31. What Natasha Saw (Mischief 6)

"He wants me to meet him in the orchard? Are you certain?"

Dagbjört nodded. "Yes, that is what he said. In an hour."

Natasha nodded. "Very well. Will you send the governess in to sit with Brynhildr when you have a minute, please?"

As she neared the orchard, Natasha tried to tamp the simmering fury boiling in her bones. When she woke after the passage to Hindi, she found herself back in Loki's Castle. Alone. He had gone on without her to Ringsfjord or Skornheim, leaving her to wonder if she had been widowed for the second time.

And when Loki returned, he was silent and more solemn than ever. It was as though the person she married had entirely disappeared. After a bitter argument, they stopped speaking to each other altogether.

He stood under their apple tree, where in the spring she sat with his head in her lap. Natasha felt a prick of hope; perhaps he was ready to explain.

"You wished to speak with me?" he said as soon as she arrived.

"Oh." She felt her eyes widen with surprise. "Dagbjört told me you wanted to speak with me."

"What?" Obviously he was just as confused as she was.

"Loki," Natasha explained, "we've been set up. It seems others have noticed the – coldness – between us and wanted to help patch things up."

"Ah." He nodded, considering. "I will leave you then and bother you no longer."

She watched him go, heart breaking, before anger took over. Natasha ran after him, pulled him around and shouted, "It's not a bother, dumbass! You're my husband, in case you have forgotten. Get your act together and tell me what the …" His defeated expression stopped her, and gently she put her arms around him. "Loki, sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Just – you can come to me if you do want to talk or anything. I promise not to yell or punch you in the face. Not very hard, anyway."

His laugh sounded against her ear; for a moment she thought she imagined it. "I know, darling. I know." A sigh shuddered through him, and he added, "I am sorry I went on without you. But I had to face three sorcerers in Ringsfjord, and I could not put you into that danger."

She tightened her hold on him and with a surge of relief felt his arms go around her. At last she dared to ask, "Did you get the message through?"

There was no response, save for a nod. She didn't ask for details, and he didn't offer any.

However, that night he followed her into the bedroom. As moonlight wheeled past the window Loki and Natasha made love, whispering promises and vows in each other's arms.

His current bout of mischief, it seemed, was over.

END

I'll post a new Blackfrost series set post-TDW, starting this week with Lithium. It's darker and 'angstier', so if you like that sort of thing I hope you'll come and check it out. However, if you haven't seen Thor 2 you'll need to wait to read it until you watch the movie.

Thanks to all who stopped by and read the Moments, and a special set of Loki hugs and kisses for those who left reviews. I really enjoyed writing the tiny oneshots about Loki and Natasha of Asgard.