Sorcha's Secret World, Part one.

Chapter 36, Fire and Ice.

I could practically hear Loki's teeth gnash as we drove back to London with Thor in the backseat of the car. Thor had his nose pressed against the window and was pointing out everything he saw, I don't think he'd ever been in a car before. Normally I would have found it endearing, but I was too worried about Loki to pay too much attention to his brother.

I tried putting a hand on Loki's leg to comfort him, but he angrily brushed it away. I could see how angry and upset he was, with Thor, with me.

Not for the first time, I wished I had Loki's way with words, but I couldn't think of anything to say. So I started talking to Thor instead.

Odin had noticed what was happening on the island and had followed my progress from the moment I had set foot on it according to Thor. I had gained Odin's favour after I had solved his riddles, but it had been Thor's idea to send Mjolnir down to me.

"You looked like you needed some help," Thor admitted, "and I did not want Father to expend more of his life force than he had to. I knew you'd be worthy, you had proven both your pureness of heart and your mettle through your actions."

I blushed. I didn't think I had done anything special, to be honest, I had just bumbled my way along trying to stop Loki.

Thor was aware of certain of my actions afterwards, like the destruction of the statue to Lilith, but had been in the dark about others thanks to Loki's shroud which seemingly had extended to me as well.

Loki didn't say a word, his face grim as he drove us back to Ealdwic.

Loki hid us with his magic as we travelled through Agartha, glamouring us to look very different so no one would recognise us. It felt weird to look down on my body and not see my own.

Normally Loki and I would have laughed about it, perhaps he would have glamoured us into celebrities for fun, but Loki was surly and sullen.

"This is where you live, brother?" Thor asked in surprise as we came to our cottage. Loki glared at him.

"If it doesn't suit you feel free to find lodgings elsewhere," he growled.

I glared at Thor too. I understood it probably wasn't what he had in mind when we mentioned taking him to our home, but I love that cottage of mine dearly.

"No, no, I meant no offence!" Thor reassured us hastily. "It's... quaint. Very homely!"

Loki unlocked the door and stomped inside without waiting.

"Just not where I imaged a Prince of Asgard and Midgard's most powerful witch to live, is all." Thor rumbled under his breath, loud enough for us both to hear.

"Hey, wait! You are forgetting to unhitch your invisible horses!"

"Our what now?" I stopped in my tracks.

"The invisible horses pulling Loki's magical chariot," Thor's blue eyes looked at me innocently.

"I told you he was an idiot," Loki said acerbically.

I felt a headache coming on. It was going to be a long night.

I really wanted to change out of my wet dress, but I wasn't sure about leaving Loki and Thor alone, so I led them into the kitchen and made us all a mug of hot chocolate instead.

I slowly began to fill in Thor about what happened after I defeated Loki. About how we had met again, about how we had begun to work together. I was tired and was skipping past some parts and muddling up others. I could see Thor was getting confused. Loki, unable to help himself, took over and told the story far better than I could.