Now and Forever Yours

Chapter 8

The entirety of the palace was wide awake after my scream, and I doubt anyone in the realm slept the remainder of that night.  Two guards had rushed Tove to the healing wing, while several more Einherjar had rushed into the room, along with Frigga and Odin. 

"What on Earth has happened in here?" Frigga cried at the sight of the room, while Odin murmured with the head of his royal guard. 

Without letting go of my hand, Loki gently waved his own, a green glow surrounding me where I sat on the floor.  I glanced down, seeing the thin satin robe I had been wearing quickly replaced by workout shorts and a soft tshirt.  I looked up to meet his eyes – Charlotte's eyes.  They were as full of pain and confusion as mine.  I couldn't move, couldn't cry – and I knew Loki felt the same.  I felt everything he felt.  He glanced up, away from me, at one of the Einherjar that was standing above us.  I felt the guard's eyes scanning over my bare legs, and my tshirt, and felt my cheeks redden.

"If you have a problem with my wife's attire, perhaps you should take yourself elsewhere." Loki growled.  I slowly followed his gaze, and the man above me quickly looked away, swallowing hard. 

"I should be with Tove," I said quietly, attempting to stand, and Loki immediately rose to help me as I wobbled a little, clutching the stuffed Hulk in one hand.  He nodded at me, and I glanced at my feet as soft slippers appeared.  I looked up at him, and he pulled me close, kissing my forehead, before releasing me to continue out the door into the hallway. 

Loki watched Frigga follow his wife down the hallway toward the healing wing.  He turned toward his father.

"I'm going out to search the realm." Odin nodded, and they both turned to see Thor stride into the room, followed by Sif.

"I'm going with you." Thor announced.  "As is Sif." Loki felt his heart swell. 

"You've only just married – surely . . ." Loki began, only to have Sif hold up a hand.

"And we wouldn't be anywhere else." She responded.  Loki nodded, not trusting himself to speak.  Thor clapped him on the back, and the three left for the stables.

Hours later, the small search party returned to the palace doors disheartened.  They, along with Odin's guard, had searched the forests, the shores, even house by house, with no sign of Sigyn or Charlotte.  Leaving the guards at the door, and his brother and sister-in-law at the throne room, Loki went straight to the healing wing in search of his wife.  Stopping at the doorway, he spotted Tove on a stone bed in the center, sleeping, in the middle of treatment.  Paige was nowhere to be seen.

"Your highness?" Eir, the head healer, approached him, her hair pulled back into a tight bun.  "Are you injured, my prince?"

"No, no." He shook his head.  "I am looking for my wife." He said hesitantly, and Eir nodded solemnly. 

"Yes.  She was here most of the day, but I suggested not long ago she go try to lie down in your chambers.  I believe your mother escorted her there."  Loki nodded, and turned to leave.  "My prince – I'm so sorry." Loki glanced back at Eir, and nodded before heading for his chambers. 

Carefully opening the door, he spied Paige's body curled up on the top of the covers, her back to him.  Loki quietly moved to the closet, ridding himself of the leathers he had worn out that day to ride.

"You couldn't find her." He heard Paige's hoarse voice from behind him, and his head dropped. 

"No.  There is no sign of them." He pulled a simple tunic over his head, and kicked off his heavy boots before returning to the side of the bed.  Paige was curled around Charlotte's stuffed Hulk, staring blankly at the window across from her.  Loki crawled on to the bed, sitting behind her, and reached out to touch her hair.