Fallen Star

Fallen Star Chapter 8

The riddles in this portion are from the Book of Exeter.

LLLLL

"A shapeless piece of steel—

That's all I claim to be.

This hammer pounds

To give me form

This flame, it melts my dreams.

I glow with fire and fury

As I'm twisted like a vine.

My final shape, my final form

I'm sure I'm bound to find.

So dream a little,

Dream for me

In hopes that I'll remain.

And cry a little,

Cry for me

So I can bear the flames.

And hurt a little,

Hurt for me

My future is untold

But my dreams are not the issue here

For they

The hammer holds."

-The Hammer Holds

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Loki? Loki!"

Loki shot into a sitting position, then thrashed against the heavy covers that entangled him.

"Wh-What?" he gasped. He peered over the pile of covers, through the dark room, to the crack in the giant door. He blinked a few times, then finally focused on the little blonde boy who stood in the gap, his nightgown trailing on the floor.

"What are you doing in Mother and Father's bed?" Thor demanded in a whisper. Loki rubbed his eyes with both hands, then frowned at his brother.

"It's thundering."

Thor snorted.

"You're afraid of thunder?"

"Are you?" Loki shot back.

"Ha—No."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to see how Mother is," Thor said defensively, then glanced around. "But...maybe she's still upstairs with the healers. You think Father's with her?"

"Probably," Loki said. Thor nodded, then lowered his head. Loki hesitated.

"Want to wait with me till he comes back?"

"Yes!" Thor said, and darted in, his little feet padding on the carpet, and then he clambered up on the bed next to Loki. Though Thor was bigger than his brother, the bed still dwarfed both boys. Thor flopped back onto the massive pillows and let out a huge sigh, staring up at the ceiling. Loki leaned back onto a similar fluffy pillow and glanced over at him—he could still see him by the light from the hallway.

"I don't remember you being born," Loki remarked. Thor rolled his eyes.

"That's because I was born before you."

Loki frowned.

"So you remember me being born?" he said.

Thor stopped, then pursed his lips.