#will ransome

Robert was taking days to recover. Slow days. Quiet days. Sif spent it training Stella and you. Thomas went to collect various pieces of metal to put together. Jonathan had to practice his punches with Hal. Through this, Loki was everyone’s main go-between. When you weren’t training, you spent hours pacing back and forth. This time, you paced in the library. You kept picking up books, hoping they would distract you. Only for the ruminations to begin again. 

Your husband then arrived through the door. You ran up to Loki to ask, “How is he?”

“He’s getting better” would be Loki’s response every time. “He’s finally starting to sound like himself. The medicines they give him, they’re quite good.”

He would then kiss your forehead.

Outside Robert’s quarters, you thought you would hear screams of madness. And hear tales of violence from Loki. But no- only servants carried around buckets of paint to his room. As well as his meals and a few books.

As you sat down to breakfast one morning, Loki entered the chamber, a smile on his face.

“I have good news, Robert is at the point where he can see visitors. And wouldn’t you like to see him, speak to him?” he asked.

“Yes!” you cried.

After eating your food, you hurried next to Loki to Robert’s rooms. Loki got a key and unlocked the door.

You stepped into the room that smelled bitter and stinging. All over the walls were long slabs of dripping, grey paint. In one corner was his bed, and against the wall, a window spilled out morning sunshine. Several books lie open on the floor. Robert himself had his sleeves rolled up. He dipped his brush into the paint bucket and stroked it over a lower part of the wall.

 “Hello? Robert?” you called out.

Robert turned around. He wore a white shirt and dark grey pants. Though flecks of grey paint were over his clothes. A few dried streaks in his hair. 

“Y/N, is it you?”

“Yes, it’s me!” you replied.

He got up, setting down his brush in the bucket. He then froze.

“I don’t want to ruin your gown,” he said.

“Oh, it’ll wash off!”

He went to you and embraced you. Rocking you a little side to side. Enjoying the feeling of warmth in his arms.

“How are you?” you asked.

“As well as I can. Only bored- it gets very boring in here. And cold,” Robert said.

He gestured to his bed, which had only one green blanket. It was crumpled up and around. When you looked around the room, you noticed the lights on the top of the ceiling. And the window showed the gardens outside. It was on low ground. If Robert went mad, there would be no way he could harm himself.

“I look forward to my baths, Y/N, because then I have some heat.”

“Tell me, Robert, what do you do here?”

“Well, I spend my time painting. Walls need a new coat. Sometimes they’ll bring a book from the library, and there will be nothing to do but read. And take my medicines, of course.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” you replied.

“But next time, tell them to warm up my food. I had cold, blobby porridge for breakfast! And I sure do miss coffee. The first thing I’ll do when I get out is get a big cup of it.”

“Oh, yes, I’ll make sure you have warm food,” you assured him.

He then lowered his eyes.

“Y/N…I’m sorry. I’m sorry I got scared. And I’m so sorry you had to see me like that. If you see me as a monster, then I-I won’t blame you.”

You shook your head. You walked over and took his large, soft, cold hand.

“Robert, you are anything but a monster. You’re an intelligent, brave doctor who has s been through so much.”

“Will they…they still accept me? You don’t know how scared I am. To regress. For it to appear again…”

“If it does, we’ll be even more ready. And you might go mad, but you won’t go mad alone.”

He smiled at you. 

“Thank you, Y/N.”

You both then took the time to go over and paint some. Finding little corners and nooks where it didn’t cover up the walls. You reached up as high as you could go. Soon, a servant arrived. He announced it was time for you to leave.

“Y/N…” Robert said. “Could you…Could you bring Sif here? I…I’d like her to visit me.”

You smiled at him, nodding your head.

“Yes, I’ll send her here.”

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soon, Robert was fit for release. You could have popped out the champagne in celebration when you heard. When you walked into the council room for the meeting, lo and behold, there was Robert. His hair was a little wet, and he smelled sweet. His shirt was clean with a shiny new tie. And before him was a large cup of coffee. You smiled at him.

“Welcome back, dear Robert. How good to see you and another one of my handsome faces before me,” Loki greeted.

Everyone now had their place. Stella sat in her corner and embroidered. Sif put her feet on the table. Jonathan sat upright. Hal leaned forward and drummed his fingers. Thor folded his hands.

Loki and you took your places at the head of the table. The lights from the torches, as well as the sunlight from the windows above, beamed over your head. 

“Now, everyone, it is a new day. And we must discover the rest of the lovely trove, hm? Y/N Darling had found the first one. And thanks to Sif, we now have our hands on the second one.”

Thor reached over and pulled out a cloth from beneath the table. He uncovered it to reveal the ring and the crown.

“That leaves the sword and the mask,” you said.

“My wife is right, so to retrieve one, we go to the timeline of-”

The doors burst open, and in ran Frigga. Her skirts and train billowed behind her. As well as guards running about behind her. They each went to different corners of the room. Eyeing everyone at the table.

“Where is everyone? Is everyone safe?!” she cried.

Heads turned around to her. Stella’s gentle smile when she sewed drooped to a frown. Frigga’s face was pale.

“Mother, what is it? What’s going on?” Loki asked.

Frigga reached forward and revealed that in her fist was a piece of parchment.

“It’s Grendel- he knows everything, he has the other items…and he will soon arrive at Asgard. He has declared war on us. We have to prepare for battle.”

Everyone was quiet for only a split second. Then everyone stood at attention. Robert chugged his coffee. Stella was still, then she jolted up and clutched her embroidery.

“He found us out!” Thomas cried.

“God’s blood, we must hurry! We must fetch our weapons!” Hal said.

“It was just a matter of time,” Jonathan said.

You held your hands out.

“Everyone, let’s wait a minute. Let us pause.”

Everyone did. Eyes turned to look at you. Sif already had one hand on the hilt of her sword. Stella was shaking like a leaf.

“We need to know where he’s keeping them…wait, the Prophet! He ought to know!” you said.

“Well, we must take advantage of what we can,” Thomas said.

Loki stepped forward. He clutched your hand in his, and he raised it to kiss it with his soft lips. And then he let it go.

“Well, if the Princess of Asgard insists…prepare for battle. Or shelter. I must go and take my wife to meet an old friend.”

—-----------

Soon, you were among the tundra of Jotunheim. Loki summoned two great cloaks for you. Reaching your senses out, you and Loki ran out to where the Prophet’s cavern lay. Snow fell from the dark clouds above. Mountains scattered the skyline. The snow on the ground had not piled up, but you had to step with care. You didn’t know how much ice was beneath you. As you moved, the bag across your arm hit your body in a rhythm. The smell of roast chicken coming from it making you a little hungry.

But to your horror, you sensed something nearby the cavern. You put a hand up to Loki- there was a presence before it. A presence of many men. Many armed men.

“Grendel’s men. They’re there! They reached the cavern! They’re guarding it!

Soon enough, you noticed the smoke from fires swirling up to the sky. You saw dots of tents from a distance. Loki grabbed you and hid you behind a large rock. You peeked out over. From what you could tell, the men were not fighting. They were sitting around a fire in fur cloaks. They drank from tin cups and were talking. Red-cheeked and guffawing at something lewd.

“Well, today is your lucky day, my dear. You do know your mischievous husband is capable of very powerful magic. I am more than capable of distracting them. You scurry along and find what the prophet has to say,” Loki said.

You leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Brilliant!” you cheered.

Loki then conjured an image of a bunch of women. All clad wearing fur cloaks with buxom figures, long, luxurious hair, and luscious lips. They strutted their way to the camp. He then made himself one of them and followed.

The men all perked up. They began to approach them and talk to each one. They shared their cups and even began to curl strands of the women’s hair around their fingers.

Using the distraction, you ran to the other side of the hill. You climbed up until you saw the familiar path- a line in the snow that was black. You followed it up, your thighs aching from the climbing. You reached the cavern.

Fortunately, no one stood guard at the mouth of the cave. You walked in. You took a chicken leg out of your bag and waved it around. 

“Hello! Hello- are you there! I have to talk!” you cried out. The darkness swallowed you whole. You then curled up your other hand. You lit up some fire to light your way.

Soon enough, little blue will-o'-the-wisps arrived from beyond. They danced around the air, going in circles. Then they stopped at each of the cavern walls.

The Prophet then stepped forward.

“Oh! Y/N! There you are!” he greeted.

You threw him the chicken leg. He devoured it in three bites and then tossed the bone aside.

“Would you mind if I change forms? Grendel’s men are waiting for me to come out. I’m in great danger coming to you like this,” he explained. Gesturing to his body.

“Of course not. Go ahead,” you said.

He snapped his fingers. A bright light of blue magic swirled over him. Changing how he looked. When it reached the bottom of his feet and vanished, you took in his new form. He looked like Loki. But with longer black hair that fell over his face. He appeared to wear nothing but red and black striped robes and a small necklace. 

“Who is this?” you asked.

“Another of Loki’s variants,” the Prophet explained. His voice like Loki’s, but lower and more gravelly. His teeth pointed.

You put the empty bag over your shoulder.

“Please tell me- Grendel is about to attack. How do we defeat him? Where is the trove?” you asked.

The Prophet uncurled his hand. A swirl of blue magic turned into a violin in one of his hands. Another swirl of magic on his free hand became a bow. He tucked the violin beneath his chin. He set the bow to the strings and began playing.

“Oh, Grendel- he won’t stop. He won’t until he destroys everything and captures the survivors. But Grendel is not without his weaknesses. First…the woman named for the stars. Your friend with golden hair and a soft voice.”

“Stella!” you cried.

“Until she gives herself to Grendel, he will live.”

He continued to play the music. You shook your head. Wanting to run over and grab the instrument from his hand.

“Prophet, no!  Not Stella! Don’t you know the things he’ll let himself or his men do to her?”

“Oh, he now desires her for himself and himself alone,” the Prophet added.

“It can’t be!” 

“Yes, but it is the only way.”

“But…what about the trove? Where is he keeping it?”

He stopped the violin playing.

“His trove, he is keeping it in his innermost tent. Right at the center of where he’ll camp for battle. His sacred place. There is a great cauldron in his tents, too. Grendel always keeps the cauldron close. Destroy the trove all within the cauldron, and Grendel will have his weakness.”

He then put the bow back on the violin. He finished with a flourish. He then set it down and used magic to get rid of it. He put his hands in his pockets.

You smiled.

“Oh, thank y-”

WHOOSH!

Something whipped in the air past your cheek. It sliced it open in a thin line. You ducked out of the way on instinct. Putting a hand on your cheek to stop the bleeding. The Prophet let out a grunt of pain. When you looked over, an arrow had struck him in the chest.

As you turned around, there were three of Grendel's men with bows and arrows.

“We got him! Take him down!” they cried.

Running forward, you summoned your fire. You blasted away at them, sending a swirl through the air right to their faces.

“Stay back! Or I’ll burn all of you!” you cried. 

Why, oh, why didn’t you use your senses to detect them? Regret only drove your fire even more. You sent out one blaze and then another.

The three men were dodging the flames. One put an arrow into his bow. Before you could stop him, he aimed and pulled. 

You tried to burn the arrow as it flew in the air, but it was too late. The arrow struck The Prophet in another part of his chest as he tried to flee.

There was cruel laughter from the men. You unleashed your flames and sent them hurling towards them. They tried to run, but you dashed after them. Blasting away with fury.

All three of them caught on fire. It drenched over their bodies, burning as they ran. Their screams pierced sharply through the air. They ran out, hoping the snow would save them. But they fell to their knees. Flames engulfed them. Then they fell - completely burned.

You ran over to The Prophet. He had fallen. Two at his heart. Even if you pulled them out, it would not stop the bleeding.

“No-oh no, please no!” you cried.

Blue light flashed around the Prophet. He changed back to his original form.

“There…it is better…that when I die, I remain myself.”

You had no idea how to comfort a dying person. You remembered when you yourself were dying and tried to recall what you would have wanted.

“I’m right here, Prophet. You’re not alone. I won’t leave you,” you promised. 

“I’m…I’m glad…thank you…thank you for your friendship…”

He placed a hand over yours.

“Princess…I have…one more message…that I’d like you to relay…”

“What is it?” you asked.

“Hal…he appears to be the only one of his party who hasn’t met his True Love yet. Jonathan has, Robert has, Thomas has, but not Hal. Tell him…his true love is in France….her name is Catherine.”

“Yes, yes, I will. I’ll tell him.”

Wrapping his hand in yours, you pressed your forehead to his.

 “You’ve made so many people happy. You’ve helped so much.  I hope you know that. We care for you. We’ll miss you,” you said.

“I’ll miss you too…but will I…will I see Vallhalla?” he asked.

You pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Of course. You’re a hero. Valhalla is waiting for you,” you answered.

You held him out. Gentle as you could. Soon, he took a shallow breath. He gave a weak smile. Then the light in his eyes faded, and he was still. Tears welled up in your eyes.

Footsteps hurried behind you. Turning your head, you saw Loki running in.

“Oh, oh norns…no-”

You wiped away tears.

“He died honorably, Loki. And he told us how to defeat Grendel. We…we should give him a hero's send off.”

Loki used his magic to summon a wooden altar. Wide enough to hold the Prophet. You both put the body onto it, though it was heavy.

“Farewell, my friend, you did well,” you said.

Summoning a flame on your hand, you touched the altar. The fire began in one corner, and soon reached around and then touched the body of the Prophet. You took Loki’s hand.

“Who the hell is up here!?” cried masculine voices.

Before you had any time to react, five more of Grendel’s men appeared at the mouth of the cavern. You bit back the urge to scream at them. 

But then an idea came to you as they drew their swords from their sheaths.

“Loki, summon a portal!”

“To where!?”

“The cabin where we got the ring! The weaver-there!”

Loki wriggled his fingers and summoned a portal.

“Get them!” cried one of Grendel’s men.

Your hand still in your husband's, you ran through the portal.

The inside of the portal changed from purple to green. The men charged after you both. Green swirls and fog swirled all around you. Your legs felt light. You were falling through- then your steps began to pedal forward

You then landed right back in the woods. Your cloak felt heavy, and heat drenched its weight onto you. Birds sang, and the sun shone as if no one had passed. As if all was well.

“Leave the portal open, don’t close it!” you ordered Loki.

You ran forward to the cabin. Up the steps onto the wooden porch. You opened the door.

Sure enough, the five of Grendel’s men each appeared from out the portal.

“Where is that bitch? Get her!” they yelled.

You ran inside, hearing Grendel’s men after you.

You saw a familiar figure with long dark hair and beautiful pale skin, spinning at her wheel and singing her song again. The Weaver had taken Lucille’s form. You immediately backed yourself against the wall on the left. Hiding yourself from the entrance.

The men all hurried forward. They didn’t see you at first. But they froze in their steps, seeing the Weaver at her spinning wheel. 

She paused and then got up. A greedy smile stretched on her face.

“Ah…dinner is here,” she said.

You ran outside and slammed the door shut. Using your weight, you leaned against it.

“Loki, lock it!” you ordered.

Loki’s magic sealed the door shut. 

There was more yelling. More curses. Fists pounded on the door from the inside. They tried to break it open. You then heard a roar like that of a monster. You walked away right as you heard claws piercing flesh and the screams of damned men.

Loki followed right behind you. When you looked behind, he smirked, and there was a strut to his step. 

“My wife, what a creature of mischief you’ve become!”