Stolen Relic

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Kenna woke at dawn the next day. She sat up and glanced around herself. She remembered coming back to her garden, but not falling asleep. She reached up and touched her cheek, frowning as her hands came back with tears on her fingertips. Try as she might, she could not remember why she had been crying. She remembered the trip to Alfheim, coming back and her decision to leave the library while the prince was still sleeping. But nothing after that. She rolled her shoulders and groaned. Her whole body ached but she could not remember why. She gritted her teeth and fought to remember. She grimaced and pulled at the collar around her neck but she suddenly felt claustrophobic and like she couldn't catch her breath. She climbed to her feet and moved with shaky hands towards the door.

Once she was out in the sunlight it was like she could breathe again. She frowned in confusion but couldn't remember why she had been so upset. She glanced down and saw the small bucket of bulbs she had planned on planting. She scooped them up and set out to work.

She felt drained and exhausted but it was good to be back in a place where things were familiar. Shortly after the noon day bells rang however she heard the whisper of footsteps coming up the path. She turned to see Queen Frigga appear. Kenna quickly stood and bowed to the queen. Holding the bow until the queen cleared her throat.

"Queen Frigga," Kenna greeted. "Is there something I may help you with?"

The queen strolled around the small clearing where Kenna had been working, admiring the plants. There was a calculated casualness to her movements that made Kenna uneasy. She shifted her weight and kept her eyes lowered.

"I was looking for you yesterday," Frigga said calmly. "I come down to my garden and lo and behold my gardener was nowhere to be found."

"Yes Queen Frigga I-"

"Was helping my son," Frigga filled in for her. Then she turned to face Kenna fully. Frigga's eyes were full of understanding and for a moment Kenna's tired brain let her believe she was in the clear.

"Yes Queen Frigga," Kenna said bowing her head.

"Thank you for helping him...with all his endeavors."

Kenna couldn't help but feel as though the Queen knew exactly what she and Loki had been up to. The Queen of Asgard was old and wise, not so old as Odin, but she was quick and she paid attention. Kenna took a deep breath to calm herself. Even if the Queen knew she didn't appear to be upset by the news, instead she was watching Kenna carefully.

When Kenna didn't react the queen continued. "It's so important to have a trusted few servants. My son has never had that before...I do," Frigga said.

Kenna couldn't help feeling as though the Queen was telling her that it was through her network of 'trusted' servants that she had discovered what Kenna and Loki had been up to.

"Though..." the Queen observed thoughtfully. "It is important that in such relationships the servant always remembers their place," Frigga's eyes were sharp then and hard with authority. Her eyes flicked to the collar.

And there it was.

Perhaps the Queen didn't know where she and Loki had been, but she certainly seemed to have come to her own conclusions. Kenna took a step back and lowered her chin to her chest. "I assure you Queen Frigga, I know my place."

Frigga sniffed and nodded. "Good," she replied stiffly. "I will leave you to your work then," she said turning to go. She faltered however when Loki appeared on the pathway. "Loki," she greeted lovingly. She walked up to her son, taking his hands in hers and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You look exhausted," she observed resting a hand on his cheek.

Loki looked embarrassed by his mother's fussing and stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back. "Yes, it has been a long couple of days I'm afraid."

Frigga nodded. "Well see to it you get some rest. You will do us no good if you run yourself to exhaustion."

Loki nodded uncomfortably, shifting his weight. Frigga looked at Loki expectantly making it clear she had no intention of leaving without him. 

Loki finally sighed. "Kenna," he said by way of greeting.

Kenna bowed. "Prince Loki," she said formally.

Loki ran his eyes over her. She also looked exhausted but she didn't appear to be in any distress. There was color back in her cheeks. The ball of worry that had lived inside his chest since this morning loosened. When he woke and she had gone he worried she might still not be well. But there appeared to be no long term affects from the sorceress's attack. He frowned as he spotted the bronze slave collar once more around her neck.

"Thank you for making the journey to the outer villages for me. I hope they didn't prove too taxing. You are well?" he asked stiffly.

Kenna nodded. "Yes, my prince," she replied keeping her eyes locked on the ground.

Loki froze for a moment, staring at Kenna as she kept her eyes firmly on the ground. Never had she referred to him as her prince. It had always been Prince, or Prince Loki. He wanted to stay, and speak more with her, to find out if it had merely been a slip of the tongue or...but under the watchful eye of his mother there was little else for him to say.

"Is there anything else I can do for you my prince?" she asked. Her movements were once more stiff and submissive, the fluid impish grace he had so quickly come to associate with her was gone. His frown deepened and his eyes flicked once more to the collar. Whatever it did to her, it seemed to take more than just her memories.

"Ah no," Loki said shaking his head. "Not at this time, thank you. Though I may in the future require your help in doing further research on the properties of the plants you returned with."

Kenna bowed her head. "As you wish my prince."

Loki followed his mother out of the garden feeling like he couldn't quite draw in a full breath. She had said it again, but there was something wrong.

"Did you find your journey fruitful?" Frigga asked him when they stepped out into the hall. When Loki didn't respond at first she glanced back at him with concern.

Loki had certainly had his fair share of women, but he wasn't like the others who courted the ladies of the Asgard day and night. And her quiet son seemed quite besotted with the strange little elf. She suddenly wondered if she had made a mistake encouraging the relationship. If Loki's feelings had extended beyond what they should between master and servant she would need to do everything in her power to keep them apart. Her son was already ostracized for being different. To have affections for a slave...and this slave in particular...Frigga shook her head at the possible ramifications of such a thing. She would need to watch them carefully, to see if her interference was required.

She cleared her throat delicately and Loki startled meeting her gaze.

"I'm sorry mother, did you say something?"

"Prince Loki! Prince Loki!" The young servant boys voice was punctuated by the loud slap of his feet against the marble floors as he sprinted towards the prince. The boy was huffing, unable to catch his breath. "My prince, my queen," he greeted skidding to a halt before Loki and Frigga and snapping off a bow. When he straightened he turned to Loki. "My lord, your father summons the war council."

Loki nodded grimly. He turned to his mother dipping his chin in farewell before he stalked off down the halls towards the council chamber. The meeting had been called sooner than expected. He thought perhaps it would take a full day for Heimdall to look to Alfheim once more. He had a moment of concern that his spell had somehow failed and Heimdall had witnessed his and Kenna's presence in Alfheim, but he quickly dismissed it. If his father learned of it he would be summoned to the throne room to be punished before the whole court, not just the council chambers.

Loki strode purposefully through the palace and yet was still the last to enter. He took his seat beside his brother who sat at Odin's right. As soon as Loki was seated Odin began.

"We are called today because Heimdall has witnessed further activity of Harokin in Alfheim," Odin said. "He has spotted over a dozen soldiers."

There was quiet murmur that ran through the group of gathered warriors.

"We will send a squad, led by my heir Thor to defeat this small group of soldiers."

Loki froze. This wasn't right at all. Odin would be sending Thor and his men to their deaths. "But father," he interjected quickly. Others around the table shifted uncomfortably by Loki's seemingly childish outburst, but Loki ignored them. He couldn't let his brother walk into a trap. Indeed one he himself had inadvertently helped lay. "Should we not first send a scouting party to assess the threat?"

"Threat?" Odin forced out a mocking chuckle.

Thor joined in and his laughter grated down Loki's spine. "What threat is two score mercenaries against the might of Asgard?" Thor asked harshly. "If you are afraid brother, I am sure another will take your place at my side."

"Aye happily," Volstaag's booming voice echoed through the chambers.

Loki narrowed his eyes at his brother. "Did I say fear?" Loki spit back the words at his brother.

Behind him he heard Volstaag's great guffaws as the massive warrior laughed along with his prince at Loki's expense. Without turning to look or giving any indication Loki slid his hand to the side under the table.

"What I counseled brother, was wisdom. Use the brain in your head to gather what knowledge may be helpful to ensure an easy victory," Loki kept his tone firm but reasonable. It was one that usually worked on his hotheaded brother. However, sitting before the whole of the war council and their father Thor would not be swayed.

Thor snorted and shook his head. "Always over cautious brother," he said sadly, though Loki could hear the mockery. "We will prepare on the morrow, feast on the eve and defeat our enemy at dawn on the third day." Thor said firmly, turning to Odin for approval.

Odin nodded, smiling down at his eldest son. Loki fought to keep his face a perfect expressionless mask but inside he was raging. If they would only listen he could save lives.

As soon as Odin dismissed the room Loki was the first on his feet and heading towards the door. He now knew for a fact that Harokin had a sorceress protecting him and his men. The only chance at saving his foolish brother's life was to figure out a way to defeat her. All of Thor's bravery would mean nothing against in immortal army.

Behind him he heard a loud crash and angry exclamation, but he didn't bother to turn back. He had become so preoccupied he forgot about the trick he played on Volstagg for laughing at him.

"Loki!" He heard his brother call from behind him, but he had too much on his mind now to bother even turning to admire his handy work. Let Thor figure out how to get his brutish friend out of his chair. Loki needed to get to the library.

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Kenna had managed to avoid people much of the day. Her head still felt clouded and her memories muttled. But by dinner time her stomach was cramping uncomfortably and she slipped down into the servants quarters. The others were all gathered around the table, gossiping and eating together. Every single one of them ignored her. She had never gone out of her way to make friends with any of the others, but even if she had tried, being both a slave and an elf had set her apart as other long ago. She tried to think back how long it had been exactly-

She coughed abruptly and when everyone glanced towards her she shifted the collar self consciously. They all went back to their conversations, the strange, small elf once more slipping from their notice.

Kenna was just dishing up a helping onto her plate when she overheard the cook and another servant talking.

"-yes a feast tomorrow night," Cook was saying. "Absolutely no warning." she shook her head in disgust.

"If they're leaving-" the other servant started to say sadly.

"Yes, off to battle with them," Cook snapped agitatedly. "And when they return victorious it'll be another feast demanded with no warning."

"Assuming they come back," the servant girl said looking down at her hands.

Cook clucked her tongue. "And what talk is that. The two princes are more than capable of whatever riff raff they will be facing."

"I was at the door, Prince Loki didn't even want to go." The girl was speaking in short rapid sentences trying to get all she had to say out before cook, the more senior servant, interrupted her again.

Cook sniffed in disapproval and shook her head. "Every one knows Prince Loki is a-"

"Nay," the other servant said shaking her head. "The Prince suggested a scouting trip, said-"

"The younger Prince is a-" Cook started to say again.

Kenna stilled, her grip on the bowl tightening. Odin was sending only a small squad of men to face Harokin. All they knew about was the small group of men who's talisman's they had stolen. Odin was sending Prince Loki there.

Kenna's throat suddenly felt tight and she dropped her bowl on the table. Everyone looked up in surprise but Kenna was already fleeing the room. She couldn't let this happen. It had been her idea and she would be responsible for every one of the lives lost.

She hurried through the palace keeping her head down so no one would immediately recognize her and stop her. She wasn't allowed in this part of the palace so she had to move quickly. She wasn't sure where exactly the prince would be, but she knew where to start looking.

Loki was standing at his desk, rather than sitting. The entire surface was covered in every text he had been able to find that referenced Harokin's love, the dark elf sorceress. Not a single one of them were written by an Asgardian. He wondered if the Asgardian's never realized she was the source of his power, or if they had chosen to exclude her from the histories deliberately. Loki leaned forward, flipping a few pages forward in the light elves rendition of the tale. He ground his teeth. None of it was helpful.

Loki felt the pressure against his wards half a second before the tentative knock sounded on the library door. He turned to face the doors frowning. It wasn't so late it was unheard of to have visitors, in fact most of the palace would be just sitting to dinner. However, it was very unlikely that anyone who would come visit him in the library would knock first. He waved his hand at the doors dropping the wards.

"Enter," he called loudly.

There was no movement at first, and Loki thought perhaps he had delayed too long and whomever had come had left, but then the door slowly opened, just barely wide enough for her small form to slip through. She stood inside the door, leaning against it as though she wasn't certain she should be here.

Loki drew in a sharp breath. He hadn't expected it to be Kenna. He cleared his throat. "Kenna," he said by way of greeting. It was forbidden for a slave to be in this part of the castle without express orders. She knew that, and he couldn't think of what could have possessed her to come searching for him.

"Prince Loki," she said, her voice was tight with tension and she bowed to him quickly as soon as she realized she had neglected to do so when she first stepped into the room.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I-" she started to say and her eyes widened and she looked around as though she suddenly couldn't believe she was standing here.

Loki took a step towards her and she tensed even more. He stopped where he was, thinking it would lower her tension. It didn't.

He exhaled. She was like a deer, ready to bolt. She had not been so frightened even when they were facing enemies in Alfheim. It had to have something to do with the blasted collar she was wearing once more.

"Kenna," he spoke her name again, but this time his voice was low and soothing. "Do you remember what happened yesterday?" he asked.

Her brow pulled down suddenly in confusion. "Of course," she replied as though the question were unimaginable.

He exhaled, trying to think of the best way to word this. "When did you realize you were wearing the collar again?"

She frowned, opened her mouth to reply, but paused. "I always-" she started to say and her hand slowly came up to glide over the smooth surface. "No...it-" she grimaced, her eyes squeezing shut as though the very memory caused her pain.

Loki crossed the room in two long strides. Knowing what to expect now, he called his magic to him. It surged down his arms and pooled in his palms. The last time he had done this he had been exhausted. His attention and power divided. Now he surged his power into the collar and it opened in his hands.

Kenna collapsed forward and he caught her with one arm looped around her slim waist while the other held he cool metal away from her.

She hung in his arms for a moment, shuddering. He didn't know what to do to help her, but slowly she straightened.

"Kenna?"

Kenna drew in deep, even breaths. Her pulse thundered painfully in her temples as her mind fought to process all it had been given.

"I put it on," she panted.

The prince stepped back from her and cocked his head to the side as though she were some sort of puzzle he was trying to figure out.

Kenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes at royalty. "Misrepresenting myself as a free woman of Asgard is considered just as grave of an offense as being a runaway slave."

Loki closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn't considered that, and she had run off before he could check that the magic in the collar was as benign as it appeared. It clearly was not.

"If you had waited I could have checked the collar and we would know it's use and function."

Kenna lifted her chin defiantly but there were tears shining in her eyes when she spoke. "It hurts."

Her strained words and the tears were nearly enough to undo him. She had risked everything for Asgard. She did not deserve this.

"What-" he started to ask but he stopped himself.

Kenna dropped her eyes then, but it wasn't in the same submissive pose as before. Now it was because she couldn't bear to watch someone's reaction as she spoke. "It burns like fire. It feels like it burns away everything I am," she said her eyes firmly glued on the marble floor at the prince's feet. "All the memories of me and who I was. Even the memories of having them taken are gone...it feels like all that's left is a hollow shell."

Loki watched as she swiped at her eyes but refused to cry. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. Her midnight eyes, though glittering with determination, concealed so much pain. There was strength in the tiny elf. A strength and resolve that both surprised Loki and made him feel incredibly honored to know her in a way no one else did.

"Do you know why?" He asked. Before he had felt the question intrusive, but if she was willing to open up to him about her past perhaps he could figure out why someone would go to so much trouble to bury the memories of a single slave.

Kenna opened her mouth to reply but stopped. She was the daughter of Ljosalfar, not just the last surviving light elf, but also rightful heir of Alfheim. Shame burned through her. She was nothing more than a slave, tending a garden and scrubbing floors. What her father would think of her now. For some reason she did not want the prince to know.

"I have no idea."

Loki studied her, his eyes shrewd, but he didn't call her out for the lie. He had pushed her too far. Trust took time. He knew that better than anyone. He nodded. "Perhaps with more time more memories will surface," he tossed the collar away from him and it landed on his desk with a clink.

"You came here for a reason," he said brushing his hands off on his trousers. "What's wrong?"

Kenna didn't look away from where the collar landed. Her mind was reeling. Yes. She was heir to Alfheim, but even that wouldn't be reason to bury her memories. She hadn't grown up thinking she would be Queen, she had three older sisters. She and her father had been the only ones to survive the initial attack of Malekith and his dark elves.

"Kenna," Loki said her name again, trying to draw her attention from whatever had her caught inside her head. "Kenna," he repeated. only this time he said it with a gentle push of persuasion. "Tell me what's wrong."

Her eyes snapped up to meet his, anger flaring in them. Loki had a moment to wonder if she had somehow felt the push of power. She claimed to not be a magic user, but that was the only way she could have felt what he had done.

Kenna ground her teeth. Whatever the prince had just tried to do, it hadn't worked. She had felt the warm flare of his power brush across her skin. And it had not been unpleasant. It was in fact quite the opposite. Without meaning to she had taken a single step towards him, drawn in by his hypnotic voice and shinning eyes. Magic, that was all it was. She blinked away what she was sure was a persuasion spell and flared up at the prince. She wasn't sure if she felt better or worse knowing all these feelings all along had been a result of his magic. She knew it should make her feel better, it meant she hadn't inadvertently allowed herself to develop feeling for an Asgardian of all creatures.

Loki cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him and she narrowed her eyes at him. Perhaps yesterday, standing in Alfheim she would have told him what she thought about him using his magic like that, but after all that had happened today she felt far less brazen and infinitely more vulnerable.

"I was at dinner," she began by way of explanation. She suddenly felt like an idiot for coming here. She had burst in on the prince without invitation and to what end? To share the idle gossip of palace servants? "The other servants were saying we were to have a feast on the morrow for you and your brother are to go to battle against Harokin and a small force in Alfheim."

Loki shifted his weight. He didn't like how formal Kenna was suddenly being. "My goodness how quickly the rumor mill flows," he observed idly because he didn't know what else to say.

Kenna tightened her jaw. She had come all this way, she had risked everything, she just needed to tell him what she came here to tell him. "So you are going?" Kenna asked tightly.

"The king has commanded we leave day after tomorrow," he fought to keep his voice as casual as possible. Part of him wanted to confide his frustrations to her, but she was still holding a piece of herself apart. He would respect the form boundaries she was setting.

"But you-" Kenna started to say and then she stopped. She sank her teeth into her lower lip and she took a step back away from Loki. She had nearly given the prince of Asgard a command. She was a slave. She didn't get to do that. She glanced around the lavish library, she had no business being there.

"It is by the order of the King. He has received his report from Heimdall and has no desire to listen to the council or anyone else." Loki quickly filled in. It was more information than he needed to give her, but he could see her frustration.

She was a slave, she had no way of understanding the intricacies of his interactions with his father. How much his father looked to his brother for council but never to him.

There was a long uncomfortable moment of silence as Kenna thought over Loki's carefully chosen words. She reached up and touched her bare neck as the memories of the undead soldier replayed themselves over and over in her mind. She drew in a deep breath and took a step towards the table. "Very well, then we will need to find a way for you and Thor-"

Loki cocked his head to the side and took a large gliding step towards Kenna. "We?" he asked arching a brow. The cocky smirk and slight tilt to his head were all an act. His heart was pounding in his chest as he watched the small elf. He didn't understand her, didn't understand her motivations, but he wanted to. He always understood people, it was one of his many talents. He understood them and thus they could be easily manipulated. But this small elf...

Kenna froze for a moment, pausing in midstep and then looked back to Loki. She dropped her chin submissively but it was an act. And a poor one at that. "Forgive me my prince, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds," she said formally and she moved to take another step back.

Loki jumped forward, catching her arm before she could turn for the door. "Oh no, we have a great deal of work to do," he said quickly. "I have a few questions for you actually."

Kenna froze under his grasp, but she didn't flinch away and she didn't pull back. He considered it progress. He was suddenly reminded of how she felt, curled up in his arms when he carried her, and how she had rested against his chest. He cleared his throat and took a step back away from her. Himself retreating. It was merely the fact that she was a light elf, something about the race drove others to these protective feelings. It had to be. There was no other explanation.

"Why?" he found himself asking as the two of them stepped up to the table.

"That's what you needed to ask me?" Kenna asked in surprise.

Loki ducked his head and was a little ashamed to feel the burning in his ears as his skin heated. "No, I was just-" he cleared his throat. "Never mind," he said turning back to the texts. "There's more important-"

"Because I feel responsible for them," Kenna said quickly, interrupting Loki before he could change the subject.

Loki frowned at her, not understanding. "For Harokin's army?" he asked sardonically.

Kenna snorted in disbelief. The prince was cute, but not the brightest. "Of course not," she replied. "The men your father is sending, and Prince Thor...and you," she finished awkwardly. "I was with you and we made the decision to only reveal a small number of Harokin's army. It was that choice that led to your father's decision. I'm not sure that there was a better option, but either way, I was a part of it, and I will not stand aside now. Besides, if you and Thor fall and Harokin invades with his immortal army, how long do you believe Asgard will stand?"

Loki stared down at the small woman. Her chin was lifted defiantly and her hands were gripped into fists. "These are the people who have enslaved you," he closed his eyes briefly as shame burned through him. "We enslaved you, and still you would help us."

"You did not enslave me Prince, nor did the people of Asgard. Only the King," she swallowed thickly as though the next words were difficult ones. "Alfheim is lost. I have seen the wasteland with my own eyes. Asgard is my Home. I will not let it's people suffer if I might stop it."

Loki stared at her in wonder. He had met many a warrior in his near millennia of life but few who had the composure, dignity and honor of the small elf standing before him. She was truly good. The way she thought, the things she felt, were truly good. Was that also the nature of a light elf or was that simply Kenna?

His heart started to pound harder in his chest as their eyes locked. She was studying his face, hers openly curious, as though she were confused that he didn't understand her motivation.

He cleared his throat and looked away. She reached up, tucking a piece of silvery hair behind her lightly tipped ear.

"We should get to work then," she said. "What questions did you have for me?"

Loki looked back down at his piles of parchment, trying desperately to remember where he had left off. There had been several questions he knew, and they were important, but he couldn't for the life of him recall. He pressed his lips together and continued to stare down at the top of his desk. When he didn't say anything she slid up beside the desk and lifted the first book off the top. It was a book of history from Alfheim. She skimmed it, a small frown forming on her face.

"But..." she trailed off, turning the page. She scowled and set the book aside, reaching for the next one. She read over that one two, flipping through the pages.

"If this is right..." she dragged off.

"We have some rather compelling evidence," Loki allowed a little wryly.

She turned her scowl onto him in disapproval and he bit back the urge to smile at her. He didn't think she would appreciate finding out she was cute when she was obviously trying to be intimidating.

He cleared his throat and looked away, biting at the inside of his lip to contain his grin. "So...the sorceress...they are in Alfheim for a reason."

Kenna nodded in agreement.

"Why would an ancient sorceress go there? Why would one go anywhere?" He mused aloud.

Kenna didn't hesitate with her response. "Power."

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