you were in a more casual, but still gorgeous floor length Asgardian gown. You smirked at him. "Very hungry cat," you added dryly.
He grinned. "That, and I am happy to be home, however briefly," he reminded you warmly.
"Right... Odin did send you to Midgard," you remembered it wasn't a volunteer mission like Thor's trips. Which is why Loki had been a cat for months and refused to turn back. Earth wasn't his home, no matter how much he seemed to like it there now.
"I don't mind anymore," he reassured you quickly "but it is nice to visit home,"
Breakfast was a much smaller affair than dinner. You sat at a big table with Thor and his warrior friends and they spent the meal telling stories of glorious battles as they devoured a entire table full of food. The others besides Thor and Loki kept trying to insist you needed to eat more. You, Thor, and Loki all had to convince them that Midgarians were not bottomless pits. It took convincing that you weren't just being polite and shy.
"So Loki, how old is your lovely mortal?" Fandral asked in Asgardian instead of Allspeak.
"It is rude to inquire of a lady's age, Fandral," you replied in kind, teasing Thor's silly warrior friend. You laughed at his shock that you understood their language, even though you'd been speaking it mostly exclusively since you'd been here. They weren't expecting you to be able to and kept using Allspeak to try to make you feel included. It was thoughtful, though unnecessary. "However, I am not mortal, not in the sense you are referring, and I am 500 years old," your Asgardian was a little formal, since you learned it for court setting, but Thor's friends didn't complain. Fandral just continued to stare. You turned to look at Loki. "I know my accent is atrocious, but did I say it wrong?" you asked, concerned that you weren't as fluent as you thought you were.
Loki laughed and shook his head while Fandral spluttered "500? But Midgardians only live to 100,"
"Yes, Fandral, my lady is 500 years, still a young lady," he told Fandral with a mischievous smirk and leaned over to kiss your cheek. "And your accent is fine, darling," he told you warmly.
"That's sweet of you to say, but Thor is quite insistent that it's awful, and you are a flatterer and a known liar," you teased him.
He inclined his head. "That may be, however, my brother is an idiot," Loki reminded you with a grin at Thor. "He's just grumpy that his accent is the one of the warriors and yours is of the court like mine," he explained and your confused expression. That made sense, he would be grumbly that you sounded more royal than a prince of Asgard did.
Fandral finally stopped looking shocked and looked intrigued instead, and like he was interested in stealing you away from Loki. Like that was going to happen. Hopefully he wasn't stupid enough to make the attempt. Loki might kill him for the insult.
Everyone at the table started to rise when the Queen walked into the room. She gestured at you all to remain in your seats. Loki stood anyway to offer her his place. Adorable Mama's boy. She kissed his cheek. "Thank you darling, but I can't stay. I'm actually on my way out to Asa Village. A rash of pox has popped up there. I will return by dinner, and I'm taking assistants and guards. Don't fret, dear," she bid Loki warmly. He was obviously preparing to fret over her safety. "Boys, your father wishes to see you after breakfast. He has business for you both while you're home," Frigga told both Loki and Thor. They both inclined their heads. Her messages delivered, she went around the table. Each of the warrior boys stood and kissed her hand and she kissed their cheeks in reply. She and Sif kissed each other's cheeks. You had a feeling she had adopted Thor's friends as her children too, based on her interactions with them. Thor hugged her warmly and kissed her cheek, not the least bit embarrassed to be kissing his mother's cheek in front of all of his big strong warrior friends. You stood and dipped a curtsy when she reached you. There was no way in the seven layers of hell that you had already been adopted as one of her children. You'd met her yesterday. "No need for all of that," she told you warmly. You rose from the curtsy shyly. You didn't know how to deal with this gently formidable woman. You were shocked when she kissed your cheek as well. Maybe she just adopted everyone who wandered into her life. "Thank you for making my Loki so happy, darling," her voice was warm and kind, but soft enough that the others couldn't overhear. She turned to Thor's warrior friends before you could reply. "Children, would you keep Y/N company while Loki is busy today?" she asked them. They were quick to agree. She said goodbye to her sons and headed off to her healing trip.
Fandral started to step toward you, but Sif wrapped her arm around your shoulders before he could. "Want to see the practice yards?" she asked you kindly, but glared at Fandral, as if aware of what he was up to. "Some of the court ladies and the shield maidens should be practicing at this time of the morning,"
"Sounds like fun," you replied with a smile.
She grinned. "Good, say goodbye to lover-boy. He's got work to do, and we can see if you have any skill with a blade," she teased and removed her arm from your shoulders. You turned back to Loki.
"Darling, are you sure you'll be alright?" he asked in English, concerned that he was leaving you alone. The others could understand, of course, but they would pretend the conversation was private since the change of language was a request for privacy.
"Lokitty, I'll be fine. Sif will keep me company while you're busy. Even if she couldn't, I would be ok. Besides, I have a dragon hanging out with me. You know her overprotective ass won't let anything happen to me," you teased him. He chuckled and gave you a soft kiss.
"Very well, but call me if you need me," he told you softly. You knew he meant either telepathically or through the magic pendant he'd given you.
You thought for a moment, but hadn't had a chance to prepare anything. So you steeled yourself and slipped the ring off the ring finger of your right hand and pressed it into his hand with a small charm on it. "Hold onto this for me?" you asked him softly. He raised an eyebrow. "In case I need to find you quickly?" He smiled warmly then, realizing what you were up to. You could find the item that was yours, the piece of your magic you'd placed on it and teleport directly to where it was.
"Of course, darling." The ring was obviously much too small for him, but he summoned a necklace-chain to slip the ring onto, clasped it quickly around his neck, and tucked the ring under his tunic. He'd wear it to make you both feel safer.
"Please take care of it, it was mom's," you bid him. You would have...possibly...given him something else, but it was the best thing you had on short notice.
"I promise," he told you warmly and leaned down to kiss you. And kept kissing you until Thor huffed and grabbed his arm to drag him one way. Sif grabbed yours to drag you the other. You were both laughing when they broke you up.
*
Sif gave you a tour of the practice yards, while Fandral tried to follow along and make a nuisance of himself, but was politely denied entrance to the maidens' practice court. "You can borrow a set of practice armor if you want to join us," Sif suggested.
You looked over her outfit of armor. "Is that what you typically wear?" you asked, gesturing to her. She nodded, looking at you suspiciously. You kept your eyes on her and used magic to change your dress to armor identical to hers but in the green of your Earthen battle costume instead of her red. "Look ok?" you asked her. She nodded with a bright smile.
"Let's see what you can do with a blade, sorceress," she teased. You worked out with her for awhile. You weren't the best at fighting physically, but you could hold your own and she seemed impressed.
You spent the morning with Sif and the other maidens until guards ran up to Sif. "Lady Sif, there has been an attack on Asa Village. Your presence is required," one of them told her. She nodded and the guards went on their way to gather whoever else they needed.
Asa Village
Asa-
The Queen! You looked at Sif. "You're riding out there, right?" you asked her quickly. She nodded as she rushed to the armory to grab her weapons. "I'll go get Loki and Thor if I can find him. We'll meet you at the stables," you told her quickly.
"You know where they are?" she demanded.
"I know where Loki is," you told her. She nodded.
"Hurry!"
You nodded and vanished, following the pull of your mother's ring. You appeared inside of a council room, facing Odin, Thor, and Loki. They all looked up when you materialized in front of them. "What is this-?" Odin started to demand.
You bowed, right fist over your heart as the warriors did. "I apologize for interrupting," you told him calmly. "There has been an attack on Asa Village-" They all gasped and looked horrified. They all started to run from the room. You grabbed Loki's arm then Thor's as he tried to run past you. They both looked at you, glaring.
"Where are the stables?" you demanded. Loki realized what you were asking faster than Thor.
"Brother, take the Allfather's arm," Loki told him firmly while he 'knocked' on your mind's shield. You let him past your outer shields so he could give you the image of the location. Once Thor was touching Odin, you teleported all of you to the stables, grateful your magic was back in full. Odin was in the saddle of an eight-legged horse in an instant.
"Thor, Loki, gather the others, follow with the troops as soon as they are assembled," Odin ordered. He galloped off without another word.
Loki started to protest, heartbroken at being held behind. Thor clapped him on the shoulder. He was worried about Frigga too, but he would do his duty. Loki loved Frigga more than anything and being forced to stay behind was killing him. But you were under no such restrictions. You turned to him. "Give me something of Frigga's," you told him gently, but urgently.
"But I- we-"
"You'll catch up. I can beat even an eight legged horse to the village," you reminded him. He just stared at you hurt and confused. You lifted Sera off your shoulder. Thor opened his mouth to protest until you glared at him. "Time to shift, Sera. We have work to do," you told her. She nodded and on unspoken agreement, you tossed her into the sky, giving her a boost to where she'd have room to shift. She shifted to her full dragon form as she soared upwards. You turned to Loki. "Trust me, Loki. I will find her," you bid him.
"You shouldn't even be coming- You're a guest and we brought you here to keep you safe-" he started to protest. Thor started to agree. You glared at them both.
"You brought me here to keep me safe from witch hunters. Like I would stay behind when people need me, when you need me. Trust me, Loki. I'll find her and I'll keep her safe." He hesitated, looking so scared, but summoned a hairbrush and handed it to you.
"I will be right behind you," he told you, still heartbroken that he couldn't just go now.
"I know. I'll find her and keep her safe until you get there. I swear it." You kissed him and saw the grateful look in his eyes when you broke the kiss. You summoned a glaive and strapped it to your back. If you were going alone into battle, you weren't going to rely solely on magic. Sera swooped down and you swung onto her back, using the saddle that had somehow appeared there. You didn't question it at the moment.
"Y/N-" Loki's eyes were haunted and heartbroken. Even he was tongue-tied by hurt and sorrow and a stupidly strong desire to break the rules, but even he could only disobey Odin to a certain extent and no more, especially with Thor here. Thor didn't want to let you go either, but wouldn't stop you, not with his mother's safety on the line. He had fought alongside you more than Loki and knew your skills. He trusted you abilities.
"I'll find her, Loki," you reminded him firmly, though nodded to Thor too. "I swear it. I will find her and I will keep her safe," you turned your attention to Sera. Loki was too haunted and scared to even tell you to be careful. You didn't blame him in the least. "Fly, Seraphina. Show me the meaning of haste." She ran a few steps while you settled and held onto her tightly. Her wings pumped and you were in the air. You worked a quick locator spell using Frigga's hairbrush and sped toward the village as fast as Sera could fly.