Thor and Loki had lovingly and carefully placed their grandmother's body onto the bier laid across the pyre the brothers had constructed on the shore of the sea near the cottage upon Loki's return with Revna. A suitable gown had been chosen from Frida's less than extensive wardrobe by Frigga and the Queen of Asgard had been left alone with her mother one last time to cleanse and dress her body.

In place of a sword clutched in the hands of the deceased as was customary at most Asgardian funerals, though not all, Loki had substituted Frida's short, carved walking staff which in his time there he had very seldom seen her without. One brother stood at each end of the pyre, a torch in hand as the last rays of the sun fell below the horizon. Each then touched their torch to their end of the pyre, setting it alight before moving to opposite sides and doing the same. The flames quickly rose, engulfing the pyre and the bier atop it. Placing the torches on the ground, Thor and Loki joined the others gathered.

Loki stood beside his mother, Odin on the other side of Frigga. Revna moved to stand at Loki's side. Thor had taken his place next to his father. Unlike the others, Revna had not viewed Frida's body until it had been removed from her bedroom by Loki and Thor and had yet to truly begin grieving the loss. The reality of it suddenly hit her as Frida's body was overtaken by the conflagration and she bowed her head, tears cascading from her eyes, silently weeping, her body trembling. Loki glanced at his mother whom he would usually be consoling in such a circumstance, seeing that Odin had taken that responsibility well in hand, then turned his head back to Revna, putting his arm around her. Loki was aware that Revna not only wept and grieved for Frida but for the void the woman's death now left in her own life. It was yet another great loss, another shifting of the ground beneath her feet to which she would need to adjust.

Loki already had put his ever active mind to work considering possible solutions to fill that void. As he had told Revna previously, there were other aged people on Asgard in need of similar assistance, in need of companionship. Perhaps rooms could be arranged for her in the palace or somewhere closer to it than this place and a situation found for her. If she wished to remain there, though Loki hoped she wouldn't, perhaps Frida's cottage could be utilized by someone in need of her care that wished to live in its peaceful isolation in their last years. He had already decided if Revna voiced a desire to stay to convince his mother that the cottage be lent to her for her use. Though not luxurious by any means, it was a far nicer dwelling than her current abode. He was sure a suitable arrangement could be made that would satisfy her. The day would surely come when Frigga and Odin would likely need assistance as well, though that time still appeared to be at least somewhat distant. Loki considered, however, that when that day did come, perhaps Revna would have a different role in life and other responsibilities with which to occupy her time.

As the flames played over Frida's corpse, Odin, using his mastery of magic, a mastery at a level only the Allfather had obtained, willed it to transform into a mass of shimmering golden energy which then rose from the bier and ascended out over the ocean and to the sky, appearing to dissolve among the stars.

Odin, Frigga and Thor had taken their leave not long after the conclusion of Frida's funeral. Loki was to stay on for another day, perhaps two, having offered to pack up a few of Frida's personal belongings to give to his mother and to tie up a few loose ends to prepare to leave the cottage unoccupied, though Revna had offered to ensure it remained clean and in good repair, ready for use by those of the royal family or anyone else they might grant permission. Of course there was still the garden to tend to for awhile longer. Revna would likely plant another one when the next growing season came around.

As Loki and Revna stepped back into the cottage after his family's departure, Revna had secured the door, something she had never done before. It was clear she was still unnerved by her experience with whatever creature she had encountered and believed was out to do her harm.

She had been reticent to step outside her dwelling to return to Frida's cottage and had insisted upon bringing the sword along with a bag containing a night dress and change of clothing and a few other necessities for the next day as she had no desire to return to her dwelling through the forest in the dark of night as she had so many times before without fear. She had carried the sword gripped securely in her right hand as she wrapped her left arm tightly around Loki's, her countenance almost that of an anxious, frightened child. Loki still pondered what she could possibly have encountered. There had been no sign of any such beast whatsoever either on his way to her or on their journey back.

Loki now recalled what they had discovered on their trek. As Revna's eyes had nervously scanned the forest on either side of the path, they had fallen upon something lying curled up on the forest floor amongst the leaves and moss a few paces away, the white spots on it seeming to almost glow in the rays of the filtered sunlight. Forgetting her fear momentarily, she had led Loki off the path to investigate. Reaching it, they had both looked down on the chocolate brown and white spotted fur of what had once been an infant creature similar to a fawn. It was clearly deceased though it had not yet begun to decompose. The time of its passing could not have been long ago. Revna had released Loki's arm and stooped down in front of it, reaching her hand out and gently stroking the soft fur. She was obviously affected by the sight of something so young laying lifeless before her. Loki thought how there seemed to be no silver lining to the dark cloud that hovered over this day.

"Poor thing…" Revna had said sadly. "Do you think what I saw could have done this?" she asked, Loki didn't see any blood or other obvious signs of injury.

"It doesn't appear to have been harmed. It was likely ill or born with a defect and abandoned by-" Loki said before breaking off, having thought better of finishing the thought. "Nature will attend to it. Let's be on our way." Revna had risen, again taking Loki's arm, her sword in hand, both returning to the path.

In the cottage, Loki had now seated himself in the armchair. Revna had moved to the window, the light from the cauldron playing upon her back as she stared out into the darkness with a mournful expression but also one of apprehension. Loki was well aware of what she was watching for. How was she to go on here alone after his departure if she was so overtaken with anxiety, fearful to even step outside? He was almost certain now that if she truly had seen anything, her mind had exaggerated it and the threat it posed, morphed it into something more than it was due to her emotional state regarding Frida's passing, or impending passing at the time. He wondered what it was his grandmother had said to her when she had requested to see Revna alone. Could something she told her have triggered the whole episode? Surely if that was the case, that had not been his grandmother's intention.

Revna wrestled with her own thoughts. Loki's revelation that his plan was to lead the Jotuns into a trap, betraying Laufey, struck fear into her. She remembered the agony she'd endured when Laufey had grasped her arm to warn her not to betray him and no betrayal had actually taken place. What would he do with Loki if he were to fall into his clutches? It was then that it occurred to her….she had been attempting to dissuade Loki from carrying out the plan...the beast she had seen had been similar to the one Loki had conjured as an illusion that he had said was native to Jotunheim...at least twice now she had thought someone was nearby, watching her...once in the forest with Loki and then again the night before after she had awakened from her nightmare. She now found herself in a difficult position, as if she found herself caught in a snare she herself had set. She couldn't seek his help to protect her as she would have to explain to him who she needed to be protected from and why.

She knew as soon as Loki returned she must seek out Jotunheim's king, apologize for her actions, explain they had been precipitated by an enchantment placed upon her by his witch grandmother, that she was now free of the spell and all was going according to plan. Of course she would not mention that Loki's plan differed from Laufey's version. Of that she could easily claim ignorance if she were forced to answer for it. She hoped once it was over, Laufey would make a hasty retreat and that would be the end of it. Revna turned from the window, apprehension in her eyes, though it was no longer due to the beast.

Loki sensed once again the same empty feeling within the cottage as he had shortly after Frida's death. It felt as if that emptiness had found its way within him as well, to dwell with his own constant sense of being alone, different, isolated, and now after Odin's choice, without purpose. As Loki looked up from where he sat as he noticed Revna turn from the window, another sensation, or perhaps it would be better described as an overwhelming need, an urge overcame him, one Loki thought would have been the last thing on his mind after the events of the day.

He wanted her. He wanted her more than he could ever remember wanting a lover before...he wanted to have her, to take her, to rule her, to possess her and in doing so sweep all else from his mind. He wanted her as badly as she had told him the beast outside her door had wanted her, but with a different intent and purpose, one she would have no reason to fear, one she would find far more enjoyable than being torn limb from limb...but then, perhaps engendering a little fear in her wasn't a bad thing. People often found enjoyment in being frightened hence the telling of ghostly tales which seemed to be popular in nearly every culture throughout the universe. Of course people knew deep down there was no real danger as she would surely know as well.

"It's late." Revna said.

"I suppose it is." Loki replied. He stood from the chair and approached her

"It's been a long day. I'm glad it's over." Revna said. As Loki came closer, she could see the look in his eyes, one she had become familiar with.

"It will be over when I say it's over." Loki said imperiously. Revna immediately gleaned his intentions and was conflicted concerning the propriety of it considering what had passed in the hours before, yet found herself with a similar sense of overpowering longing.

"Even kings cannot command a day to outlast its time." Revna told him. Loki pulled her tightly against him.

"What about a god?"

Revna had found the end of the day, the extended day, quite a vast improvement over the rest of it. They lay now together in Loki's bed in the guestroom of the cottage, he with one arm around her as she rested her head on his chest, an arm around him. She could tell by his breathing that he was on the cusp of sleep, and though fatigued, her brain would not cease pondering.

"If you were to take the throne, bring an end to it….the wars, the slaughter. Let there be no others like me." she told him.

"I would have it that there be more like you." Loki said drowsily, his eyes still closed, a sleepy grin on his face.

"Let Asgard spend its time and energies on other things...beautiful things...art, music, theater...there are far better reasons to celebrate than the spilling of blood."

"I agree." Loki responded.

The spilling of blood was foremost on Revna's mind, though she attempted to push it from her thoughts without success. Revna's anxiety about the last part of Loki's plan he had related to her continued unabated. She recalled the vision of Loki's corpse, the red and purple markings of a hand around his throat. Was it merely the bruising of strangulation or were they burns as well? She knew Frida had told her to allow Loki to follow his path, that what would happen must happen...but how could she possibly allow him to die? She longed to once again attempt to talk him out of it now that she knew he planned to betray Laufey and what the consequences could be, yet she had already vacillated once. He would think her mad if she were to do so again. Another thought crossed her mind, one pertaining to the peril she believed herself to be in as well as the dead fawn in the forest. The two did not seem on the surface to be related in any way, yet Revna had made a link between them.

"If anything were to happen to me...my father's sword….find him and pass it to him as it should be." Revna said. Loki half opened his eyes, looking down at the top of her head as it rested on his chest.

"I thought you didn't wish him to know? What do you think would happen to you?"

"I've been reconsidering the matter. One never knows what the next day will bring. If I had been but a few paces slower…." Revna said, recalling to mind her race against the beast, the monster. She felt herself now finally slipping into the abyss of sleep. "I lov-" Revna began, then stopped. "I'm sorry. I should not say it as it would cause you to feel obligated to return the sentiment."

"Say what you like. The proper way to say a thing is learned by the hearing of it." Loki said. "When the time comes, I wish to get it right." Loki said. Revna smiled to herself.

"I love you." Revna said before surrendering to slumber.