The Hermit Herbalist

Chapter 10 - Going Home?

Loki was on her feet and taking care of her garden when Clint returned from the hunt two weeks later.  Her skirts were bunched up and there was dirt under her fingernails.  A few strands of her curly black hair stuck to her forehead from sweat.  She smiled as she stood up, the vegetable basket tucked under her arm.  Clint walked up, a heavy sack over one shoulder, his bow and quiver over the other, and an impressive antler rack in his hand.  "Welcome back!  Looks like it was a prosperous venture," Loki greeted as she approached and took the bag from his back.

"How's your ankle?" he asked stiffly.  Loki noticed his tone instantly.

"It's fine," she answered.  Clint nodded his head and walked past her into the house.  Loki followed him, her heart rate picking up slightly.  "Is something wrong, Clint?"

"Did you know that a caravan was passing through that could take me home?" Clint posed as he spun around.  Loki stiffened, her grip on Clint's hunting bag tightening.  She recalled Thura saying something about it.  They were coming through Nornheim, then going to Vanaheim, and finally Asgard.  Clint could go back to his friends.  

"Thura had mentioned it in passing when I was in the village before my accident," Loki admitted.

"And you didn't think to say something to me about it?" Clint hissed, the anger apparent.  

"It slipped my mind!  In case you've forgotten, I've got many things to keep me occupied," Loki countered.

"Bullshit, you forgot!  You wanted to keep me here!" Clint accused as he dumped everything on the floor.  Loki paled even more and she placed his bag on her table.  

"Yes, I am to blame once again," she said, her voice calm and quiet.

"You have no right to keep me here!  I'm my own man and can make my own decisions.  It's the least you can do, considering what you did to me in your previous life!" Clint shouted.  Loki turned her head away from him, her eyes closed and her lip trembling.  "Don't shut your eyes!  You can't ignore this!"  Clint grabbed both her arms and pulled her close.  Loki and Clint had no choice but to look into each other's eyes.  Loki's were filling with tears and Clint's were burning with unholy anger.  

"I'm not ignoring it.  I just can't deal with it," Loki admitted tiredly.  

"How selfish can you be?"  Clint shoved her away and Loki hit the table hard, rattling it.  She clutched it in order to keep her balance.  "You disgust me!  I'm leaving!"  Clint went about the house, collecting his things.  Loki just stood there, holding onto her table, her eyes shut.  Clint did not say anything else to her as he got his things.  He was contemplating walking out without saying goodbye, when he remembered the antlers.  "Oh, and apparently your antiquated culture says the presentation of horns like these is the best gift to give.  You can have it for all I care."  Clint tossed them in her direction and they landed at her feet.  Loki finally raised her eyes to look at Clint.  Her green orbs were swimming in tears.  Clint ignored the niggling in his mind and walked out.  

"What's this?" Ragnar asked when Clint arrived at the inn later that evening.

"There's a traveling group of merchants from off realm here, isn't there?" Clint asked.

"Why... yes," Hagan answered him.

"They can take me home," Clint said as he looked about the inn's common room for them.  His friends all gasped.  

"Going home?  To Midgard, lad?" Lanh asked.  

"Yes, to Midgard.  My friends surely miss me and I miss them.  It's long time since I saw them," Clint said.  He was saying all these things, partly to explain himself to them, but also to himself.  He tilted his head and saw Kael smiling from his table in the corner of the inn.  Clint felt anger burn within him against the man.  He was annoying and, Clint could not help but fear for Loki now that he was leaving.