Darkness Revealed (A Loki Love Story) Book 2 in Darkness Series

Old Friends

(His point of view)

I am standing just inside the main palace doors. It is a surreal and bewildering moment. To think that up until only recently, I never would have dreamt that I would have been back here. And to be offered such a warm welcome by my brother.

Thor waves for us to follow him in silence as he leads us down a familiar set of hallways. Link stays close to my side as we walk, eyeing everything in astonishment. We continue on until we arrive at the main dining hall. As we step around the corner, I see that the overly long rectangular tables are adorned with food of every kind. And there, at the end of one of them, sits Sif and the Warriors Three. Upon hearing our footsteps, their heads turn in unison. I have to stifle a chuckle as I take in their shocked expressions upon seeing me again. They look as though they do not even recognize who I am. Have I really changed that much?

They all stand in synchronization, moving out from in front of their chairs.

"L...Loki?" Volstagg's voice stutters out. He has an enormous hunk of meat clutched in his right hand as he moves from around the end of the table.

"Great Odin's raven! Tis true! You are really here!" Fandral exclaims in a hushed tone. We finally stop just a few paces away from them. I allow my chest to jut forward in confidence but remain wearing a most cultivated smile.

"Hello, my friends," I say, nodding respectfully before bowing to them. As I lift my eyes back up, it is Hogun who approaches me first. His stern and observing gaze takes me a little by surprise as he studies my appearance. His eyes move up and down my figure, as though he is trying to memorize each and every detail of my impression.

"Prince Loki..." he finally breathes. "I had to see it to believe it with my own eyes. It seems that Thor's words were true after all. You have changed." I chuckle, nodding in agreement.

"Yes, I daresay that I have." Sif is next to approach me, eyeing me a little more warily. She still looks not completely convinced, but she is smiling slightly as her eyes meet mine.

"It is good to see you, Sif," I say, gazing at her over Hogun's shoulder.

"And you as well, Loki. Forgive me for staring. You are just so....different." Thor's lurid laughter sounds off from just a short distance away.

"Come, let us stop gawking and enjoy a meal together before we are to meet with Father. I imagine the two of you are quite famished after your travels." Link does not have to be asked twice as he takes a seat just beside Fandral. He automatically begins reaching for any and everything that he can get his hands on, piling his silver platter high with food. I shake my head at his sudden audacity but cannot help but chortle. What else should I have expected? If he is offered food, he will never turn it away.

I follow Thor's gesture to come and have a seat at his side between him and Volstagg. As I do, I can feel their tightened gazes still locked on my each and every movement. But I do not let it intimidate me. I now have nothing to hide from them.

I take my seat, eyeing the glorious variety of food before me. However, I am honestly not hungry. I know that it is from my slowly escalating nerves from knowing that I am soon to speak with Odin. That is the only thing that I am still anxious about. I know that Adrielle had said that I would be welcomed here, but she never clearly stated whether or not he would be willing to comply with my request. I can only hope and pray that he will be forgiving and accepting. I hope that he is just as Thor had said, more willing to listen than to become angry.

I reach for a few pieces of fruit and some cheeses, picking at them as though I were a bird. I force myself to take a few bites before downing some wine that a servant has just recently poured for me. Its deep robustness is more than welcomed by my thrashing insides. I feel it settling them almost instantly upon flowing down into my stomach.