Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 7

Loki pulled away from Morgan's mind, leaving just as gently as he'd entered. He needed to speak with his mother privately again and Morgan was exhausted from the crammed magic lessons she'd just received. He noticed the dazed expression on her face and let her rest. She needed it desperately after learning that much magic that quickly, especially from so far away. He was surprised she was still awake, even as dazed as she was. He would take her to bed as soon as he'd finished speaking with his mother. In the meantime, he could smile fondly at how adorable she was.

/Asgardian?/ Loki demanded of his mother, not believing it was true. His blind little Midgardian couldn't have Asgardian magic. Couldn't be Asgardian. Her father was Tony Stark after all. How in Hel had Tony Stark found an Asgardian to have relations with? It just didn't seem possible.

/To have power that strong, one of her parents must be Asgardian/ Frigga replied gently.

/I know her father. He is most definitely Midgardian. That must mean her mother is Asgardian. Somehow/ Loki still sounded doubtful. He was doubtful. He couldn't imagine an Asgardian sleeping with Tony Stark of all people. He couldn't stand the guy and didn't think for a moment that any Asgardian would be able to either.

/She must be/ Frigga agreed. /Your midgardian has the power level to qualify as a master magician if she's trained. Her mother has to be Asgardian for her power to be that strong / she reminded him. Loki was one of the master magicians. One of the few including his mother who were strong enough to have earned that rank.

/Do you know of anyone from Asgard with levels of power like hers besides the two of us?/ Loki asked, hoping his mother could narrow down who the extremely interesting little Midgardian's mother could possibly be. That might answer some questions.

Though Loki loved nothing more than a mystery and his little Midgardian was being quite mysterious indeed.

/A few of the noble ladies, have the power, but none are missing or have moved to Midgard that I know of. So unless it's someone untrained.../ Frigga replied unhelpfully.

That was irksome, but perhaps Morgan could tell him more when she was coherent again. If it hadn't been so urgent that she learn control, he would never have suggested she learn so much so fast. Neither would Frigga, especially not so far away.

/I will look into it. Thank you for your help, mother/ Loki said, knowing they would get no answers until Morgan was in a shape to help them.

/Of course, darling. Call on me if you need any more assistance/ she bid her son warmly.

/I will/ with that, he cut the connection and stood slowly so as to not startle the little Midgardian awake. She was mostly asleep and Loki was glad he had chosen the comfortable chairs for this lesson.

He gently, carefully, lifted the slight girl into his arms, noting how thin and frail she was. She had gotten better over the last couple of weeks, since she'd left the hospital. She still had a lot of recovering to do. And all the magic lessons wouldn't help. He would have to make sure she ate well. She needed the strength and energy. "Time to get to bed, little one," he told Morgan warmly, his voice soft and gentle.

His mostly asleep little Midgardian stirred, making a soft noise, but with a couple of gentle reassuring soft words from Loki, she settled quickly back into her doze. Working with his mother was hard work, no matter how easy it seemed and he wasn't surprised she was this tired. Not on her second day of knowing she had magic. She'd get more stamina in time, with practice. He was proud that she'd managed as well as she had.

He wasn't surprised with how tired she was. He was surprised when she whispered one word in her doze: "Loki," he was more surprised when that one word came out as a loving caress. His expression softened further to a warm smile as he carried her back to his room. He tucked her carefully into his bed, tucking the blankets around her. He swept a loose lock of hair behind her ear and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Dad will kill you if he catches you doing that," she murmured. Loki knew she was nowhere near awake or coherent. Her eyes hadn't opened even. She'd only stirred enough for that once comment.