Chapter Four
Chapter 4
Loki regained his memories bit by bit. There were times where he didn't know something's, but later he recalled the small details of which he didn't know. And to his surprise ( not that any of this wasn't already surprising,) he found that he was the one who had influenced Clint Barton to spare Natasha's life and show her a new path...And all the while Loki couldn't understand that apparently he had known her centuries ago....how had he not remembered any of this?...
**************
The air, he remembered had smelled of sandal wood. The sound of flowing water beautifully in tune with the songs of the birds. The air had been cool and fresh, and there sitting on one of the large rocks by the river was a young woman, wearing a green gown and had fiery red hair. She faced away from him, looking at the water, a dagger in her hand.
Then to his surprise....she cut her hand. Blood trickled from the wound and fell into the clear river water...but then the wound began to heal itself. And within minutes it was as if it had never been there in the first place. A sob broke from her. "Dammit!" she cursed.
Loki tilted his head and examined her. He felt a magical ora around her. He couldn't place it at first, but then it clicked. "A Valkyrie?" he mused aloud. The red head immediately got up and whirled around, dagger gripped with both hands and pointed at him. Loki didn't even flinch. "Who are you?!" she demanded, her blue eyes were the only things that betrayed her worry and fear. He chuckled. "You won't be hurting anyone holding that thing like that," he said. She glared at him. He continued, "You're supposed to hold it with one hand, the other free to hold your opponent," he pulled out his own dagger. She took a step back in fear, and would have tipped and fallen into the river had Loki not quickly caught her. She stumbled out of his grasp. "You're welcome," he muttered. She seemed to realize that she had dropped her dagger, and was now defenseless. She sighed heavily. "Who are you?" she asked again, gently this time. "Loki Odinson," he said giving her a flourished bow. This drew a giggle from the red haired maiden and Loki smirked while his head was still bowed. Then he spoke seriously. "May I ask you what is so amusing my lady?" she laughed. "Well your bow for one, much exaggerated sir. And your name, Loki Odinson, Are you but related to the All father?"
She asked this in a joking manner, but the smile that Loki gave her made her humor die away. Replaced by fear and confusion. "May I know your name?" Loki asked. The girl seemed to relax, thinking that she'd been mistaken.
"Natasha," she said softly. Loki gave her hand a chaste kiss. "Lovely to make your acquaintance Lady Natasha...."
**************
From then Loki often visited Midgard, in secret of course. He honestly didn't think that any harm would come from him befriending a midgardian, but one could never be sure with the All father.
Only Frigga and Hemidall knew of his visits to Midgard, and Loki knew that if Odin ever asked Hemidall properly, he would tell him of where Loki went, but his loyalty to Frigga made it so that Odin would have to ask ridiculously specifically of his son's whereabouts.
Natasha and Loki became good friends, and in time he had told her that there were indeed nine realms, and he was from Asgard, and that he was indeed Loki the god of mischief and lies...she'd been a bit shocked, and...Wary towards him, but then she'd gotten over it....Loki told her about many things, life on Asgard, about the other realms. Thor. Odin. Hemidall. Frigga. Sif. And in return she told him of herself. He learned that her father had died when she was but a child, her mother was ill, her sister was a widow bearing a child, and her brother was a drunk buffoon! And that her life was completely miserable and they went hungry more nights that was healthy, that her brother beats her from time to time and uses the little money she earns working as a scullery maid. And that all this was why Loki had seen her try to cut herself when they'd first met.....
The trickster avoided going anywhere near the fact that she possessed Valkyrie powers, for he had not told her of them. But he did every so often show off his magic.....much to his friends delight.
Loki only told Frigga of Natasha, he trusted no other. Hemidall knew, but he spoke not of it for he did not think any harm would arise. Frigga loved seeing her son speak of Natasha, and she knew before even Loki himself that he held a bit more than, mutual respect for her...
But that worried her. She wanted Loki to be happy, but Loki didn't know the truth about himself. Natasha was part human and part Valkyrie, but Loki was a frost giant. Personally Frigga saw nothing wrong with it. Nothing wrong with the family that they could have. But Odin would not see it that way...But Loki would eventually find out, and she knew that when he did, her son would need Natasha...