Vanity is Calling

Inside, Out

     "Thor, you are to wait here until I tell you come in and destroy the mirrors.  Is that clear?"Frigga asked before she unlocked the great doors that were all too familiar to Freya.  She watched Thor nod with a clenched jaw.

     "Thor,"Freya said softly.  She put a hand on his arm, and nodded at him.  She was sure this the only way, and she wouldn't put Thor at risk anymore than Frigga would.  Thor closed his eyes and nodded.  It was time.  Frigga opened the imposing doors and she and Freya entered the room with the mirrors.  Thor stayed just outside the threshold as he was instructed, Mijolnir ready in his hand.  

     The mirrors were silent.  There were no lights, nothing.  Freya looked at Frigga; The Queen.  Frigga nodded at Freya.  Freya took a deep breath and stepped forward, then slowly she put a shaky hand up to the mirror, but instead of meeting glass or any type of surface there was nothing to be felt.  Freya jerked her hand back in surprise.  Then she screwed her up courage and squared her shoulders deciding then and there that stepping inside was the best and only course of action.  She closed her eyes, and stumbled a bit on the other side but that was it.  She was inside of the mirrors.  She looked around, but she could not see at all.  It was black all around her.  There was no light anywhere.  Freya couldn't even see her hands in front of her own face.  Not only was she in total darkness, but it was also bitterly cold.  If she could see, Freya concluded that she would see her breath in puffs of smoke.  She rubbed her arms in a vain attempt to warm them.  She moved forward; cautiously.

"Loki!"Freya hollered, but her voice fell flat.  There was no echo to be heard.  It was as if the darkness had swallowed everything.  She was blind, dumb, and practically deaf, but Freya moved forward again. She rubbed her arms mindlessly again as she took more careful steps in the blackness.  

"Loki!"She called again; hoping her voice would somehow carry.  "Loki, where are you!?"Freya called in to the darkness.  Her body struggled against the cold, and her mind was becoming unhinged.  

"Freya!"Came a very faint reply.  Had she gone mad?  Freya stopped; her body shuddered violently for warmth.  "Loki?"She repeated.

"Freya"It sounded closer.  "Call me again."It was him!

"Loki!"Freya cried; hot tears stung her frost bitten cheeks.  "I'm here."Freya opened her arms to the darkness.

"Freya."His beautiful voice ws closer than ever.  

"Loki."Freya repeated. In the darkness an icy hand touched hers.  

"Freya!"Loki said breathily pulling her into and holding her tight.  Freya buried her face into his shoulder.  Even though she couldn't see him, Freya's mind could see every inch of Loki.  From his raven locks that brushed his shoulders, to his piercing green eyes, his mouth the way it curled into a smile when he was feeling playful, the porcelin tone of his skin, despite the dark she could see all of him.  She had not gone mad.

"Freya, you're cold as ice."Loki's tone was urgent.

"You are too."She said feeling his ears, neck, and cheeks.

"I'm fine."Loki dismissed her concern for him.  He really was fine.  All this time, in this bitter cold and he was not affected by it.  He wasn't even shivering.  He didn't remember shivering, or even being uncomfortable by the biting cold.  It almost felt, pleasant and normal.   

"We need to get you back."Loki said firmly.

"Me?  I'm here for you! I wouldn't be here if you hadn't--"Freya stopped and she clapped her hands over her mouth.  She didn't mean it; maybe she did.

"You're right."Loki admitted softly.  He was still holding her; refusing to let go.  "I was arrogant."he sighed.  As soon as he said those words a very faint shone around them.  It was just enough for them to see each other and not so much that it would hurt to look upon it.  Freya could see Loki.  He was really there holding her in his arms.

"The face I longed to see."His eyes wouldn't leave hers.  The light was a little brighter than before; still not enough to hurt but more to see with.  Loki touched an icy hand to Freya's equally ice cold cheek.  She leaned into his hand and closed her eyes.  Then Loki felt her relax in his arms.  At first he thought she simply relaxed, but soon he realized Freya was out cold.  

"No Freya."Loki commanded. "No, no, no, no!"He gave her a shake.  "Please, I cannot do this without you."He looked around for an answer, but there was nothing.  Think, Loki think!  He cursed himself.  Finally, Loki took his hand and placed on Freya's icy forehead.  He closed his eyes and concentrated just enough to wake her.  It worked; her eyes fluttered open.

"What happened?"Freya was panicked. 

"We need to get you out of here."Loki told her.

"Me? I came here for--"

"I know."Loki cut her off.  He looked around, trying to find the way out.

"This way."Freya pointed.  Loki steadied her with an arm around her waist.  "We have to go now. and fast."She told him.  Loki felt her strength returning but he knew it was only enough to get them out.  It would do neither of them good to drain his strength completely.  

"We have to move quickly."Freya said.  "The mirrors are active.  It is during this time we have to escape."

Together they ran in the direction Freya pointed.  It was growing and brighter and brighter with every step they took.  Freya knew the mirrors were going to become silent again.

"Loki!"She shouted with urgency when the light was more blinding than the darkness.  They were running blind.  Freya could feel Loki's arm around her as they ran toward; something, but what she no longer knew.  Her head was spinning, it was too bright.  Then just as everything had turned bright, it started to growing dark all around them again.  She fought to yell, but her voice was silenced by the dark.  She heard shouts all around her and Loki.  Freya felt herself falling or possibly being thrown out of harms way by Loki.  Did he get out?  Was he safe?  It was getting darker and darker until it swallowed everything around her once more.