chapter 11
Draco was sitting in balcony, sipping tea, reading a book about astral projection. Today was particularly muggy day. It was raining continuously since morning and by the sound of thunder it seems that Prince Thor is angry.
Draco cannot blame him, after the bomb he had dropped on Him it was obvious that he would be mad. He certainly thought that Odin would try and come to kill him, but the flooding in small villages due to his son’s mood had taken over his time to keep worrying about Draco.
He felt particularly vindictive that Odin is stressed because of the truth, which Draco told, which he chose to hide. Draco wishes he could let fireballs from the sky. But he does not wish hinder Jormungandr’s fun when it is the time of Ragnarok.
“Projection is an ability of the Seiðmaðurs to manifest their consciousnesses out of their bodies known as spirit or astral projection. Seiðmaðurs commonly use this power to spy-on or converse remotely with others by separating their spirit from their physical body. They are able to project their astral forms using spells that allows them to travel instantaneously to their desired location. Various spells can give different properties to ones astral form to fit their desires such as invisibility or tangibility to affect the physical plane“
As he keeps reading about the Astral Projection, he thinks it is a viable option to try and reach Loki, he hasn’t Projected, as it is uncommon in the wizarding world. But he certainly knows several Witches and Wizards using similar form of magic. Draco can try, he has enough magical power, but he does not know where Loki is, so it will obviously be difficult.
Just as he was thinking about concentrating on his mind palace, servants announce the arrival of Freyja. He quickly closes the book and rises to greet her.
“Queen Mother” he bows his head so as to greet her.
“Draco, how are you faring? I hope you got all the answers you needed.” She says as she sits on settee.
He stalls. The servants bring some tea along with biscuits and some other food items. He looks out of the balcony. The sky was black and the large clouds were moving, thunder cracked in small intervals. The winds were howling as if expressing Thor’s sadness. There was no sign of sun.
“I expected some lies from Odin, but I didn’t know he would lie to Prince Thor. I am afraid this is my fault.” He gestured to the storm.
“No, Darling, Thor needed to know the truth sooner rather than later. I am glad you will be here to help him through it even as of now he cannot process it.” She assures him.
Yet, Draco knows she is just saying to placate him. It does not matter if he is here. Thor will only seek comfort from Jane and no one else. They both know that.
“How is Ignis? Does she not get lonely in her cave?” she asks. The question was unexpected. He had, for a moment forgot that she had told him the tales about the Old Valyria. That she had seen Ignis as a his familiar and not a creature, a monster. After all, Asgardians are know to slay Dragons, and use their blood to forge weapons, instead of giving them the respect of proper death rites. They have always been afraid of Dragons as they cannot claim them, nor ride one.
“Mostly, at this time of the year she is at the Dragon Reserve. She started going there when they started treating them as living beings instead of beasts who are locked up in their cages.”
Draco recalls perfectly well when he bought all the Dragon Reserves all over the world, just to them free. Dragons in the reserves are like people spending their lives locked in an empty living room. They are confined to tiny spaces, with nothing to do. Life is intensely boring, year after year. Some of Dragon caretakers says that life may also be stressful. Dragons, who like to lurk, skulk and hide, are on display, with groups of strangers staring at them. Freedom is absent, and so are choice and control. When he learned about their barbaric treatment in the reserves, he couldn’t stand it. So, he bought all the reserves and hired people who respect Dragons, who understands the proud Dragons. That is why Charlie Weasley is head of all their reserves.
“Beasts who are locked up in their cages” she repeats faintly, gaining Draco’s attention. “That is what my son felt, when he learned he was a Frost Giant, yes?”
“Yes, although Loki is not a Beasts, he was certainly treated like one here.” Draco replies scornfully.
“Tell me, tell me how he was treated in your community?” she asks and when Draco looked at her, she seems genuinely curious.
“Loki is more loved rather than feared. Loki has this uncanny ability to cause mischief and not get caught. Even though people knew it was him, there was no proof. When he walked through alleys of the magical Britain, people never moved out of the way. Instead he was treated with respect and love. Unlike me and harry. He was always a joy to be around, minister said to me once. He always had pranks up his sleeves along with his daggers, but everyone always loved his pranks even though it was at their expense. He was always in cohorts with our certain other pranksters. Many people said that the magical Britain never felt this joy and lightness since before Voldemort and Dumbledore.
After the war, when Harry was away with Hela, Kaia on her quest to gain extensive knowledge, Loki and I would visit orphanages and hospitals. To try and help people who were hurt in the war. Once we were visiting a non-magical hospital, the rules and regulations were very strict there. I warned Loki that there would be no mischief if he wants to see children. He reluctantly accepted, of-course he loved children. He always used to say that, he loves them because they will never judge him, never see him as something less. Their smiles and affection never made him doubt them, after all who would doubt those innocent little people. He had entranced the kids with his story telling skills, and his passion for dramatic tales. He had each and every kid distracted from their suffering even for an hour or so. Healers there requested him to see a child, he was no more than nine years old. But he had stage four blood cancer. No amount of magic and technology could save him. Everyone was heartbroken. The child when he saw Loki, he said that he is the God of Mischief, that he could see behind his façade. That child was so sad that he will not go to Valhalla as he was not a warrior, but My Loki said that he fought the disease for so long, that he is the greatest warriors there is, If the halls of Valhalla does not greet him then Odin is stupid. That drew the laugh out of him and then he greeted Harry finally.
I have always loved animals, After Ignis became my familiar, that love was only tenfold. My Manor grounds were open to many Animals and Birds. One day I found him near the dragon cave, all of them were flocking him. I had never seen Lyre in my life, but he was playing it. He was telling them the stories of Jormungandr, Fenrir, Sleipnir. That day I saw all of the living beings in peace with each other, even so for an hour.
Loki has this uncanny ability to lie with truth. Liesmith he said, his enemies call him. He can make people talk by bending the truth to his will. Silvertongue, indeed. Most of the people in the magical Britain only see his happy and bright side, but he can be most devious. In my sixth year I was cursed with a nasty spell. It cut me every other hour and had me shown my worst nightmares in my dreams. No amount of healing spells done by our healers could cure my curse. My friends were disconsolate. The headmaster then would not punish the culprit of the curse. Loki was livid, he was ready to take matters into his own hands until I cried for him in my sleep. It took him hours to heal me from that horrible curse. By the time I was awake they had smuggled the culprit out of Hogwarts into some safe place. But Loki obviously got his revenge.
So, yes, he is loved as well as feared.” Draco completed.
Freyja was listening attentively. “It seems he has shown himself more of him to you in twenty years than he has here in a millennia.”
Draco sighs. “Yes, because I tried to see him as who he is.”