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Loki strode out of the garden, the small jar of salve clutched in one hand. His thoughts were racing from his conversation with Kenna and he wasn't sure what to make of it. He closed his eyes and shook his head. She was a slave. It didn't matter what he was feeling. There were far more important matters at hand. Harokin for instance.

Footsteps sounded behind him.

"Loki?" his mother's voice came from down the hall.

Loki slid one hand over the jar, concealing it from sight. When he turned to face Frigga, his hands were hanging loose and empty at his sides. Frigga looked him up and down, her brow knit with concern.

"You're up early," she observed.

Loki merely nodded. He didn't want his mother to know about his visit to Kenna. His mother always seemed to think so highly of him, he didn't want her disappointed to learn that he...he what? He wasn't doing anything wrong. He had gone to a slave and had her make him a salve. Nothing more. He lifted his chin, confident in his resolve.

Frigga frowned at him. "What's the matter?" she asked stepping closer to her son.

Loki pressed his lips into a line, debating whether or not he should confide his suspicions about Harokin to his mother. He didn't want to be wrong. It would be better to wait until after he confirmed by speaking to Heimdall.

"Have you been up all night?" she asked in disapproval, though by the look on her face she already knew the answer.

"I had things that needed my immediate attention," Loki responded vaguely.

"The issue with Harokin?" Frigga asked in a low voice, stepping closer to her son. "Your father said there was nothing to be concerned about. That he was alone and in Alfheim."

Loki nodded along with his father's decree. He wasn't about to disagree with the Allfather and certainly not to his mother.

"But you don't..." Frigga drew off, leading her son to confide in her.

Loki pressed his lips together and shook his head. "I can't say for certain," he finally said. "But I need to speak with Heimdall immediately."

Frigga finally relented that her son wasn't going to tell her what was on his mind. She pressed her lips together in the same grim expression Loki so often used. She stepped aside. "Please try and get some sleep," Frigga encouraged, pressing a kiss to her son's cheek.

Loki nodded distractedly and set off through the palace. He caught a servant and ordered them to get word to the stable and have his horse saddled. He stopped off in his room and removed his shirt. He held his hands palm to palm and rotated them. The jar reappeared with a green shimmer of power. He grimaced as he rubbed the salve across his sore ribs.

There was a tingling sensation on his skin that last for a few seconds and then the pain was gone. He breathed a sigh of relief. Kenna was right, the relief was almost instantaneous, far faster than Eir's tea. He shook his head and smiled as he remembered the determined look on her face when he had questioned her. Warrag had a very distinctive smell usually, but Kenna's salve smelled like lavender and eucalyptus and the small white flowers that grew along the path in her garden. The herbal scent reminded him of Kenna herself. He lifted the jar to his nose and breathed in the smell. Realizing what he was doing he sealed the jar and tossed it on his table.

Loki dressed once more and headed out towards the stable. It was doubtful the ancient guardian was within the palace, he spent most of his time acting as the Gatekeeper of the Bifrost. Loki rode his large black stallion down the rainbow bridge towards the Bifrost. While he was capable of teleporting, most Asgardians regarded it negatively and Heimdall seemed to be no exception. So instead he allowed himself the freedom to enjoy the ride and the quiet moments in the saddle to focus his turning thoughts. When he swung down from the saddle the Gatekeeper was waiting for him.

Heimdall stared down the prince as Loki shifted nervously before him. The gatekeeper's ancient, all seeing eyes never showed any emotion. As far back as Loki could remember the Gatekeeper had watched him, as though he were waiting for something.

"So," Heimdall said. "The young prince of Asgard has come to question me and my abilities."

Loki swallowed thickly, gripping the leather reins of his bridle tightly in his hands. "I am not here to question your abilities Guardian. I simply wish to understand," Loki clarified, he swallowed and lifted his chin, feigning a confidence he didn't feel. Heimdall had always shown his brother and father far more respect than himself, he was however, also a prince of Asgard and it was his right to question one of their subjects. "You have seen Harokin in Alfheim?" Loki asked, arching a brow arrogantly.

Heimdall nodded subtly, seeming unaffected by the young prince's performance. He turned back to the Bifrost. "I see him there now."

"Is there anyone with him?" Loki pressed.

Heimdall sighed and turned back, looking out across the stars to Alfheim. After a few seconds he shook his head. "He is alone, standing in the ruins of the palace."

Loki pressed his lips together thoughtfully there was a chance he could be there alone, but it didn't make any sense. There was no strategy to it. There was not sustenance in that realm and while an immortal couldn't die from it, they could suffer from dehydration and starvation just the same.

Loki sighed, as he tried to think of a reason Harokin would be there alone. "Did you know Harokin?" Loki asked. Heimdall was the oldest living Asgardian. He had taken his post as Guardian and Gatekeeper of Asgard when Bor's grandfather had sat on the throne.

Heimdall nodded.

"I have read all the books we have on Harokin. The Asgardian legend says he was cursed to his immortality after betraying his king..."

Heimdall nodded. "He did betray his king. He was a great general and a warrior of unsurpassed skill, but in time he learned to crave power and no longer wished to serve his king," Heimdall's strange orange eyes regarded Loki gravely as he spoke.

Loki scowled at the ancient being, not liking what he was implying. "Other stories say he fell in love with a sorceress. A dark elf who gave him the power of immortality. Could this be possible?" Loki asked.

Heimdall stilled as Loki's question caught the Guardian off guard. "Anything is possible young prince," Heimdall hedged thoughtfully. "If such a woman existed however, I never saw her, and she exists no longer. There are precious few elves either Dark or Light still living, and I monitor them all."

Loki's thoughts flickered briefly to Kenna and he wondered if Heimdall had been listening in on their interactions.

Loki steeled himself to ask the next question. It was the real reason he was here, and the one mostly likely to offend Heimdall. "Would it be possible for one to use magic to shield themselves from your gaze?"

Heimdall stiffened, and when he turned his gaze to Loki his eyes flashed to orange and he seemed to look through Loki. "To my knowledge no master of magic has ever deceived my sight, Prince. And I don't suggest you try."

Loki frowned at Heimdall's sudden hostility. "No I would never-" he started to say. "That is not why I am here Heimdall-" Loki stammered.

The Gatekeeper leveled a serious look at the prince. "I see you Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard, God of Mischief, Master of Magic, and know that I will be watching...I suggest you stay away from the Light Elf. She will bring nothing but suffering and ruin."

Loki narrowed his eyes angrily at Heimdall's mention of Kenna. There was nothing going on between him and the slave. Heimdall's gaze was meant to be used to keep Asgrard safe, not to pry into the personal life of it's prince. "You may see much guardian, but you do not know of what you speak and you cannot see the future," Loki ground out the words, his hands tightening into fists.

"That is true," Heimdall allowed thoughtfully.

Loki spun away and swung back up on his horse. He galloped back into the city his thoughts turning over Heimdall's words. Either way, one thing was certain. Heimdall had at no point said it was impossible to deceive him. He had said to his knowledge no one had, but if one were to deceive Heimdall, how would the Guardian know?

Thor met him in the stable as he swung down from his horse and handed the reins off to the groom.

"Brother," Thor called in greeting.

Loki nodded in greeting, still too distracted to give his brother his full focus.

"Brother," Thor called again.

Loki swung around to face him, frowning. "You missed training this afternoon," Thor said.

Loki nodded. "I had more important things to attend to," he replied dismissively.

"What things?" Thor asked glancing back over Loki's shoulder towards the rainbow bridge. "What business have you with Heimdall and the Bifrost?"

"Questions," Loki responded. "Questions about Harokin."

At the mention of Harokin Thor perked up and stepped closer. "Yes? Has Heimdall seen more?" Thor's eagerness gave Loki pause. He worried for his brother. Harokin was a renowned fighter and if it was magic instead of a curse that kept Harokin alive there was a chance he could not be defeated, and his heroic, if headstrong, brother would pay the price.

"We must speak with father," Loki said quickly and he led Thor back into the palace.

They walked together into the throne room. Odin was presiding over the full court. Odin sat upon his throne, looking down on his subjects, his spear, Gungnir, in hand. When his son's entered the room side by side his gaze fell first to his eldest. Loki noticed, but tried not to let it affect him. He was here for a reason.

"Father," Loki greeted bowing his head respectfully. Beside him, Thor did the same.

Odin turned his gaze to Loki and did not look pleased. "It has come to my attention you skipped training today."

Loki frowned in confusion as he looked up at his father. "Yes, that's true," he agreed "But-"

"Do you think now, as we face the possibility of an attack by Harokin, is the time to slough off the training you so obviously require?" Odin asked, his voice booming through out the room.

Loki hunched his shoulders as the others present cast looks of doubt upon him. Beside him Thor shifted his weight. "Father," Loki began again, swallowing nervously. "I was-" he started to say.

"In the garden studying flowers?" Odin mocked, his voice tight with stress over the matter of Harokin. "Yes, I know where you were Loki. This is my palace, I know all that goes on here. Never forget that."

Loki dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to look his angry father in the eye.

"You think flowers will save you in a battle against the likes of Harokin?" Odin challenged.

"No father," Loki said in a low voice. "But Harokin is the reason I have come," he finally managed to say. He hated that his father still had the ability to make him feel like a child.

Odin's gaze traveled to Thor who nodded to his father encouraging him to hear Loki out. Finally Odin looked back at Loki. "Then speak boy," he commanded sharply.

Loki drew in a deep breath. "I spent all night researching Harokin."

"We know all there is to know about the fallen general," Odin growled out. "He was cursed when he betrayed his king in his quest for power."

Loki could feel the weight of his father's gaze as he spoke those words. He swallowed thickly and forced himself to continue. He really wished he didn't have to speak in front of the whole court about this.

"Father, only the Asgardian tales speak of it being a curse. The others allude to his power stemming from his love, a dark elf sorceress."

"Bedtime stories," Odin snapped. "Childish tales of lesser races unable to reconcile our power and abilities."

Loki pressed his lips into a tight line. "But if it were true, there would be a chance that Harokin's army is with him, shielded by magic. Shielded from Heimdall's sight. If we just sent a scouting party we could be sure..."

Beside him Thor shifted his weight in anticipation. His brother would be the first to volunteer to face the infamous Asgardian if given the chance. Standing to the side Sif and the warriors three looked equally as excited at the prospect of traveling to Alfheim to investigate.

Odin's eye narrowed dangerously. He cut his eye to Frigga for only a moment before looking back at his youngest son in disgust. "Heimdall sees all," Odin growled dangerously. "He sees Harokin, why would Harokin allow himself to be seen if he had a way to shield his armies?" Odin growled. "No scouting party will be sent. As of right now, Heimdall watches and Harokin has done nothing to imply an eminent attack. More over, Harokin was once one of Asgardian's greatest warriors, despite his fall, he fought with honor. He would never resort to cowardly trickery. "

Then Odin slammed Gungnir down. It echoed through the chamber. They were dismissed.

Loki stood there for a moment, feeling as though he had been slapped. He stood tall, his chin held high as his father's words played themselves over and over through his mind. His father had called the use of magic cowardly in front of the entire court. His eyes traveled for a moment to his mother who was also a known magic user. Frigga was watching him, concern etched on her face. She opened her mouth to say something but Odin struck the ground once more. Frigga flinched at the sound.

Loki turned away and stalked out of the throne room.

Outside the palace thunder rumbled through the sky, but Loki ignored it. His brother was upset about something, but it didn't matter. He didn't think, he simply let his feet take him. He was unsurprised when he found himself back in the library. He paced long angry lines across the polished marble floor. His hands were gripped tightly into fists and sparks of green power snapped and popped as his emotions roiled through him.

The door to the library opened behind him.

"Leave me!" Loki snarled, he whipped around and his magic swirled giving way to his temper, sending a chair flying across the room. It smashed against the wall to the side of the door, splintering into hundreds of pieces.

Frigga stood, tall and proud in the doorway facing her son. She glanced at what remained of the chair. "You could have hurt someone," she observed.

"A chair will hardly hurt anyone," Loki growled. "I am in complete control."

Frigga arched a brow. "Not all those in the palace are Asgardians, some can be hurt far more easily than you or I," she advised closing the door gently behind her. She kept her movements slow and controlled in an effort to calm her volatile son.

Loki saw straight through her however and resumed his pacing. Loki's thoughts went briefly to Kenna. As a light elf she could be easily injured, his mother was right. He would have felt terrible had his show of temper hurt or frightened her somehow. He closed his eyes and pulled back his raging emotions, forcing the power surging through his body to obey.

His mother, unaware of the direction her son's thoughts had taken, assumed he was still upset over Odin's decree. "He didn't mean it," Frigga said carefully after a few tense, silent moments between them.

Loki looked back at his mother in disbelief. "Of course he meant it. I don't understand how you can forgive him for saying that about you!"

"It wasn't directed at me, or you for that matter," Frigga said carefully.

Loki just shook his head.

Frigga stepped around him towards the open balcony that overlooked the gardens. "Your brother is upset," Frigga said thoughtfully, as she watched the storm raging outside.

Loki nodded dismissively. "Thor is upset he will not have the opportunity to lead a scouting party." Thunder cracked across the sky and Loki wondered if Kenna was in her small shed.

Frigga nodded along with Loki's words, she did not wish to argue with her son when he was this upset. Not for the first time she wondered how one so smart, who saw and understood so much of the world around him, could be so blinded to the people closest to him.

She would need to find Thor next and make sure her more impulsive son did not react too harshly of his father's dismissal of his beloved younger brother. Loki had needed her first however. While Thor in a rage could lead to a storm and perhaps some more cleaning for the servants if he decided to really throw a tantrum. Loki's power and often tenuous grip on his emotions made him more of a concern for her. He bottled everything up inside of him, allowing none to see past his facade of smirks and his razor sharp tongue.

"The hour grows late," Frigga observed. "Will you be joining us for dinner?" she asked turning back to her brooding son.

Loki shook his head angrily. "No, I wouldn't want my cowardess to ruin father's appetite."

Frigga made a very unladylike noise of disgust in the back of her throat and shook her head at her son's words. "As you wish my love," she said stepping up to him. She cupped his cheek in her hand and smiled lovingly up at him. "So you know, you are right," she said firmly. Then she dropped her hand and took a deliberate step back from him.

She smiled faintly at him. "Please make sure you try to get some sleep tonight. I realize you are capable of going days without it, but you must take time to heal yourself before your next adventure," her eyes dropped to his ribs and then back to his face. "Know that I am very proud of you. It was not easy to bring your suspicions before your father."

Frigga pressed her lips together thoughtfully as she chose her next words very carefully. For she had no doubt Loki was being carefully watched by Heimdall after his questions earlier that day. "It is not an easy path my son, to be different. The Allfather does what he believes to be right for the good of his kingdom. Heimdall himself, is guardian of all of Ydrasil..."

He scowled at his mother's odd behavior and she simply smiled more brightly at him.

"In case I don't see you before you go...to bed I mean," she clarified quickly "Sleep well my darling."

Loki looked down at his mother in confusion, she was behaving very strangely.

Frigga held out her hands, palms facing, one above the other. She rotated them so they reversed and an ancient scroll appeared in her hand. "I leave you with a bedtime story," Frigga said, repeating Odin's words from earlier. "To ease your way to the land of dreams," Frigga leaned forward, pushing herself up on her tip toes and kissed her son good night on his cheek. She pressed the scroll into his hands and stepped back, giving him a gentle smile. "Our dreams must always be kept safe, especially from those who might use them against us," Frigga continued cryptically. "See to it your dreams are safe."

Loki cleared his throat and nodded, staring down at the ancient scroll in his hands. It was heavier than it should have been, and, as he often could with powerful books of magic, he felt the power of it radiating through his hand and up his arm. His own power swirled in response, eager to seek out greater power and knowledge. The scrolls canister was covered in what appeared to be an ancient dialect of elvish. "I will mother," he promised.

Frigga smiled at him indulgently and then moved to the door. "I will send a servant up with a tray for dinner," she said and she left Loki alone with the ancient scroll.

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Hi guys! I really hope you are enjoying the story! Thank you so much for the votes and comments! I really appreciate the support!