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❛ ᴇᴛᴏɪʟᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ꒱


❝ I'LL BE FINE, LOKI.
YOU'LL BE WITH ME ❞

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V A N A H E I M

A silver coin turned over in the air, spinning in front of the transfixed man. His eyes stayed on the shiny object in front of him, even as the woman— Herja— prowled around him. He seemed completely oblivious to the threat she posed as he was far more interested in the money before him.

"Due west, you say? And you're certain he had a girl with him?" the witch asked calmly.

"Yeah," came Ferdy's breathless response, mesmerized by the coin.

She made sure that the hood of her cloak was secured over her graying hair so the trader wouldn't know her true identity. "You're sure? Absolutely sure? Sure you're not lying?"

"I'd cross my heart if I had one." His expression brightened with greedy glee as the silver piece landed in his lap. "Brilliant. You know, my lady, for your time, I will give you a piece of free advice— you're not the only one searching for the Star, as I'm sure you know. One of Odin's men tracked me down. Promised. . . well, more like threatened that he would keep my fine establishment running as long as I told him what he wanted."

"And did you?" Herja demanded, though the ire in her voice was hidden under a veil of sweetness.

"I had to, my lady," he stammered a little. "I can't have Odin sniffing around here! But I'm sure he's no threat to you, of course— the man, I mean—"

"Enough," she ordered him. A flash of green magic silenced Ferdy's rambling. She turned her back on him to continue her pursuit of the Star, leaving the man squawking like a parrot in her wake.

✧ ✧ ✧

It was the second to last night on the pirate ship— they'd be at the passageway in the morning— and Eleanora was out on the deck, looking at the stars like she usually did. And, like he typically did, Loki joined her. He stood next to the girl, so close that their arms brushed and he could feel the heat coming off of her skin. But, unlike the other nights, she wasn't looking up, she was looking at him— though the god, of course, was the one whose gaze was focused on the stars tonight.

Eleanora was thinking about how Loki had given her so much: he'd taught her new songs, would teach her how to read Asgardian, had shown her the world (even if it hadn't exactly been the way she wanted to see it), and he was going to teach her how to dance. She hadn't given him anything in return except trouble, and she wanted to rectify that.

Her hand slid into the pocket of her blue dress where— despite all odds— the glass flower that she'd bought so long ago was still with her. It was the only thing of hers that she had, and though it was surely a paltry gift to give to a prince, she didn't have anything else.

"Loki," she said quietly, drawing his attention to her. "I. . . I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?" he repeated, bemused. "As you often remind me, Eleanora, I stole you away from your home, broke your ankle—"

She waved an airy hand. "I'm over all that. I wasn't thinking about the fact that I'm seeing the world— worlds, and I'm travelling, having adventures, just like I always wanted. Admittedly I wish I interacted with less people who want to kill me, but I'd rather have it this way than not at all."

"You are a very strange woman," the prince remarked. Even though it was a small thing, his use of gender in reference to her always made her heart skip a beat. She really had changed his perspective on Stars.

"And you are a very strange god," she replied with a lilt in her voice that made it obvious she was teasing him. "I know it's not much to offer, especially when I'm sure you can have anything you want, but. . . this is for you— as a thank you."

She pulled out the blue glass flower and handed it to him, anxiously watching for his reaction. He twirled the delicate green stem between his fingers, as if to admire the craftsmanship. "Eleanora," he said softly, his voice tinged with genuine warmth, "this is. . . exquisite." He turned the flower over in his hand, marveling at its fragile beauty. "I will be sure to display it in a place of prominence."

He thought for a moment and then tucked it into the top button hole of his jacket. The deep blue of the flower's petals stood out starkly against the white of the fabric. She smiled happily at him as her starshine began to shimmer around her, unable to be restrained as she beamed at the god.

✧ ✧ ✧

"Hold on tight! The Captain's at the helm!" one of the crew members called as the ship sailed towards the surface of the water.

The lake below them was huge, so even the roughest landings were safe from crashing into the shore. The sky above them was a brilliant blue and the air was crisp and cool, causing goosebumps to rise on Eleanora's bare arms. She didn't mind the chill, though, since standing at the ship's bow was exhilarating.

Wind buffeted her all around, making her skirts flap from the force of it. Even with the ship's swaying underneath her, she felt safe with the smooth, sturdy wood of the railing pressing against her stomach and Loki's warmth from where he stood behind her. His arms were braced on either side, caging her in to keep her from stumbling with the ship's movement. Eleanora was certain that her starshine was glowing from the joy she felt, though it was hardly noticeable in the bright sunlight. She couldn't even bring herself to worry about it as she laughed with delight from it all.

The ship tilted dangerously on its rudder, sending most of the crew sliding from one side to the other. Loki's seiðr kept them in place and protected from the spray that rose up from the contact. The girl twisted around to see his reaction and, while he wasn't out rightly laughing like she was, the smile on his face was genuine enough to make her heart skip several beats— and it made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

They hit the surface of the lake in a tremendous splash of water— the captain could be just as mischievous as Loki was— but the god's magic kept them dry. They docked shortly after that, not far from the passageway that would take them between the realms. Shakespeare handed Loki a cannister of the lightning that they had harvested as a good-faith parting gift.

The captain clapped the prince on the shoulder— and this time, Loki didn't glare at him to remove his hand. "So there's the road you'll need for Asgard. Good luck on your journey home, Loki. I wish you well with whatever the future has in store for you, Eleanora."

"How can we ever thank you enough for your kindness?" the blonde wondered, giving their new friend a goodbye hug.

Shakespeare shook his head. "Don't mention it. No, seriously, don't mention it. Reputations, you know. A lifetime to build, seconds to destroy. Oh, and Loki. . ." Although Eleanora didn't know what he whispered, it was easy enough for the god to hear: "I know you have a mission, but don't let it distract you too much from what's right in front of you. You shouldn't let love slip through your fingers because you weren't brave."

Loki glanced over at the Star with an unreadable look on his face, and she gave him puzzled one in return due to their interaction. He shook his head, indicating that she didn't need to worry about it, but Shakespeare's claim was absurd. He barely even knew Eleanora! How could the captain claim that he was in love? Besides, there was no way that she would feel that way about him after everything he'd put her through.

The pirate leader raised his voice to a normal volume again. "Just think about it. Well, give my regards to your father. It's been a pleasure to meet you both." The crew grumbled at their leader's oddly pleasant parting words in confusion, prompting the first mate to cough pointedly. Shakespeare quickly added, "mind you don't wear that wench out, Captain Loki!"

✧ ✧ ✧

The roar of the waterfall was almost deafening as they approached it and Eleanora had to speak louder than usual to be heard. "What did he say to you?"

"What did he say when?" Loki asked. He kept ahold of the girl's hand to guide her over the slippery rocks as they got closer to where the water came crashing down.

The blonde's gaze was focused on her feet to make sure she wouldn't trip over the hazardous path so she couldn't see his face. "Just then. When he whispered to you."

The god used this to his advantage and he shrugged, answering casually, "nothing of much importance, p— Eleanora. Just a sailor's tall tales about traversing realms."

He stopped just before the falling water, and the spray made some of his raven-dark curls stick to the sides of his face in a distractingly attractive way. There was an odd, intense look in his eyes that made them seem more blue— like the frothy water next to their feet— than green. His grip on her arm was gentle but firm, which he used to turn her to face him. "Listen to me, Eleanora. I know you have travelled through realms once before on the Gullinbursti, but travelling on foot is a different experience entirely."

"I'll be fine, Loki," she promised, touched by how concerned he seemed to be with her comfort. "You'll be with me."

He gave her that odd look again— just as he had after the captain had spoken with him. It made her stomach do a little flip, even if she couldn't exactly read his expression. "Of course I will be," he said, almost scoffing at the thought of anything else. "I was merely making sure that you understand the gravity of the situation. It requires a certain level of resilience, which, I must say, might be a bit challenging for someone not accustomed to the intricacies of the Nine Realms."

Eleanora rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll have you know, Loki, that I am quite resilient. I survived your company this long, haven't I?"

The god seemed almost annoyed that she wasn't taking this as seriously as he was— which was saying something for what she knew about his personality. "Have it your way, then. I was merely ensuring that you would be adequately prepared for what lies ahead of us."

She frowned at the clipped tone of his speech, wondering if she had offended him somehow, though when he held her hand, his touch was still tender. He didn't waste anymore time and walked straight through the waterfall without looking back at her. First his head disappeared, then his shoulders, then all that was left was where their hands were connected, his sticking out from the wall of water.

The blonde closed her eyes and followed him, tensing as the water came crashing around her. The force of it made her knees buckle and it was almost too much to bear, stealing her breath away from the shock of its coldness. But then she was through, stumbling into the pressing— but somehow less crushing than the water she'd left behind— dark.

"Eleanora?" Loki's voice sounded near her in the dense blackness. The feeling of his hand in hers kept her from freaking out entirely, a reminder that she wasn't alone.

"I'm here," she whispered, the words almost swallowed up by the void around them.

"We won't be here long." His voice was suddenly much closer than it had been a moment ago, and she yelped in surprise when she felt something warm and alive snake around her waist. She could hear the amusement in his tone when he reassured her, "it's just me."

The god tugged her to his side, though she felt more than saw the action. She could feel the warmth of his body pressed against hers as he secured her to him. "Ready?"

"For what?" she asked nervously.

"This."

Then they were falling, and someone was screaming— no, she was screaming, which made her clamp her mouth together as Loki's laugh sounded near her ear. It made her want to hit him.

But she didn't get the chance to entertain the thought since their feet were slamming into the ground in the next second. It was only the god's support that kept her from falling flat on her face. "You're a jerk," she grumbled, catching her breath.

"Why thank you," was his snarky reply before they were falling again.

✧ ✧ ✧

As Herja's goat cart trundled along on Vanaheim's bumpy road, she tried to use her magic to make herself appear younger once more. There was a flash of green as she attempted to vanish some of her wrinkles, but that only made more age spots form on her arms, causing her to huff in frustration. A cackling laugh caught her attention and she rolled her eyes as the ruby on her finger glinted.

"If you have quite finished squandering your magic on your rather counterproductive beauty routine, you might like to know that the Star has returned," Heidi greeted her snidely.

"She's back on land," Helena added helpfully.

The older sister scoffed. "I know, damn it. I couldn't reach the lake in time."

"No matter. We have found her. She is on the road to Asgard. If you take the waterfall passageway, you should arrive in time to intercept her."

✧ ✧ ✧

A S G A R D

Loki and Eleanora emerged from the darkness into a slightly less black cavern. She could tell when they had arrived on Asgard from the shift in light; suddenly she could see the outline of the god next to her, rather than just feel his presence. Her feet splashed in shallow water, but the prince's gentle hold kept her from losing her balance. It didn't take them long to leave the cave behind, and suddenly they were surrounded by tall trees— not quite as tall as Alfheim's, but still a formidable height.

"Welcome to Asgard," Loki said.

She looked around, frowning a little. "I thought there was a golden palace?"

That earned her a soft laugh from the god. "There is, I assure you. We're still several days out from the city proper."

"Days?" she repeated in concern. "What about your father's deadline? Won't we miss it?"

"You're awfully eager to finish a quest that doesn't end in your favor."

The blonde shrugged. "I just want to make sure you get the recognition that you deserve."

There it was again— that same easy, throwaway remark about someone giving a damn about him. And not just because he was Thor's brother, or that he was a prince, or that they were related to him in some way, but this girl, who didn't owe him anything, was still on his side. Loki didn't know how to respond to that type of sentiment, so he merely cleared his throat and ignored it. "We'll get to the palace in time, don't worry, p— Eleanora."

They made it out of the woods and onto the main road, which was long and winding. It seemed to be in better condition than Vanaheim's rutted dirt path, though, and the scenery was far more lush than just scrub grass. The forest continued on their left while the river on their right widened into a lake. As they walked, Loki told her about Asgard's layout— how it was a flat planet, the Bifrost that went straight to the palace, the water that just fell away to nothing at the edge. She listened with awe at the vivid descriptions from someone who actually lived there. (Sure, her mother had, too, but that had been so long ago and she'd been confined to the Healer's quarters.)

"The throne room is magnificent— that is, for those who have never seen it. The novelty of it wears off quickly if you live there. It's so large that it can fit the entirety of Asgard's population, which is necessary for events like coronation—" he broke off as a carriage came over the crest of the hill.

Without warning, he grasped Eleanora's wrist and swung her towards the edge of the forest. She yelped in surprise at the unexpected change of direction as her body was sent tumbling through the undergrowth to land against the hard soil. The unanticipated consequence of this sudden movement, however, was that Loki wound up landing on top of her. He braced his arms on either side of her head to keep most of his weight off of her, but that still put their faces much closer than either one had been prepared for.

"Honestly, Loki, twisting my ankle again isn't going to get us there faster," the girl teased him, trying to distract herself from exactly what their position alluded to.

His eyes— which were a leaf-green in this light— softened as he looked down at her, though that glimmer of amusement was still there. Balancing his weight on one arm, he pressed a gentle finger to her lips. "Quiet, you. I can't risk people seeing you. I don't trust anyone."

They fell silent as the carriage trundled past, but neither one noticed the sound. Loki's attention was caught by the faint shimmer of light that glittered across Eleanora's skin as her silvery glow made a reappearance. Her expression was open and unguarded as she looked up at him, the look in her eyes full of unquestioning innocence as she honestly trusted him with her life, even though he was the last person she should chose for something like that. The fact that she was willing to place her wellbeing in his care— even after everything— made his heart stutter strangely in his chest. (He made a mental note to go to the Healer's once this was over.)

Eleanora, on the other hand, could only stare at Loki's lips. All she could think about was how she would like to be in this position again, but in a soft bed and with less clothes. If she had known the god's thoughts, she would have told him that she trusted him with her life and more— with her heart, with her soul, with everything. She knew it probably wasn't the wisest decision, but it was the one that she had made: she was— had always been, really— unequivocally, irrevocably on his side. He was her glorious purpose, after all, so it really only made sense. There was just one thing she was curious about; everything she knew about him contradicted his actions thus far.

"Aren't you tempted?" she asked after a minute, her voice quiet so that no passers-by could overhear.

A small crease formed between his brows as they furrowed. "Tempted? By what?"

"Immortality. Let's say it wasn't my heart. Not me. Just a star you didn't know," the blonde explained, the heart in question pounding faster as she waited for his answer. Because the man Loki tried to be— known for backstabbing and lying— would undeniably kill her just for a little more power. But the man she knew him to be had kept her safe and hadn't so much as harmed her (bar their initial meeting, of course.)

"Darling," the prince began (and wow, did that endearment make her stomach twist in excited knots), "I'm a god. Five thousand years is more than enough for me."

"What if you shared it with someone you love?" she pressed, trying to ignore the heat that had rushed to her face— or the fact that she was definitely glowing brighter. "Would you want a longer life then?"

He sighed, looking almost regretful as his fond expression faded. "I am not a caring sort of person and you shouldn't think that I am. The love you are speaking of does not exist for me."

The light around her head faded as the force of his words hit her— but not because she was sad for herself, but because her heart broke at the conviction in his eyes; he truly believed he was destined to be alone. She was only more determined to prove him wrong, especially when she knew that he was not the sort of person he thought himself to be.

I will love you, she promised him fiercely in her mind as she gazed up at him. I will love you, even when you think yourself unlovable.

Before she could even think to voice her thoughts aloud— not that she knew where to start, to begin with— Loki cleared his throat and glanced back towards the road. He pushed himself off of her, announcing, "come on, I think we're safe."