Revna and Loki traipsed through the forest arm in arm enjoying the peace and serenity of the nature surrounding them. As they continued their trek, Loki felt Revna slide her arm from his to take his hand.

"I will be returning home early tomorrow. I have business to attend to, but I will return in the evening to remain a few days more." Loki informed her.

"What is it you must do?" Revna asked before reconsidering her question. "I'm sorry. It's not my place to ask such questions."

"Ask what you like, however, the explanation would likely outlast your interest in it." Loki replied. "It's nothing of any great concern."

The two came upon a small stream, the water crystal clear, filling the air with a gentle gurgling sound, silvery fish and a few of a pinkish hue as visible as if they were merely behind glass swimming and darting about.

"I used to come here from time to time as a child with my mother and father. It's why I chose to return here. It's so peaceful…"

"Peace has its place...but perhaps we should liven things up a bit…" Loki said, releasing her hand and stepping behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he put his lips to the curve of her neck below her ear, then down to where it met her shoulder as her head lolled. Revna felt herself melting as if she were a block of ice in the rays of the summer sun. Loki moved his lips back up her neck to her ear. "I would have you…." he said seductively into it as she felt his hands move from around her waist, gripping the skirt of her gown at her sides, gathering the fabric into them, the hem rising as he did so.

Revna sighed with pleasure as she felt Loki's hand slip under her hiked skirt and place itself on her hip before sliding over her smooth skin to her inner thigh. At that moment a rustling sound reached them from across the stream in the distance among the brush and trees.

"What was that?" Revna asked, opening her eyes and staring off in the direction in which the sound seemed to have originated. Loki also peered over her shoulder, scanning that area of the forest.

"Are there others residing here?" Loki asked.

"Not that I'm aware..."

"Only a forest creature..." Loki said as both continued to look over the area from which the sound originated. Nothing coming into view and the sound not having been repeated, Loki returned his attention to Revna. "And as they do, so shall we..."

Revna deeply felt Loki's absence throughout the whole of the next day as she went about her routine tasks, assisting Frida in various ways as she had each day stretching back for long before the aged woman's princely grandson had first appeared before the cottage, trunk in hand. It had been only days since that moment but felt as if it had been much longer. Revna was well versed in the feeling of absence, yet she knew in this instance that absence was temporary. But then she knew he must eventually leave again, perhaps only a few more days would he remain. She knew she would eventually adjust back to her former life and routine after he was gone, but as long as this day had stretched on, she dreaded the process. That had been one of the benefits of settling there...there was no one, other than Frida, to become attached to and no one to miss and thus no danger to her heart that had already known far more than its share of pain.

Having concluded their evening meal, Revna and Frida made their way to the front room for the evening, the young woman assisting Frida to her usual place in her favorite chair. Frida couldn't help but notice Revna's somewhat frequent glances towards the door and to the window as she seemed to be gauging the track of the sun across the sky.

"He will return to us soon." Frida said to her. As if on cue, Revna heard what she thought to be footsteps approaching the stone path to the cottage's front door. Both women looked towards the door, Revna moving towards it to greet Loki as she had done at his initial arrival. Opening the door Revna saw only the empty pathway. Confused and unsettled, she stepped out of the door looking to her right and left and taking a few steps forward, attempting to locate the source of the sound they had both clearly heard.

From around the far side of the cottage bounded a large creature, something of a mix between a canine and a bear yet hairless, its skin a bluish grey and eyes a blood red, large fangs protruding from each side of it's long jaw, froth and saliva dripping from its ravenous mouth as it snarled and growled before bellowing a sound something like the mix of a bark and a howl. With a piercing scream of sheer terror, sure she was within seconds of finding herself ripped to shreds by the horrifying beast, Revna turned to race back to the door of the cottage though she was certain she had little chance of escape. Thoughts raced like wildfire through her mind...what of Frida? She would most likely soon be torn apart as well...and Loki...she couldn't imagine what he would endure upon his return to discover only the bloody, mangled remnants of both she and his beloved grandmother.

She had taken only a couple of sprinting steps when the creature dissolved from view in a blue flash, at the same instant two arms catching her from behind, wrapping themselves around her, lifting her slightly from the ground, arresting her forward momentum. She shrieked before her terrorized mind caught up with events and recognized the arms about her...as well as the source of the uproarious laughter that now reached her ears. Looking towards the door she saw Frida standing there, leaning on her staff as she felt solid ground beneath her feet once again. Revna turned swiftly to face Loki who now stood before her, a mischievous grin spread wide across his face.

"Bastard!" Revna exclaimed, balling her hand into a fist and bouncing it off his chest as his laughter continued.

"It appears you have now been properly initiated into my grandson's favor." Frida said from the doorway before turning, disappearing from view back inside the cottage.

"I liked the dress better." Revna said as she took Loki's hand, leading him towards the door.

Night had newly fallen as Revna prepared to assist Frida to rest for the night. Frida stood, one hand resting atop the other over her staff as Revna stood with her back to her, opening a drawer of Frida's wardrobe.

"My grandson could well have developed such a scheme without your assistance." Revna heard Frida's voice say from behind her. Revna looked up from the contents of the drawer in shocked silence.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're-" Revna finally said before Frida interrupted.

"You know perfectly well my meaning. Unlike my grandson, you have never been particularly skilled at deception." Revna slowly turned to face the old woman, fear etched across her face. "I'm afraid Loki's path has never been smooth. The universe is a cruel place for those who are different. Those wounds, like your own, often lead those who suffer them down a dark path. I had hoped by bringing you together you would both find your way to a brighter one, not lead each other further into the abyss." Frida said mournfully. Frida approached Revna who continued to stand as if paralyzed. "Your elixir has been most effective, far more than you had anticipated, I believe. It has revealed to me many secrets. I would share them with you."

Before Revna could anticipate what move Frida would make, Frida swiftly raised her hand and placed it upon the young woman's forehead, Revna's body stiffening, her eyes rolling upwards as a flurry of images flashed upon the screen of her mind...Loki plummeting from what appeared to be the Bifrost into the black void of space, Loki in shackles and gagged, Loki surrounded by einherjar holding him in chains as he traversed the throne room of the palace, Loki locked away alone in a cell in the dungeon, Loki's still corpse lying on a metal deck, his skin mottled and whitish-grey, the whites of his glassy, lifeless eyes red, his throat bearing the deep purple and red markings the hand that closed around it, snuffing out Loki's life, had left behind.

Frida removed her palm from Revna's forehead. Revna stared at her, wide eyed in fright and grief before her eyes once again rolled up into her head, her body going limp as she sank heavily to the floor.

Loki sat in the armchair in the front room, contemplating what had passed earlier that day with a sense of satisfaction. He had found Laufey more than amenable and he had readily agreed to the plan Loki presented to him, though Loki had left out one important detail. Of course Loki had not presented himself as himself, but an Asgardian disgruntled with his king, which of course Loki was, that part was not a deception.

Loki turned his head as he heard a sort of thump from Frida's bedroom. Concerned, he had already raised himself from the chair as Frida opened the door gesturing for him to come quickly. As Loki reached the bedroom, his eyes met Revna's unconscious form sprawled on the floor. Rushing to her side, he knelt beside her.

"What happened?" Loki asked his grandmother.

"I'm not certain. We were speaking when she fainted away." Frida answered. Loki slid his arms under Revna, lifting her from the floor and moved to Frida's bed, placing her upon it before sitting on the edge facing her.

"Revna? Revna…" Loki said, getting no response. Examining her quickly with his eyes, he saw no obvious cause of her current state. Remembering the burn on her arm, he pushed her sleeve up slightly but it seemed to have faded and was well on its way to healing. Another thought crossed his mind. Not a welcome one for Loki, at the moment anyway, but a possible explanation.

"You don't think...could she be….?" Loki said as Frida stood nearby also looking to the woman on the bed. Though he had not finished the question, Frida quickly gleaned his meaning.

"It would not make itself known so soon...though such an event would please your mother, I'm sure." Frida answered. "If you would not find it as pleasing, and your question tells me that neither of you have been considering such an outcome, it's time that you did so."

"Revna…" Loki repeated, making another attempt to rouse her. This time he met with success as Revna's eyes fluttered open. She gazed up at him in confusion.

"Loki? What…"

"You fainted. Have you been feeling ill?" Loki asked.

"No. I've been well. I was getting a night dress for Frida..." Revna sat up. "I'm fine now, I think." Loki stood as Revna moved off the bed.

"You should rest. I'll help Amma-" Loki began.

"No...no. I'm alright." Revna said, returning to the wardrobe.

Revna had finished helping Frida prepare for bed and ensured she was settled in for the night, Loki remaining outside the door. Exiting the bedroom, she closed the door behind her, her countenance continuing to appear unnerved at the event that had previously transpired.

"I should be going." Revna said.

"Perhaps you should remain here for the night." Loki suggested.

"No...I'll sleep better in my own bed." said Revna.

"I'll see you home then."

Loki escorted Revna through the dark forest back to her abode. Entering, Loki behind her closing the door, she followed her usual routine, lighting the cauldron, bathing the room in light. Turning, she spied an object lying on her bed.

"What's that?" she asked curiously as Loki grinned. Revna crossed the room to the bed, a long white box resting on it. Removing the top of the box, Revna's eyes came to rest on the gown within it, the emerald green luxurious, silky fabric of which it was constructed, its gold lace and embellishments. Astonished, she lifted it from the box.

"It's real…" Revna said in disbelief.

"Yes." Loki said with a grin. "I hope the color is to your liking. I thought it would favor you." Loki said, crossing the room to stand behind her as she continued to hold the gown, staring at it in wonder.

"It's beautiful…"

"Why don't you try it on? If any adjustments need to be made…"

"Turn around." Revna told Loki. He wasn't quite sure why at this point she would be concerned, but followed her directive, turning his back. Revna glanced at him before removing the gown she currently wore, replacing it with the new one. "Alright." Revna said. Loki turned to see Revna standing before him in the extravagant green gown. He had been correct. The hue perfectly accentuated the reddish cast in her hair, the green tint of her eyes, her fair skin. Loki, awestruck at the sight of her, even more so than he had imagined he would be, stepped forward and took her hands in his own.

"Let no one ever tell you that you are not a queen."