Loki: Storm of Swords

Chapter 98 - Westeros Paves the Way

Sansa was not very happy at seeing her little girl go and had given Sandor a time in which to bring her back for the birth of her sibling. She watched as Ragna petted Fenris' nose and gave him bits of meat from a pouch on her belt. Her red hair was up in a braid and she was wearing her travel clothes. Sansa sighed and walked over to her. Ragna glanced up at her mother as Sansa knelt down beside her. "I'll miss you, Ragna. You will be back home in time for the birth of your brother or sister," Sansa informed her.

"Clegane will get me back in time. Don't worry, Mother," Ragna responded as she threaded her fingers in her elder brother's black fur. Sansa looked at Fenris and the wolf looked back at her.

"You keep her safe as well, Fenris. Be a good big brother and I'll see you both back here soon," Sansa said. She kissed his snout and Fenris glanced away.

"That's how he blushes," Loki's voice explained as he walked up. Rhaenar was beside his father, grinning maniacally. 

"Farewell, sister. Enjoy your assassin training," Rhaenar said. Ragna snorted as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Farewell, brother. Enjoy your training in parlor tricks," Ragna taunted in return. 

"Hey!" Loki said, grabbing the both of them by their collars and pulling them up. They looked at him before looking back at each other. "I won't have you belittling each other's talents. You respect one another the hours you put into preparing yourselves."

"Preparing ourselves for what?" Rhaenar queried. Loki looked at Sansa and she also made a face of confusion. 

"For your debut." Loki put them down after he said this and knelt on the ground, pulling his family in close. "I saw something before I woke up after my fight with Surtur... I believe it was a vision of the future. In that vision, I saw ranks of soldiers, the hoard of the undead. Many of them were Westerosi, but there were some who were of... earth."

"Midgard?" Sansa queried. "But, you cannot go back to that place. They would crucify you."

"I know my love, and I don't intend to go back without good cause," Loki responded. 

"But we would go. To Midgard? Another realm?" Ragna asked with growing interest. 

"It is a possibility. And of course, I would want you both to make a good impression," Loki said with a hint of a smirk on his face. His twin offspring had the exact same expressions on their faces. Sansa just shook her head in a mixture of acceptance and amusement. 

"My lord," said a stern voice and they all looked up. A dour faced Sandor Clegane was standing behind them. "We are ready to travel. We'd better get going," Clegane said. Loki nodded and watched as the Hound walked away. He sighed and glanced at Sansa, who shook her head. 

"Well, we better not keep Sandor waiting," Loki said, scooping Ragna into his arms and kissing her on the forehead and the cheek. Ragna pressed a kiss of her own to his cheek and Loki placed her on the saddle in front of Sandor. The Hound wrapped his arms around her and Loki placed a hand on his vambrace. "Her life before yours."

"Always, my lord," the Hound vowed with a bow of his head. With that, he kicked his horse in the ribs and they rode out of the courtyard with an escort. That was when Bronn popped up and he bowed and extended his hand.

"Excuse me, your highnesses, but I believe I was supposed to take the young Prince Rhaenar for some training today," Bronn explained.

"Yes, Bronn! You do. Run along," Loki said, passing Rhaenar off to the former sells-sword. The parents watched as the child was taken away to be brought to his instructors. Sansa wrapped her arm around Loki's waist and breathed hot on his neck.

"So... visions about our children in another realm all grown up and you didn't tell me?" she queried, pinching his side good. Loki winced and tilted his head slightly to look at her.

"I don't know if it'll come to pass, but it's better to be safe than sorry," Loki reminded and Sansa sighed.

"Nobody knows that better than us. But, Midgard? Would you really return there?" Sansa posed as they walked back into the Red Keep. Loki looked up at the ceiling, admiring the designs before he answered her.

"It's not really a question of 'would I', it's a question of 'when I'. And I won't be doing it because I want to. I'll be doing it because I have to," Loki responded. Sansa shook her head and her grip on him tightened.

"I won't let them hurt you or slander you. I will tell the truth of New York," Sansa said vehemently. Loki took her chin gently but firmly in his fingers and shook his head.

"No, Sansa. That information is private and I told you as my wife because you deserved to know. The people of Midgard don't need to be told how... how low I was brought," Loki whispered to her. Sansa frowned at him.

"You weren't to blame," she insisted.

"But, they need a scapegoat. I'm happy to be that scapegoat as long as that personal information doesn't get out. Do I make myself clear?" Loki clarified. Sansa heaved a tired sigh and nodded, standing in front of Loki and resting her cheek against his heart. She listened to the strong beat of it and closed her eyes.

"Yes, my husband. My God of Mischief. My Loki," Sansa answered. Loki pulled her up and kissed her passionately, much to the discomfort of the passing servants and lords. They did not care and everyone knew it.

"Loki!" cried a voice and they broke apart to see Jon giving them a mildly annoyed look. "In public?"

"You have a problem with me kissing my wife?" Loki asked as he let go of Sansa. Jon started back pedaling. 

"Well, no, I don't. I do have a problem with being scarred for life because she is still like my sister," Jon responded before he took off down the hall.

"I'll have you know we do more than kiss!" Loki called after him as he pursued. 

"We have proof of that!" Jon sniped back. Loki really started running and Jon cried out in terror before they both disappeared down the hallway. Sansa just laughed and ran her hand over her stomach and the still growing babe.

"And that, my little one, is the family you'll be born into. Not bad at all," Sansa informed the child with a loving smile.