All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

After a long, boring afternoon of sitting in on peace talks, Loki was never so grateful for fresh air and sunshine on his face. Vanaheim was almost as beautiful as Asgard, but more open, with rolling fields and meadows and a lot less gold and palace. Loki sat on a low stone wall and leaned back against a stone pillar, closing his eyes. It was nearly dusk, and the others were readying for dinner, but Loki just wanted a little peace and quiet.

“What troubles you?”

Loki opened his eyes at the sound of Annelie's voice. “Nothing troubles me. It’s been five days of nothing but listening to demands. Unreasonable demands. Five days away from my family, to listen to grown men and women bicker like children and resolve nothing.”

“It does grow tedious, doesn’t it?” She reached for his hand, taking it to tug. “Come. Let’s go and have a drink. You look as if you could use one.”

“I could.” He let her draw him to his feet and together they made their way across the square to a small café, where he could see Thor waiting for them at a table. “I took the liberty of ordering ales for you both, I hope you don’t mind.”

“An ale would suit me just fine.” Loki drew out a chair to drop into and leaned back. “At this rate, we are never getting back to Asgard.”

“It’s only been a few days, Loki,” Annelie said.

Thor let out a hearty laugh. “Anything more than twelve hours is too much for him.”

Loki sat back as a barmaid brought them their flagons of ale and when she left, he lifted his, saying, “Do you fault me? Look what I get to return home to.”

Thor grimaced. “Do not remind me. You return to Asgard and your beautiful wife, while I must pine away for Jane and treasure the few moments I am able to spend with her.”

Loki smiled. “I will not curse those fates, Brother. I went through Hel before I landed in McKenna's apartment. She is my reward for all that suffering and I cherish every moment I have with her.”

Annelie sipped her ale. “If it’s any consolation, I believe we will be drawing close to an end before long. I know Fujimoto well and he is close to ceding to the terms of the accord. It shouldn’t be more than a day or two at most.”

Loki groaned. “Two more days is two days too long.” He drained the ale and signaled for another round to be brought to them.

“You’ll live, Loki. You’ll live,” Annelie told him, nudging him with an elbow.

Thor threw back the second drink and signaled for the third round. “And I will be making my way to Midgard. The time has come to try to convince Father to allow Jane entry into Asgard.”

And with that, the talk went from this subject to that one, and the ale seemed to be a neverending flow. By the time they stumbled out of the café, Loki was, as McKenna would say, feeling no pain. He stumbled, only to have Annelie catch him by the arm and keep him upright as they made their way back to the cottage where they were staying.

“Take care, Loki. You are not light, you know,” she grunted, slipping her arm about his waist as he leaned heavily against her.

“I apologize. And I’ll do my best to not crush you.”

“It’s all right. I’m stronger than I look.”

He looped his arm about her shoulder. “Where is the damn door?”

“Right there.” She pointed straight ahead. “Step up.”

He tripped over the top step to the wide front porch. “Damn stairs.” He peered around them at the blackness. Trees. Shrubs. That was all his bleary eyes could see. “Where did we leave Thor?”