Eir stood beside the soul forge, Verda lying upon it as Thor had the last time Loki had found himself in the healing room only days before. Eir examined the golden representation of Verda's body projected above her with concern.

"The wound is superficial but as was the case with Thor it is not healing. If it follows the same course it will soon begin to necrotize. The infection will spread throughout her body."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Loki asked anxiously.

"I could attempt to debride it. However, it would be fruitless and hasten her end if the whole of her body has been affected. There is no way to know."

"Yes there is," Loki said approaching the soul forge.

Before Eir realized what Loki was about to do, he produced one of his daggers, moving the sleeve of Verda's gown up to expose her forearm, using the blade to inflict a small wound, little more than a scratch that for any healthy Asgardian would heal quickly within a minute or two. Loki and Eir watched with bated breath for any sign of healing.

Loki's heart sank, his world shattering as the wound remained unchanged. His vision blurred with tears, he placed his hand over his mouth, stifling a vocalization of anguish as he turned away. Eir remained silent as there was nothing to be said as Loki composed himself, remaining with his back to the healer.

"How long?" Loki asked.

"The wound involves far less tissue than your brother's. If it progresses at the same rate...a day, perhaps two."

"Loki...I had only just left her...how is she?" Frigga said as she entered, rushing to her adopted son.

"The weapon was cursed," Loki informed Frigga.

"No..." Frigga replied mournfully.

"If she is to die she will do so in our own bed," Loki said, lifting Verda from the soul forge and carrying her in his arms as he made his way to the exit, Frigga following.

"Wait…" Eir said, Loki and Frigga halting as she approached, Verda's necklace in her hand, Frigga taking it from her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Coulson rose from the chaise in Loki's chambers, an object wrapped in cloth in his hands, as the doors opened. Loki entered looking grim, Verda in his arms. Frigga followed behind Loki, noticing Coulson. Without a word to him, Loki headed in the direction of the doorway that led to the bedchamber. Frigga continued to follow Loki, assuming from his lack of response to Coulson that his presence in Loki's chambers was expected.

"I am Frigga, Loki's mother," Frigga said to Coulson, her face devoid of the usual smile she would have given upon meeting someone under rosier circumstances.

"Phil Coulson. I'm an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Coulson replied, introducing himself as he followed Frigga.

"I must assume my son has found you innocent."

"Yes, m'am...Mrs. Odin...your majesty?" Coulson floundered.

"Frigga will suffice."

"I'm investigating the murder of your son," Coulson explained.

"You do this willingly?" Frigga asked.

"Define 'willingly.' I had the choice between that or spending the rest of my life in a box eating insects."

"That does not sound like a choice," Frigga responded.

"That's what I said."

"Forgive my son. He has been overwrought and is at times overzealous in his passions. If you wish to return to Midgard-"

"I'm involved now. I can be somewhat overzealous myself."

Loki, with Frigga's motherly assistance, settled Verda into the bed. Loki stood beside the bed looking dazed and lost as he gazed upon her. Frigga beside him placed a comforting hand on his arm, holding out to him the pendant of the necklace lying in the palm of her other hand, the chain dangling. Loki took it from her, seating himself on the edge of the bed, clasping the chain around her neck.

"The body's been taken to the morgue with the others," Coulson informed Loki, uncertain if it was the proper time but feeling awkward, "I have the weapon here. There was nothing else on the body," Coulson walked around the bed, handing the cloth wrapped dagger to Loki, "How is she?"

"She's dying," said Loki stonily.

"I didn't think it was serious," Coulson replied, stunned.

"The weapon was enchanted in the same manner as the sword which felled my brother. If one were to suffer so much as a scratch from this blade…" Loki said, uncovering the dagger.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I'm sorry....I'll leave you alone," Coulson said, exiting the bedchamber to return to the great room.

Frigga looked to Loki with concern as he continued staring silently at the dagger in his hands before seating herself beside him.

Loki considered a question he had often found himself pondering many times over the previous centuries. Was he cursed? Verda had said she would give her life for him...or die with him. Was he willing to do the same for her? The last thing he had said to Coulson before his departure echoed in his mind...a mere scratch from the blade that now rested in his hand was all it would take...all that would be necessary...but first he would have his vengeance.

"I will lead an army to Midgard. If they do not surrender this Randolph and all those in league with him they will burn," Loki said darkly, breaking his silence.

"Your father would never allow that. Midgard is not our enemy," Frigga gently admonished.

"They slaughter each other in droves and now they slaughter us...my brother, she who was to have been my wife," Loki responded.

"This is the work of a few. There are billions of people in Midgard," Frigga cautiously and carefully reached over, moving the cloth back over the dagger, taking it from Loki, "It would be better if this was in my possession," she said, as if she had read Loki's previous thoughts.

"Summon father. Though she will not live to be Queen, she will die as my wife," Loki said to his mother.

Frigga squeezed Loki's hand before she rose with the dagger, making her way out of the bedchamber. Loki turned to Verda, taking her hand. Only days after watching his brother die he would now witness the death of the woman he loved...the only person, aside from his mother, though that was altogether different, to whom he had ever found himself capable of saying those words.

"Loki…?" Verda said weakly as she regained consciousness.

"I'm here."

"The blade...it was cursed…"

"You will feel no pain. I would never allow you to suffer," Loki said, struggling to maintain his composure.

"She was me...the me from this time. Her essence joined with mine...her memories...he lied to her...he took her to Midgard...he told her I was an imposter...she thought she was protecting you...my sister...it was she who cursed both blades."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Do you believe him?" Hill asked Fury after they had left the interrogation room after having another agent cuff Selvig once again and transfer him to one of the jail's cells.

"I don't know what to believe...if I've learned anything in this job it's that just because something sounds crazy doesn't mean it's not true," Fury answered.

"But Thor?...Loki? Really?" Hill said incredulously, "The man he was with at the bar told the bartender his name was Lucas King. She identified his voice on the recording. It has to be an alias but I'm not ready to believe he's a god."

"Before we went in he was talking to someone...asked that Loki be told he was here. I say we wait and see if he shows up."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lorelei sat at her desk in her cell in the dungeon scrawling on a piece of paper she had pulled from the top of the stack resting on the corner of the desk.

"Lorelei."

Upon hearing her name, Lorelei ceased writing. Rising, she turned to view Loki standing outside of her cell.

"You could have saved yourself the trouble. My simpleton sister is to be queen. Clearly neither intelligence or beauty are traits you find attractive in a woman. Did you come to gloat as well?" Lorelei said, perturbed.

"Strange for me to say...but no."

"What is it you want from me?"

"I believe you know," Loki answered.

"I do not. Enlighten me."

"Verda has been attacked. The dagger was cursed by your own hand," Loki replied.

"If I was capable of such a thing do you think I would still be here? As it was your father who created it, you know the collar renders me powerless."

"I've come to make you an offer. Remove the curse, save her life, and I will release you as well as arrange passage off Asgard if you agree never to return," said Loki.

"I am not a gullible fool like my sister. Your father denied you his blessing on account of me. I put one foot out of this cell and it will be all the excuse you need to end me."

"We are already wed," Loki said, holding up his left hand, a ring on his finger, "I have stated my terms. Do you agree to them?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lorelei, shackled, the collar around her neck, entered Loki's bedchamber, Loki following the sorceress. Reaching the side of the bed, she looked down on the pale face of Verda.

"Sister…" Verda greeted her wanly.

Lorelei turned to Loki raising her shackled hands. He removed the shackles followed by the collar. Lorelei sat on the edge of the bed, placing her palm over Verda's forehead as if checking for a fever, closing her eyes in concentration. After a few moments she rose from the bed, turning to face Loki.

"She will live," Lorelei told him before she began to smile seductively, her voice changing, slightly echoing, "I now realize what it is she sees in you...you will leave her and serve me. Together we will rule an empire," Lorelei cooed as Loki stared transfixed into her eyes as she placed her palms on his chest before sliding them to his shoulders, moving her lips to meet his.

Loki took hold of Lorelei's head between both hands, twisting it sharply, her neck audibly snapping. Lorelei's eyes stared blankly, her mouth gaping open as her body sank heavily to the floor. Loki covered his ears with the palms of his hands before lowering them, removing the spell he had placed on himself that had rendered him deaf.

Odin and Frigga appeared as if they had walked through the wall, having been standing along it concealed by their magic since before Loki had entered with Lorelei. Loki removed the ring from his finger, returning it to his father.

"Guard!" Odin called out, an einherjar who had been standing outside the bedchamber entering, awaiting instructions from his king, "Remove that rubbish and burn it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Fury and Hill sat in the interrogation room facing each other, a cup of coffee in front of each of them as they waited. What they were waiting for neither were exactly sure.

"Why does jail coffee always suck?" Fury asked, removing a flask from inside his leather duster that he insisted on wearing even in the oppressive heat of New Mexico, pouring a healthy dose of whatever it contained into his coffee, offering the flask to Hill.

"No...thank you."

Fury returned the flask to the pocket of the duster before taking a drink.

"Better...not a hell of a lot."

The door behind Fury opened, he turning to witness Coulson entering. Both agents shot up from their chairs, shocked at the sight of their missing colleague and friend.

"Coulson! Where on god's green earth have you been?" Fury exclaimed.

"Ironic you should use that phrase. There was a bit of a misunderstanding," Coulson explained as Loki and Verda entered the room behind him, "Loki, Verda…this is Maria Hill and Nick Fury," Coulson said, introducing the Asgardians to his colleagues, "Release Erik Selvig and return his equipment. I need a location for Elliot Randolph, the professor of Norse mythology at the University of Seville. Get a team together to bring him in."

"On it," Hill said, swiftly exiting the room.