Endlessly

Thank You

Loki's long, graceful stride is harshly cast aside by the extra effort required to keep your pace as you run full speed down the halls of the healing ward. In any other circumstance, you'd most-certainly feel a swell of pride for forcing him to keep up with you for once.

It's difficult to comprehend that you've only been away from Vanaheim for a couple of days, as everything about the place feels unfamiliar to you now. The air is heavier, the sun is brighter, and you are unsure if you were supposed to make a left or right turn several hallways back.

You say a little prayer as you turn into the room you're almost certain is hers, and know for sure you've gotten it right when you hear your mother's enraged voice.

"Where the hel have you been, young lady?" She demands the moment you're in her line of vision.

With Loki on your heels, your father shouts before you have a chance to speak. "What in the nine is this fugitive of Asgard doing here!? Gersemi! Explain yourself at once!"

You step to your sister's side without so much as looking at them. "At this moment, Loki and I share the primary concern of saving my sister's life. Perhaps you should arrange your own priorities before you make demands of me ever again."

Dumbfounded, Kvasir steps out of the way as Loki joins you at Hnoss' side, resting his palms on her chest, the glow of his seidr pooling around her.

Like a frightened bull, your father charges at Loki. "Get your hands off of my daughter!"

"Daddy, stop it!" You jump in front of your father, trembling hands held up defensively.

He notices the cobalt blue glow stretching across your palms before you do.

"This..." He points a shaky finger at you. "must be dark magic! No daughter of mine would possibly-" He takes a weak step backward, clutching his chest as though he's just been struck a fatal blow.

"I'm sorry, daddy- I promise I'll explain everything soon." Your words trail off so faintly you're unsure if your father can even hear them. "Loki..." Your voice, too, is shaking when you turn to him, palms facing upward, their glow growing brighter with each ragged breath.

"It's going to be okay Gersemi, it must just be a side-" He glances nervously at your parents, and then back to you. "Just another change within you. You must try to stay calm." As he begins to force a reassuring smile across his face, the lights of the soul forge flash like mad- exploding with color before everything goes completely dark.

"No- gods! Loki, do something- please!

"I'm trying- she's stopped breathing."

Your mother's shrieks of grief rip through your head, pulling you out of the room and to another place entirely.

To Jotunheim.

"You will need it- when you return."

Laufey's words reverberate through your mind as though she's standing right next to you in the room.

The crystal. She'd given it to you right after she resurrected the mouse. Could it? No- there's no way she'd give me something that powerful.

But it's all I've got.

Feeling as though your feet have hit the ground once again, you pull the crystal from your pocket.

"Loki- use this."

You drop the crystal into his hand, barely able to support your legs underneath your own weight. "Wake her up- you can do it." You sob.