Stolen Stars:

Chapter Twenty-Two

Oh we don't own our heavens now

We only own our hell

And if you don't know that by now

Then you don't know me that well

(Buy the Stars – Marina and the Diamonds)

0o0o0o0o0o0

"The Great Ones will not take kindly to an unannounced invasion."

"Nornheim should have not engaged such catastrophic affairs against the sovereignty of Asgard," Odin rebuffed. "You have our gratitude for intervening on our behalf, Lady Seidh, but do not think we Aesir can allow such actions pass unchallenged. War has been declared by myself and my forefathers on lesser charges."

"I understand, All-Father, but if I could at least give advanced notice. You seek knowledge of motive rather than battle, yes? There is chaos among my people as we speak. I hear the arguments still, and I can see that delicacy is needed if we are to avert war."

The king gripped Gungnir as he considered her words; the spear was as much a staff as it was a weapon, and it was obvious that the All-Father was weary as he leaned on it slightly. Loki watched silently between Thor and Rose. His hands were behind his back, one tight in a fist as he restrained himself from speaking his own mind on the matter.

The Warriors Three and Sif were also a part of the small audience, along with a handful of other warriors close to the throne. The king had made it clear that if they were to breach the Realm of the Fates and demand answers, they required sufficient protection against possible retaliation. Seidh was less than enthusiastic about this display, but Loki knew she would have to concede.

"If Nornheim relinquishes active hostility again my realm, then I will consider taking less severe action against them. But I will not enter your home realm without appropriate defense."

"Nornheim is without weapons, All-Father," Seidh objected.

"Without physical ones, perhaps. I have decided. You may or may not join with us on our journey; I know nothing holds you to continue on alongside us. Page, bring the horses. It will be easier to transport all from in here."

Loki understood why they wished not to venture out into the streets and to the broken bridge. While it would have been just as simple for Odin to draw dark energy there as in the throne room, it would be difficult to pass through the city unmolested. Panic had taken hold in Asgard; even while he stood guard over Rose's recovering form he heard the riots break in the city. The palace had done its best to quell the public, but the threat of Ragnarok had thrown the realm into disarray.

Seidh had no more to say again the king's choice, and only took to her proffered steed silently when the page returned from the stables. The rest of them, ten in all, gathered closely for the All-Father to send them through to Nornheim.

Travelling by dark energy circuit was rough to say the least, and maybe it was better that they were on beasts of burden for Loki's stomach churned and his body felt nearly upended once they landed on the rocky ground of Nornheim.

They were not met with resistance, and the road before them was abandoned. From his memory, Loki guessed that they were not five leagues from the center of the realm, where the Well of Fates sat to be tended by the Great Norns themselves.

Loki's mind instantly went back a millennia, to the early years of his youth where he followed Thor into the Realm of the Fates to rescue their comrades. He suppressed a shudder, his guard up more than usual. He did, after all, fall victim to Nornheim's schemes by prodding in places he shouldn't have the last time.

The entourage trotted through the ancient world, silent and watchful as they moved towards the Well of Skald. Every once in a while, Loki would feel the brush of magic. It was nothing to be immediately concerned about, but he kept an eye on the Norns that followed their group. He felt that Seidh knew about them as well, for she kept a brisk pace alongside the All-Father.

She had to know the consequences of returning to Nornheim with Asgardians were high—to have betrayed her realm in order to derail Ragnarok. Loki could sympathize with her on that point.

Midgard had been lucky it was he who had invaded and attempted to establish rule.

Loki pushed such thoughts from his mind, for it was only a distraction at this point. Instead he turned his attention to Rose, who rode beside him on a palomino. She seemed alert, and was consistently scanning their surroundings. Loki watched as she cocked a brow in interest at the ruins of a temple.

Typical Rose, he thought, allowing himself a moment of fondness towards the curious woman.

The air seemed to grow heavy as they neared their destination. A huge, gnarled oak soared into view, the branches blocking out the sky like the branches of Yggdrasil. The comparison was probably warranted, considering what it marked.

The path to the Well was populated now; women in white robes standing in silent vigil as the group trotted up the hill to the grand oak. Thor, on a roan in front of Loki, shifted in unease as they passed. Even though they did not speak, Loki could feel the whispers among them, and it grated.

Odin was glowering at the oak with fearsome anger, as if remembering an old vendetta beyond the duty he was called for now.

The three Sister Fates stood at the base of the Well, which churned multicolored sparks, though its contents could not be seen from this vantage point. The sisters were identical to most eyes, but Loki could see the fluctuation of magic that sustained each. To Loki's surprise, the Eldest, Skald, was at the forefront and center. From his rather limited experience with these goddesses, Urdr and Verdandi were the most vocal of the Fates.

The fact that Future herself would speak on behalf of Nornheim was significant and troubling indeed.

"Odin All-Father, king of Asgard and wielder of Gungnir. You come armed and prepared for conflict after a most harrowing time."

"Your realm attempted the complete destruction of the Nine, Skald." Loki shifted slightly. That Odin would make the choice to use the Fate's given name was radical, and poignant to establishing just how furious the king was. "And only by the hand of one of your own—in contest of Nornheim's wishes—was Ragnarok averted. I do not claim to know all that is to be, nor the Fate of the cosmos, but I will know why Ragnarok was brought to my door."

The Eldest Fate considered from under her white hood. Her black eyes landed on Loki, and his breath choked in his lungs. For a moment he felt as if she was seeing the strand of his life (which is probably exactly what the Fate was doing), and it shook him to his core. Finally she looked back to Odin, but not before Loki had to bite down on his tongue to keep from gasping.

"My Sisters are dismayed by the constrictions you have placed on the Nine. We do not have the influence we once had in the affairs of Yggdrasil. And now that the Bifrost is destroyed, the other Realms are beginning to doubt Asgard's supremacy as well."

"Is this why the rebel forces have been gaining influence in the other realms?"

"The Snake promised many things. Immunity for those who supported Its reign was one. You cannot forsake the need for stability, All-Father. And you cannot ignore the other realms, either."

"Do you mean to tell me this was a lesson?" Odin demanded, wroth with fury at the thought.

"You know I may not reveal all that I know, but understand this—All was considered and done for a reason. The Snake dwells beyond any more attempts to gain power. The threat of Ragnarok is now past, and you now have a choice. Expand your influence, or continue to ignore the wishes of the other Eight. There is more at stake here than the reign of the Aesir."

"Tell me, then," he commanded.

"How dare you, Asgardian!" Obviously tiring of her silence, the youngest, Urdr, snapped. Verdandi scowled at Odin's words as well.

"The business of what we reveal or do not is our own."

"Sisters, please." Skald's voice was harsh and the two fell silent, if not fuming. The Eldest Fate turned back to Odin. Her face was grim, but she raised her hand toward the All-Father. The hissing of swords being drawn was telling, but Odin waved them off sharply.

The air seemed to crackle with something. Loki could feel it like a wave, and he suspected the Great Norn was showing Odin a vision that she did not want the rest present to know.

When it was over, the king's face was blank. It frustrated Loki, for the desire to know what the All-Father had seen gripped him tight.

"You understand now."

"Yes," Odin agreed, his voice significantly more restrained. "But know that I must think on this. Many things have happened, and I have my people to consider."

"Of course, All-Father."

"That's it?" Thor murmured, startled. Loki furrowed his brow, thinking the same. He had his own questions that needed answering.

"Yes," Odin replied to Thor, his expression unreadable as ever. He turned back to the Three. "We appreciate your cooperation, Great Ones. May Nornhiem and Asgard issue better gestures of hospitality in the future. You will ensure Seidh is not harmed for her aid to Asgard?"

Loki saw that the young Norn by Odin's side tensed in discomfort as the Great One looked down on her. Again was that surge of power, this time directed at Seidh.

"We shall await such a partnership. And yes, our fellow Norn will not face penalty for her will. Seidh has done her part on the grander scheme of things," Skald said, bowing her head. "We bid you farewell and safe journey back to Asgard."

Whispers ran through the ranks of both Asgardian and Norn, but nevertheless neither vocally resisted the departure. Loki's ire rose when the Fates disappeared. Not a chance, then, to demand recompense for the pain they bestowed upon him. And Rose, for that matter.

"What do you think she showed him?" Rose muttered to Loki.

"I know not," Loki admitted. "Enough to draw the compulsion of war from his mind; which is powerful enough in itself."

"Well, that's a relief isn't it? At least we don't have to worry about—Hello, Seidh."

Seidh had sidled up to Loki, her bright eyes serious.

"A moment, Loki," she requested. Loki hesitated, but nodded.

"Certainly," he said, curious. He led his horse off to the side, following Seidh. She slid off the saddle, and Loki did the same. He regretted this decision, however, when she gripped his forearm tight.

"You enjoy causing change, Trickster, but you resist its affects upon yourself," she told him quietly, but with an intensity that disconcerted him. "You are like the mischief-maker who sets the table a-fire and waits in the hall as others douse the flames."

"I beg your pardon?" he blinked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Rose Tyler will be marked as your compass, yes, but you cannot remain stagnant, Loki," she stated. The hairs on the back of his neck rose at her growing fervor and Loki pulled his arm away, but she continued. "There will come a day where you will have no choice but to change…or lose everything."

Loki stiffened at her words and considered the Norn with barely veiled disgust.

"Is that a threat? Because I think your people have done enough damage to me. Do not think it wise to believe I will forget."

"What is past," Seidh whispered, "will come again, prince. Though not in the form you expect."

"Then so it shall come, in riddles and more," he mocked. "You underestimate my abilities, Norn."

"Perhaps."

Something fell heavy into Loki's gut as she left and he was alone with her words hanging above him like a noose.

Loki shook his head and scoffed silently at himself as he mounted his stallion once more and trotted back to Rose's side. It was ridiculous. He was able to escape Thanos, Asgard, and Hel. What Nornheim and its "fate" had to offer was null. Now that his mind was clear and his magic restored, there was little he could not keep from tearing at his plans.

It was only a matter of planning for the worst was all. Understanding the weave of threads that played before him, considering all circumstance; a practice he had long since mastered. It was likely that Seidh was warning him of what he most feared, but that was already measured. Dozens of fail-safes were already in place; he need not fear the repercussions of what was to be.

He was prepared.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Rose breathed a sigh of relief as Asgard appeared once more. Nornheim, with its hand in the Vortex, was not the most comfortable place for her to be. Regardless of the fact that they nearly brought about the end of the world.

Their horses appeared once again in the Great Hall, and a figure was rushing towards the All-Father. The queen, Frigga, looked harried and fearful.

"What is it, my dear?"

"The people are at the gates. They are demanding Loki's head."

"What?" Thor barked. Rose's mouth fell open in shock.

"The Norn, her vision appearing throughout the realms, the soldiers who perished while Jorgmandr was present…" Frigga trailed off, distraught. "The realm believes Loki is to blame, and they are calling for his execution."

"That's ridiculous! He was possessed!" Rose protested, furious at the messenger's words. Loki was the one to save her arse from being perished. Where the hell were they getting their information?

"I will speak with them," Odin promised. "Surely there has only been some mistake of communication."

"It had better," Thor said, his gaze thunderous. The king called on a few guards, and was escorted out of the hall.

"We cannot blame them for reacting so," Loki said in the king's absence. His voice was tight and slightly sardonic. Rose did not like the self-deprecation in his tone. "I have not been Asgard's most shining asset as of late."

"But they can't seriously consider executing one of their own!" Rose sputtered, throwing her hands out.

"Odin will reason with them, brother," Thor added. "Fear not."

A few minutes later the king was returning, and Rose's heart plummeted at the grim look on both his and the queen's face.

"The court convened in my absence," he said. "They have all agreed that Loki is too dangerous to be left alive in Asgard; Ragnarok being averted or not. Lady Tyler is also suspected."

"Then tell them to bugger off!"

"Father, you must convince them otherwise."

"I have attempted to explain. They still believe it would be best option."

"Then make an executive kingly order or something!" Rose snapped. "Won't that shut them up?"

"The court as a whole has as much power as I do." The king splayed his hands out helplessly. "And the fact that the people are so up in arms stays my power."

"Are none of the council even considering your words?" Thor asked.

"My influence has been precarious as of late. The decision to bring Loki out of prison already caused upset. This has been one incident to grievous to ignore."

"So Loki must pay the consequence?" Thor questioned, incredulous.

"They can't kill him," Rose insisted. "Hang protocol."

"Let me speak to the people, Father. Surely once they all recognize—"

"Loki."

Rose realized that during this entire discussion, Loki had not yet said a word, and his expression was cold as he acknowledged his king with a slight raise of his chin.

"I do not fault you in what has occurred," Odin said, "but I cannot ignore the demands of the people. They must see Asgard defended. I must see Asgard defended."

Loki swallowed, and Rose was about to shout again, but Odin continued.

"But I cannot allow them to carry out their wishes against my own prince. Which is why I must ask you to run."

"What?" Loki breathed, obviously not expecting such a suggestion.

Rose was as flummoxed, and her mind begin to whirl at the king's offer.

"You have your magic restored to you, Loki," he said to the ginger prince. "I know you have ways of moving about the realms undetected. Leave here, and keep your life."

"I will have nothing else!" Loki protested. "No allies, I have all the rest of the realms of Yggdrasil after my head already—I would be skinned within a week!"

Rose stepped towards Loki, taking him by his shoulder. Part of her now understood the significance of Seidh's words all those weeks ago. They were bound. Her choice was simple.

"You can come with me."

Loki stared at her in shock. He hesitated before addressing her.

"Rose, I don't think—"

"Oi, I've done the whole fleeing thing before," she shrugged, pushing away the anxiety of the moment. She could deal with the heavy consequences later. "T-Too is a pretty good escape car, and there are plenty of planets beyond Yggdrasil that probably never even heard of you."

Rose held his penetrating gaze steadily. If nothing else, she could not leave him stranded once more.

"I cannot ask this of you," Loki said. Rose didn't like the stubborn set of his brow.

"I promised you I would stay," she replied haughtily. "Since you can't stay in Asgard, you might as well stay with me."

Loki was speechless at that, and looked at the All-Father as if pleading him to bring sense into the conversation.

"Lady Tyler, your sacrifices to my family have gone above and beyond what is reasonable," the king told her. Rose pursed her lips.

"If I'm to be sentenced too, I'm leaving. Loki or no Loki. Oh…" she turned back to the god in question. "Did I mention it travels in time?"

"Loki in a time machine? The universe trembles," Fandral commented. Rose glared at him, but Loki cracked a small smile.

"You can leave whenever you want, where-ever you want," Rose promised. "Let's just get out of here before the council or whatever tries to snag you."

All had their attention on Loki now, awaiting his decision. Rose relaxed when he sighed and nodded.

"The feeling is mutual then. I will only travel with you as long as you wish me to," he told her.

"Very well. I suggest you hurry. While I stayed the council to allow me time, they will be on their way to arrest you."

Thor walked over to Rose and Loki, his face pale and drawn at the prospect. He took Loki's shoulder.

"Loki, I swear I will try to soothe the people and remind them of your innocence in this," Thor vowed, his grip tight on his brother. "You will return to us." He then took Rose's hand and squeezed gently. "And you, Rose, if you wish it."

"Lady Tyler, remember that medallion I gave you," Odin told Rose. "If you require anything of me or my realm, simply hold it and ask. Your debt is tenfold what it once was, I hope you understand."

"Thank you, your majesty," she said, bowing. "I will remember."

"Please take care of my son."

Rose nodded, and saw that Loki stilled at the term. He was distracted when the queen grabbed his arm.

"I grieve that you must depart so soon after I saw you healthy once more," Frigga murmured, pulling the surprised Loki into a hug. He blinked, but patted her arm as he broke free. He turned to the king, who had a hand open towards him.

"Keep out of trouble." His words were curt, but Rose could tell that the stoic monarch was hiding as great a sadness as the rest of the Asgardian family.

Rose saw the conflict in Loki's eyes, but he reached out and grasped his king's arm solemnly.

"I will try." If the words were a lie, it was a good one.

Shouts echoed from outside the hall, and Rose grabbed Loki's hand.

"Go," the All-Father said.

And so the two ran, heading for Rose's quarters in the east wing. Servants and handmaidens yelled as they passed, but none made a move to stop them. Rose flung open her bedroom door, sonic at the ready. T-Too flashed into existence.

"Please open," she growled under her breath, remembering yesterday morning when the green box had refused to unlock. With a shock, Rose guessed that the machine probably knew what was about to happen. Perhaps it was a good thing then; who knows what the Snake would have done with a TARDIS?

The lock clicked cheerily and Rose breathed a sigh of relief.

"C'mon!" she chirped, pulling Loki inside.

Adrenaline coursed through her as she slammed the door closed and trotted to the console.

"Is it going to be as rough as last time?" Loki asked, looking apprehensive.

"You mean the bumpy-ness? Yeah. Better hold on."

She heard him mutter something about Valhalla, but ignored him as she worked to thrust T-Too out of the room. Unable to contain her excitement, Rose whooped with the first sharp lurch. Loki gasped behind her, but he was smart enough to grab hold of a coral this time.

"Time and space, you said?" Loki murmured, his eyes sparking with interest. Rose shook a finger at him.

"Oi, no plotting! I can drop you off into a supernova if you get too obnoxious, you know."

Loki chuckled at her threat, and went off to examine the walls. Rose stabilized the engines, preparing to throw them into the Vortex.

"Now, I'm not sure what kind of planets are floating about in the World Tree that you know, but we could always try for Egypt. I could use a bit of good-old Earth sunshine. But first ride out is up to you. What d'you say? Time or space?"

She looked over her shoulder when Loki did not reply.

He was still as a statue, his hands tight behind his back as he peered out one of the side window in the TARDIS.

"Loki?" she questioned.

"All this time…I have never seen Asgard from this point of view."

Rose locked one of the levers and made her way to Loki's side. As she approached, Rose could see that his face was smooth, unrelentingly passive as he gazed at his former home. But Rose had spent enough time around gods to know that he was clamping down on a "useless human emotion". She knew the feeling all too well, having no choice but to leave her planet not once, but twice.

The window was frosted, however, and would not give him the real glory of flying above a planet. Rose decided to rectify that. She slid her hand in his and pulled him towards the door.

"What are you—?"

"It's alright. T-Too protects us from the harsher realities of space," Rose said, pushing the door to swing open and reveal the great drop of cosmos below the time machine.

The galactic arms and nebulas that surrounded Asgard spanned like dazzling currents in a black sea. The disc-shaped realm itself, no bigger than a dinner plate from their perspective, shone like an oasis, gold and green and magnificent. Rose couldn't help the smile of delight—always one for a new sight—but it took her a moment before she remembered the exiled prince beside her.

Loki's eyes were wide, and his hand was tight, almost painfully so, in hers. Wonder pushed back the homesickness, the anger, the fear, all the little emotions that had tightened his face since they fled the city. She could finally see the young man underneath the eons of experience and cynicism. Rose's heart lifted as she watched Loki hungrily absorb the sight displayed before him.

"Wait 'til I get you to Women Wept," she whispered into his ear. Loki finally tore his gaze from Asgard and met hers. It was subdued, but Rose could see the gratitude in his eyes, and something else. Something that made her throat go tight and her chest feel nearly full to bursting.

"I look forward to it," he murmured, his mouth twitching up slightly. Rose squeezed his hand once more before reaching out to shut the door.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Brief epilogue to follow...