Into the Woods
Loki studied the maps every evening until he was confident that he knew where he wanted to go. That lost kingdom started out as a curiosity… but it soon filled his thoughts with a million questions. Like… how did it get lost in the first place? War? Disease? Did the royal family not have any children? Loki also found himself wondering if there’d be anything left save a ruin of piled stones since it was so old.
Loki sighs as he turns over on his side in bed. Tomorrow he and Helblindi will be heading out into the deep woods to hunt some elk. Tomorrow, he will slip away and find his own way in this life.
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“Are you certain you know where we are going?” Helblindi asks for the umpteenth time as they make their way north through the deep woods. Loki has his compass in hand and periodically checks it as he treks along. They have been out for three days already with little to show for their progress.
“For the last time, Blindi… yes, I know where I’m going.” Loki snips over his shoulder to his big brother. “There should be a lake up ahead. We can set up there.” And not too long after saying this, sure enough, the forest opens up to reveal a wide picturesque lake that is fed by a river of melt water flowing down from the nearby Northern Mountains. The colors of autumn paint the landscape in vivid shades of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. And when the wind blows it is as if the forest is burning.
“I’ve never been this far north before.” Helblindi says as he looks around. He studies the plants around their immediate area and looks for any sign of wildlife. “I don’t see anything poisonous. But it does look like a storm will be moving in by nightfall.” The older brother then says as he starts setting up the tent.
“I’ll get the fire going.” Loki says and starts gathering enough sticks and twigs to start it. He strikes the flint against the steel striker and the sparks quickly catch on the dried grasses and dead leaves that Loki packed in the center of the small pile of sticks.
“I’m going to gather more wood for the fire now, Blindi.” Loki says to his distracted brother who is finishing up securing the tent. Loki quickly gathers his pack and holds it before him as he heads off into the woods along the lake shore. He quickly hides his pack nearby and gathers fire wood. After a few trips, he manages to gather a hefty pile. He heads out one last time as Helblindi is busy roasting a rabbit he had killed before reaching the lake. Loki hurries to his hidden pack and then makes his way as swiftly as he can without making too much noise.
The sun had been well on its way to setting when Loki slipped away. There was still some light as he made his way around the lake to the river’s mouth. He checked his map and seen that the lost kingdom lay up the river. Now the twilight was deepening as Loki trekked his way over slippery rocks and through the foliage. The sound of the rushing waters was constant and Loki didn’t notice the storm closing in until it was too late.
The moonlight, which had been bright and silver, now abruptly turns to darkness and the cold winds whip up cutting through Loki’s warm clothes and winter coat like it has a personal vendetta against him. Loki stops to pull his small lantern out from his pack and manages to get a spark from his flint and steel to catch on the wick within. He then tightens his hood and coat and makes his way further up the river.
After an exhausting hours long hike, Loki stops to check his map. And that’s when he hears it… howling. Wolves! Loki can feel the chill of fear slip up his spine as his green eyes go wide and scan the area for the wild canines. He quickens his pace but has to be careful since he is on slick rocks. A howl pierces through the whipping winds then and Loki hears the low growl. He gasps as he looks back to see a large grey wolf with fiery yellow eyes snarl at him.
Loki turns forward once more and bolts. He scrambles over the rocks and slips a few times but manages to catch himself and continue on. He is now running for his life. Heart pounding in his ears so loudly, he doesn’t know if the rushing sound is the river, the wind, or his blood racing through his veins.
He goes around a bend in the river and has to stop suddenly as the stony bank ends and he is faced with the rushing, dark waters of the river. Loki turns and throws his lantern down just as half dozen wolves come around and into view. It breaks open and the oil splashes out immediately bursting into flames. This stops the wolves only briefly but they watch and wait for the quickly dying flames to drop down enough so they can pounce on their cornered meal.
Loki is out of options… save one… jump in the river. And that’s just what he does after he throws his pack at the first wolf to rush past the dying flames. The icy water is like a punch to his gut as he clothes quickly became saturated. But the teenaged boy fights hard against the flow and swims with all his might to the opposite bank. He manages to scramble at the rocks and pull himself out.
He shivers fiercely and looks up just as the storm clouds part enough to allow a shaft of moonlight to illuminate the cliff face before him… towering above him, at the convergence of two rivers is a grim looking palace that appears to be carved from the this pinnacle of the mountain. Loki soon finds a stairway carved into the cliff face and hurries up.
By the time he reaches the stone bridge that spans the canyon carved by the flowing waters below, Loki is so cold that he is shivering uncontrollably. He approaches a golden gate and chatters his teeth as he looks up at its impressive height. At the top is a grim looking face wearing a golden helm that seems to glare at the wet boy.
“Please be unlocked. Please be unlocked. Please be unlocked.” Loki whispers under his shaky breath in a desperate plea as he reaches out with shaky gloved hands to test the gate. He starts when he hears the wolves howling nearby and presses himself against the metal gate. It does not give. The wolves then start running across the stone bridge towards Loki. “Oh! Please open! I don’t want to die being ripped apart by wolves!” The boy begs desperately and the gate… miraculously opens.
Loki hurries inside and shuts it just as quickly. He is slammed back onto his perky bottom by the force of some of the wolves hitting the gate in their attempt to get their two-legged meal. Loki quickly scrambles to his feet finding the adrenaline rush is just the push he needs to rush to the looming palace. He quickly goes to the huge main doors and pushes one open. He shuts it quickly as well and slumps down against the solid wood once inside.
“Oh, thank the gods.” Loki mutters under his breath and starts shivering uncontrollably once more.
“We should help.” Comes a smooth whisper.
“No, Fandral.” Comes another voice… this one firmer, gruffer. “The Master will not like this intrusion one bit.”
“Nonsense… this person is in need of our assistance, so have a heart Volstagg.” The first voice says more confidently. Loki lifts his head and looks around for the first time.
“Hello? Is someone there?” Loki asks into the dimly lit hall. From what he can see, the place is clean and surprisingly warm but devoid of people. Loki notices a table nearby with a slender looking three-pronged candelabra and a rather wide wind-up clock. Loki picks up the lit candelabra and uses it to look around.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to cause trouble. I was chased here by wolves and fell in the river.” Loki starts out then his shivers get the better of him and he shakes the candelabra causing the light cast from it to flicker in the wide space.
“That explains why you are drenched.” Comes that first voice again. Friendly and amused even… and very close. Loki spins around but finds he is still alone.
“Is this your game? To scare a guest seeking asylum?” Loki asks as his heart races with mounting fear.
“No, not all.” The voice comes loud and clear from his left and Loki just happens to look at the candelabra in his hand… it has a face with eyes that blinks and a mouth that moves… “Go through the doors at the end of the foyer and warm yourself by the fire. You look chilled to the bone.” Loki is frozen in his confusion for a moment as he watches an arm with a lit candle point to a set of large ornate doors at the end of the wide greeting hall. He drops the candelabra in a moment of quick fear.
“Wh-what are you?” Loki asks confused yet curious as he looks at the candelabra closely as it sits up and stands… even brushes itself off. He has read about unique devices called automatons but this is all together far more complex.
“I have been curs-”
“That’s quite enough!” Comes the second voice and Loki watches the wide wind-up clock hop off the table and put itself between Loki and the candelabra. “Now you mush leave at once! GogogogoGO!” The clock adds as it tries to push Loki towards the door.
“It’s freezing out there.” Loki says with a pout.
“Aw, Volstagg… find it in your clockwork heart to at least let the boy get warmed up and dry his clothes.” The candelabra says.
“No.” Volstagg the clock says firmly but when he open his eyes, he finds Fandral the candelabra and the boy have wandered to the large ornate doors.
“This is such an unexpected surprise.” Loki says as he enters what can only be described as a throne room. There is a huge, wide fire place behind the pair of thrones on a three-step dais. Standing stately before the thrones and dramatically backlit by the fire burning in the fire place… are two statues of a man and a woman dressed in finery with golden jewelry and a small crown on the queen and dusty armor on the crownless king. He holds a regal ornate spear in his right hand as he holds he queen close in his other arm.
“Such life like statues.” Loki says as he moves past the thrones to the fire place. He is then enchanted by the dancing flames within and starts to strip out of his wet clothes. He hangs them on the decorative horns that jut out from the fireplace mantle. Loki stands stark naked near the fire place now warming his chilled flesh… rubbing his hands along his chilled arms and sides to return feeling. A coat rack hops over and offers a fine robe of satin and silk.
“Thank you.” Loki says politely as he takes the offered article of clothing and puts it on.
“Here now… have a cup of hot tea… it’ll warm you right up.” A yellow and white tea pot says with a woman’s voice and a warm smile.
“Well met, Ms. Potts. You read my mind.” Fandral the candelabra says warmly to the tea pot on the serving table.
“Come now, Fandral… you know it is my pleasure.” The appropriately named tea pot says.
“Everything just gets curiouser and curiouser around here.” Loki says as he takes up a delicate tea cup and starts to sip at the heated liquid. Loki hums against the cup as he feels the hot tea warm up his insides giving him some much needed relief against the chill. “But I think I might actually like it here.” Loki says with a smile before he starts blowing on the hot tea. “Much nicer company here for sure.” Loki says and continues to blow… suddenly there is laughter coming from his cup…
“That tickles.” The child sounding yellow cup says and Loki pulls the dishware from his face to look at it fully.
“Even a cup is alive?” Loki puzzles. He then looks to the other talking objects he has met so far. “What happened here? Are you made to speak or were you once human like me?” They all get a look of hesitation on their inhuman faces.
“Well… it all started long ago-” The little cup starts.
“Teddy! That’s enough.” Ms. Potts says sternly to the little cup cutting him off from his narrative. Before Loki can even voice his next question, the main door opens and the whipping winds of the storm outside manage to gush into the throne room. Like a trained hound, those bitter winds blow out the fire burning in the fireplace thus casting the room into darkness.
“I smell an intruder!” Comes a thunderous voice from the main hall. Loki finds himself shivering in a strange mix of fear and anticipation. He blinks free of his momentary paralysis and dives for the backs of the thrones as a large shadow fills the door frame. Loud sniffing sounds fill the darkened room accompanied by the clacking of claws on the stone floor.
“Where is this invader?” The Master says and a rumbling growl follows hotly. The enchanted objects all cower and bow their heads to their frightful king. “Show yourself, Villain… and I will show you mercy. Continue to hide and know that when I DO find you… and I will (deep growl)… It won’t be pretty.”
“Master, please, the boy is lost-” Fandral starts to plead… but a snort from his monstrous master snuffs out his flames.
“Boy? There’s a boy?” The Master rumbles out then gives a chuckling growl which chills Loki’s spine even more. “I like boys…” The Master says and Loki can hear the smile in the voice. “I enjoy devouring them!” The Master roars as he comes closer to the large thrones.
“Will you promise not to eat me?” Loki says suddenly then clasps his hands over his mouth. ‘Stupid. Stupid. That was very STUPID!’ Loki thinks to himself.
“I will grant you mercy.” The Master growls low as his ears perky up at the lilted voice.
“Then I surrender myself to your mercy.” Loki says as he slowly draws himself up and comes around the thrones. Loki’s heart is racing faster than a rabbit from a fox… for in the scant light that there is filtering through the windows, he can see a very tall, rather broad figure standing in a deeper shadowed area. He can this figure is wearing a headdress or helmet with antlers on it. He can't help but look at the bright blue eyes that seem to shine in the darkness. Suddenly, the clouds outside part just enough from some moonlight to enter through one window… the square of silver light illuminates Loki and the frozen king and queen… blinding the young man further from seeing the towering prowess of this palace’s master. The growling stops altogether.
“Well…” The Master starts then chuckles darkly. “Aren’t you a pretty thing? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think a maiden had come to see me.” At that Loki realizes his shoulder length hair is tussled and the robe he is wearing has opened somewhat with one sleeve hanging loosely down his left arm. The moonlight reflects off his pale skin making his flesh seem to glow. He flushes at the thought of his current state and how this as of yet unseen Master has noticed.
“So… you surrender yourself willingly to my mercy then? Very well… answer my question.” The Master says evenly with the barest hint of growling skirting his words. “Why have you come to my home… Beauty?”
“I-I… I ran away from home.” Loki stammers out. “I wanted more than being a farm boy. I wanted to h-have an adventure.” Loki squeaks as the growling increases.
“So…” The word is drawn out and hissed. “You’ve come to stare at the Beast then?!” The Master starts to shout and snarl.
“N-no!” Loki squeaks out as a massive paw-like hand reaches into the pool of moonlight to snatch him by the arm.
“I’ll show you how I deal with trespassers!” The Master says and Loki is yanked off his feet and held against a very large, solid, and furry body. The boy cries out in fear as he is carried at blinding speed out of the large double doors up a wide staircase, down a hall and up some more stairs. He is tossed unceremoniously into a small stone room with a pile of stale hay and a small wooden bucket. The wooden door is slammed before he can get a good look at the palace’s Master.
“Let me out! You can’t do this to me! I’ve done nothing wrong!” Loki yells as his small fists beat at the door. Now more than ever, he curses at his lithe frame and lack of any real strength. Meanwhile… the beastly Master stalks down the spiral stairs that lead up to the prison tower.
“Master, have a heart… give this boy a chance.” Fandral says as he waits on a ledge along the inner side of the stairs. The Master stops and snorts at the candelabra. “Maybe not.” Fandral then adds in a scared tone.
“Please, Master… just reconsider your recent actions and at least try this time.” Volstagg the clock says as the Master reaches the bottom of the stairs. The Master just keeps walking.
“How dare he!” The Master growls as he leaps down from the ledge above the throne room’s entrance. He enters and goes straight for the fire place which is lit once more. He looks at the wet clothes and snarls. “I do everything I can to keep gawkers and thieves at bay! And THIS happens!” The Master rages as he snatches up the boy’s discarded tunic. It is green and smells… of the river, of farm, and of the boy… enticing. The Master roars as he throws the garment down.
“Enough, Thor!” Comes a man’s voice from the throne dais. The Master recoils as though struck and frowns deeply.
“Still your rage, my son.” Then comes a woman’s voice.
“But mother… he could’ve destroyed you to get to your jewels.” Thor growls out in worry and deepest concern as he comes around and eyes the statues with love and devotion. The combination of moonlight and the flickering light from the fire place make the face of the queen’s statue seem to smile sadly at the beastly Master.
“He didn’t, Thor.” Her voice comes as though from a distance… for Thor is the only one who can hear his parent’s voices from within their stone prison. “He is here simply to seek shelter and he was very polite to those who served him. Give him a chance.” She says motherly and her words sooth his raging mind a little. He looks to his father’s stone visage though in pleading for reason in this situation but only gets…
“Listen to your mother, son.” Thor huffs out at the words… all boisterous rage seeming to have evaporated with his parents’ words.
“I will try to give the boy a chance.” Thor then says softly as he lowers his antlered head to his stone still parents.