Chapter 6

Vanar slowed as he and Loki traversed the bridge, the boy with his short legs unable to keep pace with Heimdall's strides. Recalling how long a trek it had been for himself when he was a boy of such tender years, Loki scooped Vanar up in one arm for the remainder of the journey to the palace.

"We're in mommy's paintings," Vanar commented, finally finding his voice after spending most of the walk across the bridge taking in the scene in awe.

"This is where your mother grew up."

"Does everyone have gold helmets?" Vanar asked as they exited the Rainbow Bridge, passing a pair of Einherjar guards.

"Not everyone. We don't wear them all the time."

"Your name's not Gold Helmet Man. I made that up. Who are you?"

"My name is Loki. In Asgard people's surnames…second names…come from their father. Son is added for boys and dottir for girls. My father's name is Odin, hence my full name is Loki Odinson. Do you know your second name?"

"I have a second name?"

"You do. Your second name is Lokison…son of Loki."

Vanar was silent for a moment, processing the information Loki had just passed on to him in his young brain.

"You're my father?"

"I am."

"I told Mommy you'd come back. We forgot to get ice cream. Is there ice cream here?" Vanar asked, Loki bemused at Vanar's swift change of subject.

"I'm afraid not," Loki answered.

"What about pizza?"

"No."

"Soda?"

"We have water, juices, cider…other things, but it will be some time before you're old enough to enjoy those yet."

"Candy?"

"Grapes...berries…nuts…"

"Those aren't candy," Vanar responded.

"Maybe not, but they're far better for you."

"I don't like things that are good for me," Vanar said as Loki grinned.

"I tend to avoid what I'm told is good for me as well."

"Is Mommy going to be ok?" Vanar asked, veering to another subject once again.

"The healer will help her. A healer is like a doctor, though I don't suppose you've ever been to see a doctor."

"I've seen them on TV. Do you have TV?"

"No. We have theater…books..." Loki explained.

"I don't know if I'm going to like it here."

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"Erebus…I have failed you. Forgive me."

Dario in his minotaur form knelt before a black obsidian altar that held an idol carved from the same black stone in what appeared to be a cave lit by a flaming cauldron. A shadow in the shape of a man began to coalesce on the wall in the flickering firelight. The shadow solidified, stepping out from the rock wall.

"Where isssss it?" the shadow asked in a hoarse, hissing voice.

"She sought the assistance of another of her kind. She replaced it with a fake. She returned with it to Asgard."

"Then you will go to Asssssgard and retrieve it, " Erebus commanded.

"How?"

"The realmsssss are connected. Their Bifrost issss not the only meansssss to travel between them. I sssssaved your life. If you fail me again I can just assss easssssily take it."

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"Her wound has healed with the treatment, she is producing blood to replace that which was lost. She should wake soon," the middle aged female healer informed Loki as he stood on the opposite side of the soul forge from her, Boda lying upon it unconscious and pale, a golden representation of her form projected above her.

The healer held out her hand, a spent bullet between her fingers. Loki extended his palm, the healer dropping the bullet into it.

"As they say in Midgard, 'that one had her name on it,'" said the healer, "As for the toxin, the forge is unable to identify it but I know of only one substance that is said to have such an effect on Asgardians."

"What would that be?" asked Loki, Vanar standing beside him, continuing to grip his hand.

"Eitr," the healer replied.

"That's only a legend."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. It's difficult to untangle legend from fact when it comes to the old stories."

"If it is eitr?" Loki asked apprehensively.

"She will grow weaker, more susceptible to injury and illness. She will begin to lose herself to periods of extreme anger and madness. Eventually her body will shut down under the strain."

"Is there anything that can be done?"

"I may be able to slow its progression but I know of no antidote. I'll continue to attempt to isolate it and produce a remedy."

"Loki…" Loki heard Frigga's voice say, turning his head to see her standing near the entrance to the healing room.

"Stay with her," Loki directed Vanar, releasing his hand and approaching Frigga, "Mother…"

"Why have you returned her here? What were you thinking?"

"She was injured. She's ill. She's been given a poison of some sort," Loki explained.

"The boy…" Frigga said, Loki turning his head to glance at Vanar.

"His name is Vanar in honor of her father."

"And you are his," said Frigga, "It's as if I've stepped back in time. How long did you believe you could keep him a secret? How could you believe she could raise an Asgardian child in Midgard?"

"I only just learned of his existence myself. She feared he would be taken from her. As a mother I'm sure you can understand," Loki explained before turning back to Vanar, holding out his hand and calling to the boy, "Vanar, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Vanar left his mother's side to stand beside Loki, reaching out and taking his hand, looking up at Frigga, "This is my mother, your grandmother."

"Hello," Vanar said, holding up Wolfie, "This is Wolfie."

"Hello Vanar…and hello to you, Wolfie," Frigga said with a smile.

"You're pretty. Are you a princess?" asked Vanar.

"A queen, actually," Frigga replied, "It appears he's inherited your silver tongue," Frigga said to Loki with a smirk.

Boda, waking, sat up groggily from the soul forge, the healer assisting her.

"I would venture to guess if word of our arrival has reached you that father will be joining us soon as well," Loki said, obviously not looking forward to facing his father.

"Why has this criminal returned to darken the realm with her presence?" Odin boomed testily as he entered the healing room, two einherjar trailing behind him.

"Right on cue," said Loki.

"Vanar, come here," Boda called to her son, Vanar turning and walking back to the soul forge as Boda stood from it, placing her hands protectively on his shoulders.

"This is your doing?" Odin asked Loki gruffly.

"I had no choice–" Loki began.

"There is always a choice! You could have chosen to honor our agreement but then how many times have you proven you have no honor? I was a fool to even entertain your petition on behalf of that treacherous trollop! Guards! Take this scheming strumpet and her accursed offspring to the dungeon!" Odin commanded, the two einherjar stepping forward.

"You can't be serious! You would lock a child away in the dungeon?" Loki exclaimed.

"Consider yourself fortunate that you're not joining them. That could change depending on the next words that come out of your mouth," Odin said threateningly as one einherjar guard shackled Boda, the other gripping Vanar's wrist.

"He's my son!" Loki blurted out, Odin struck dumb, staring at Vanar.

"Your grandson," Frigga said to Odin, placing a hand on his arm.

"Another scheme. The trickster doesn't know enough to recognize when he himself is being tricked," Odin said, Loki scoffing with an expression of frustration.

"My king...you know it to be true," said Frigga, Odin examining Vanar with his lone remaining eye in silence for a few moments.

"Take her. Leave the boy," Odin ordered the guards.

"She should remain here. She's not well, " Loki said to his father.

"She appears well enough," Odin responded before addressing the healer, "What is her prognosis? Is death imminent?"

"Not imminent, no. Her wound is healed. She has been exposed to a toxin, possibly eitr."

"Then the dungeon is the safest place for her, not only for her, but for the rest of us."

"She did it for me! Her scheme was for my benefit. She was going to use The Eye to insure I would be the heir. She had no other designs for it. She planned to return it to its place in the vault. She did it because she…she believed she had to prove herself worthy…I know a little something about that...because she loved me," Loki explained, "Or do you not believe that possible?"

"Loki...it's ok. I did it. It doesn't matter why I did it. Vanar's safe. I don't care what happens to me," Boda said as the einherjar guards led her from the soul forge past Loki, Frigga and Odin towards the doorway.

"Mommy!" Vanar called out, sobbing as he ran after her, Loki grabbing him.

"It's ok, baby. Stay with your father. I love you!" Boda called out to Vanar as she was escorted by the einherjar from the healing room.

"I wasn't going to leave her to die alone in Midgard! Go ahead! Lock me up as well if it will make you feel better! Leave me to rot! Life would be easier for you. You'll no longer have to trouble yourself with me. While you're at it, enchant all of Asgard to forget I exist!" Loki ranted.

"Don't be a fool. You have a son to look after," Frigga admonished.

"Before you have me hauled away like so much rubbish, would you happen to know what this is?" Loki asked, holding out his free hand, Vanar clutching the other, the gu appearing in his grip. Odin stared at the relic for a moment before reaching out, taking it from Loki.

"My study. Leave the boy with your mother," Odin said to Loki in a low voice devoid of its previous animosity, turning and walking away with the gu towards the doorway through which he had entered.

Loki knelt in front of Vanar, tears streaking the child's face, taking him gently by the shoulders.

"Everything will be alright. I need to speak with my father. Your grandmother will take care of you. When I return we'll visit your mother."

"Ok."

Loki rose, turning to Frigga.

"Take him to the gardens to play with other children. He's never been able to do that," Loki advised Frigga, "Oh…and to the kitchens for rommegrot. He's been asking for ice cream. It's the closest substitute I can think of."

"I would enjoy that myself," Frigga said with a smile.

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Loki entered Odin's study to find his father standing behind a desk where he had sat the gu, staring down at it.

"How did you come to possess this?" Odin asked.

"I took it from a museum in Midgard at Boda's request. There's a man, or something resembling one, Boda said he has the ability to change form. He abducted Vanar and demanded it in exchange for his return. You know what it is?"

"It has many names, as many as the number who drank from it. My father called it The Goblet of the Gods. It was placed into the tomb of he who created it when he chose to end his existence on this plane.

During the reign of your grandfather, Bor, as different tribes and cultures of Midgard came in contact with each other, wars began to break out among them. The beings that had guided and protected them, some from other realms such as Asgard, some from other dimensions existing within this one, also began to quarrel. Some believed it best for each people to have their own guides and guardians, or gods as the mortals began to call us, until they advanced past the need for us. A few felt it would be better if there was but one pantheon lording over all of them.

Eventually the disagreement erupted into a war amongst us. At the same time, perhaps as a result, a primordial being awakened, an ancient entity born of darkness at the advent of the universe. He threatened not just the nine realms but other worlds. Our only hope to defeat him was to put aside our differences and come together as allies. A representative of each pantheon met. My father represented Asgard. The mediator was the eldest of all, a being that was the first to act as a guide to the mortals when they emerged in Midgard in a land that came to be known as China, Yu Huang, the mortals bestowing on him the title Jade Emperor. He created this vessel and each participant added their blood to the wine and drank from it, sealing the peace. The vessel was thus imbued with their power. That power would pass to anyone who would drink from it."

"Of course it goes without saying I would never consider such a thing-" Loki began.

"You would not have the opportunity as it will be joining the other relics in the vault," said Odin, "There is a price."

"What price?" asked Loki.

"Due to the power it holds Yu Huang placed a curse upon it. Anyone who would drink from it, those they care for, anyone that cares for them would die. They would be condemned to remain alone in the universe, incapable of love or being loved, only feared. For some, however, that is enough."