Unexpected

Chapter 6

Thor, Loki and Sif appeared in the middle of the healing room much to the shock of a young assistant who happen to be standing very near to them. She shrieked in shock at their sudden appearance, nearly dropping the items she was taking to the supply closet.

Thor, being Thor, grinned widely, "Excuse me miss, our friend is in dire need of assistance, can you please help us, immediately?" The girl regained her composer swiftly bowing and ran off to get a healer. Moments later a tall, robed woman came around the corner flanked by two other people. She came up, quickly bowed and sank down to the floor to join them.

"What happened to her?" She asked with extraordinary composer, considering the state of panic Thor and Loki were in. "I – I tried to enchant her during a sparring match and when I came to, she was completely unconscious. Like very, very still. That wouldn't have concerned me normally, but I-" he broke off, searching for the right words to say, "something just seemed very off? She could be fine, but I've never enchanted anyone, and I need to be sure I haven't hurt her." The rest of the words came pouring forth and when he finally stopped talking, the woman stood, muttered something to her assistants and walked to the healing bed.

"You say this was the first time you enchanted somebody?" She asked as she walked around the bed, pulling up a screen to work on. "Yes." Was all Loki replied. "You must have studied the topic of enchantment a fair bit before trying such a technique." She stated this as a fact rather than asking. "Yes." He said again. "Then you should know the risks involved with such powerful magic, correct?" She peered over the screen to look at him better.

Thor had stood to help the assistants carry Sif to the bed, but still Loki sat kneeled on the floor, head bowed to the ground. "Then tell me, my Lord, what are the risks you know of? What concerns you that you may have done?" He had a feeling that she knew the answer. She wanted him to say it. Confess. He felt ashamed and embarrassed.

"Death." He said quietly, still staring at the floor.

"Yes, that is a possibility." She said looking down at Sif who now lay flat on the table. "You will need to give us some time to examine her mental state, I will call for you when I know more. Please excuse us so we may do our work."

Loki brought his fingertips to his lips and looked up at the woman and healers surrounding Sif. Thor was by his side again, hand outstretched in assistance. "Come brother." Loki nodded, took his hand and teleported them from the room. The healers began their work.

-

Sif's vision was dark. The last thing she'd seen was a distant Loki at her thighs, one of her hands in his mouth, one of his inside of her. She felt lustful, but she could feel him too. Every time they touched; she could feel his consciousness. She was surprised by what she found there. He was delicate, mindful, timid, vulnerable. The whole time. She was completely astonished by how much she craved his presents, for him to stay longer. Though she could have gone out, let his influence lull her to sleep, she didn't want to.

He didn't persuade her to do anything. Maybe, she'd persuaded him.

It was when things were getting good that he retreated. She had felt a sudden ping of fear shoot through him, then he was gone. Her vision had gone black and stayed that way. It was still that way. But she could still think. Was this a coma? Her senses were there, she could smell metal, feel metal around her. Somewhere very far away, she could hear voices. But the voices were coming from all around her, so she couldn't follow it in any direction. She reached out and felt nothing, saw nothing, but could sense that she could move.

She started walking and kept walking for a long time. The voices around her changed pitch, as if they were different than the others she'd just heard. She felt very small, like an ant in a ball room. Luckily, she was not easily afraid of unfamiliar situations. She remained calm and kept going. Voices continued to move around, and she began to perceive voices coming from different directions. So, she started follow one.

It was a male voice she didn't recognize but found that it was growing closer to her. Then, as if she'd rounded a corner in the pitch darkness, a light show on her right. She was blinded by it, and it consumed her.

Sif shot up gasping for breath on the table. The assistants around her stepped back alarmed. Sif looked around taking in the surroundings. Her eyes adjusted quickly, senses returning to usual. The tall, robed woman emerged from around the corner again being led by one of the assistants that had just been with Sif.

"Hello, my Lady. How are you feeling?" She asked, Sif looked at her somewhat confused, "Fine, I suppose. Where am I?"

"You were brought here to the healing rooms last week by the Princes." The woman said. She had her screen pulled up again and was running a diagnostic on Sif, "You were suck in oblivion after the sudden fracture of the spell cast over you. You're lucky you found your way out." The assistants were taking her vitals. Sif sat still waiting for instruction.

"Do you know what the oblivion is?" the woman asked. Sif shook her head 'no'. The woman continued, "It is much like a labyrinth clad in the darkest material known to the universe. So dark, all light is eaten by it. You can get stuck in it. Most people who do are too overwhelmed by the situation; They lose their minds, fall into a void, starve to death, etcetera. Your perception of the real world is what can guide you out, though truthfully, it is often of little help. It seems you managed to maintain composure and follow your gut. Consider yourself favored by Mimir, perhaps he guided you out."

The assistants finished their work. The woman told one of them to send word to the Princes that Sif had awoke. "I must ask you to wait here for a short while longer, so that we may monitor you, just in case. If the Princes are unable to meet you right now, you will be free to go soon."

Sif nodded and laid back down. She surprised herself again when she felt calm enough to fall back asleep. Her mind drifted, but ultimately came back to Loki. She dreamt of him for what felt like hours. The time they could share together. His strength in battle. His touch. She felt at ease.