Chapter 7
Thor was surprised to see both his parents at dinner. "Mother! Father! Who is sitting with Loki?"
Frigga smiled, the most relaxed expression he had seen on her since his return. "He has woken." She told him softly, "I thought it safe to leave him for a short while, and he seemed glad to have a little space." Sif, passing behind the royal family on her way to the ale kegs, stiffened but kept moving. If the previous day was any indication, it was no use showing her concerns. Thor would only bite her head off. "He had already fallen asleep by the time I reached the door anyway."
"How is he? Does he chafe at being home?"
"Not at all. He has no idea that he ever left." Thor choked on his ale. "As best I can tell, the last that he remembers is shortly before his eighteenth birthday."
"We have a problem." Sif hissed, slamming her mug of ale down on the table with a little more force than necessary. "Loki is awake and unattended."
"That could be a problem." Fandral remarked with forced mildness. "What do you propose we do?"
She looked at him like he had three heads. "Find him and find out what he's up to of course."
"We can't all leave in the middle of dinner!" Volstagg protested. "That would look suspicious!" Sif glared at him.
"He's right." Hogun pointed out. "You know they won't like us questioning their judgement. I'll go investigate. You wait and finish eating before you follow."
Hogun sauntered down the hallway, trying to act like he was in no rush. He was the practical one of the group, and he was glad to have a head start on the others. He wanted answers, and he wouldn't get them if his companions put the trickster on his guard by rushing in on the offensive.
Loki's door was slightly ajar, and a guard stood outside of it. "Good evening Gunnar. Are the rumors true that Loki has woken?"
"I believe so. I think I heard part of a conversation between his highness and her majesty earlier."
"That's wonderful news. Do you suppose he might feel up to visitors? We have been worried."
Gunnar paused. "Welll… I haven't been told otherwise, and I know you're a friend. I suppose I could let you go ask him if he feels up to it, so long as you promise not to over-excite him."
"Of course."
Hogun slipped softly through the door. Loki did indeed appear to be there, dozing, nearly swallowed by the massive bed. He looked solid. One of his holograms that he so loved to conjure should not create a lump under the blankets, let alone one that moved as he breathed. He glanced from the door to the prince and back. Like the rest of their group, he had learned the hard way that startling Loki was a dangerous endeavor. If he were as sick as Thor claimed or just a hologram, there would be little danger of injury in touching him, but it would be a) out of character and b) considered improper should anyone see. And arousing suspicions would only make things harder. He turned and left with a brief comment to Gunnar that his highness was napping.