Innocent Mischief | Loki Fanfic

Chapter Nineteen: Myths and Legends

"Do you recall the time we finessed our way into Vanaheim, brother?"

"Ahh, yes... you were almost betrothed to a troll that day. Father was so outraged by our actions that he considered letting the ceremony finish out of spite. I do wonder from time to time what your children would have looked like. My beloved nephews and nieces, the lot of them," Loki smirked at his brother.

Thor released a lively howl, "I do not desire to think what our children would have been like much less the process in which I would impregnate a troll. The thought is a most disturbing one, and I dare not venture into that sort of imagery."

Loki laughed loudly at Thor's disgruntled expression. Our two princes were on horseback roaming along the beaten paths of Asgard recalling old stories of their younger years. They did this every so often to keep up each other's spirits as to not be dampened by their assiduous schedules.

"We have been wandering around relentlessly for hours speaking of times long past, yet you have not once requested my counsel. Why distract from your purpose, brother?" Loki asked as he pulled back on his reins to halt his sleek ebony horse.

Thor imitated his brother's flawless moves with his powerful amber steed, "I am not sure how to approach the subject in a conversational manner, brother."

"Speak what you need to, Thor. I will not judge your words— aloud," Loki smiled playfully.

Thor let out a small laugh, "It is about our companion, Muirgheal." He lingered on her name a moment too long.

Loki's smile quickly vanished as his mind began to race, "What of her?"

"That's just it, brother. I wish I knew what it was about her that captivates me so," Thor spoke as he tapped his heel into the horse, coaxing her forward along the trail.

Loki mimicked the action to his horse and continued alongside his brother, "What am I to say?"

"I know you have feelings in your heart for her, and I do too. Unfortunately for me, I know of how close you two have grown."

Loki sat in silence, How many others know?

"Did you think you had hidden your love from everyone? The way you look into each other's eyes so longingly; how close you walk to each other as if being any further away would claim a wound upon your flesh; when she slips into your chambers every time the sun dips below the horizon since the day she arrived in Asgard, and more than anything, every time she is away from you," Thor paused to see his brother's cloudy expression, "I can see her in everything you do. She is in your mischievous smile, your piercing eyes, and in your movements. She is a part of you, brother. Muirgheal is your fate."

Loki let out an unknowingly held in breath and stutterd, "H-how?"

"You are not our mother's only son, brother."

"So what need do you have of my counsel, Thor?" Loki felt his chest clench with anxiety.

"I spoke with father not but a few days ago, and we spoke of the future of Asgard."

"What of it?" our prince asked, his stomach twisting itself into unbreakable knots.

"Loki..."

Meanwhile...

"On Midgard, you would know them to reside upon Mount Olympus," the librarian spoke to Muirgheal as she placed an archaic book on the desk in front of her.

The librarian slowly opened it to reveal pages with living pictures of battles and births, "I used to study Greek mythology my whole life. I could name each of the main gods and goddesses and recite their battles and feats by heart."

"Do any of the names catch your eye?"

"There is one who has always been a sort of role model to me. She is the reason I lived life within my copious amount of books," Muirgheal ran her hands over a picture of a woman pleated in armor, "In a way, her mythical life gave me a shed of hope in my unpleasantly realistic one."

The woman looked down to the pages to see a mirror image of her former self painted by Athenians thousands of years ago, but Muirgheal did not see the resemblance because she was still falling through curiosity's rabbit hole, "Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom. If she were your mother, I can see where the adoration of books is the apple that did not fall far from the tree."

"Why don't we just say the olive didn't fall far from the tree? Her patron city was named after her when she gifted the people with the olive tree."

The woman smiled at Muirgheal, She already knows me, but she does not truly know who I am.

"How clever, dear."

"Pardon me, miss. Speaking of names, I never asked yours," Muirgheal looked up from the book for an answer.

The woman was taken aback for a moment. She stuttered before settling on a name, "You may call me Astrid if you wish."

"Fair and beautiful goddess."

"Excuse me?"

"Your name, Astrid, translates to fair and beautiful goddess. It serves you well if you don't mind me saying."

The woman shook her head in amusement, "It is just a name, dear. The name may have a translation, but that does not always signify the person is a representation of a name given to them so quickly at birth."

"I think names can shape you into a beautiful person," Muirgheal spoke softly, turning back to the aged ink before her.

The woman hummed in agreement, "Your name has shaped you wonderfully. The semantics of it are from Midgard's country of Ireland, Muirgheal Radha - 'a vision as bright as the sea'. How do you think this name fits you, dear?"

"It is a beautiful name for an undeserving holder."

The woman scrunched her eyebrows together, "I believe this mother of yours graced you as Muirgheal Radha because she knew in her heart that its meaning would be true."

"Why would you think that?"

She froze, flustered with how to respond. Should I tell her now? Would that be wise of me? Oh, heavens, I hope I know what I am doing. This could be the bitter end to something that never began...

"I know because..."