Giftless

Chapter 40

/Careful with her, Oaf. She was raped recently and since you have abducted us, I have not been able to take her to a soul healer yet/ Loki warned as you were walking. You had the feeling that he was trying to spare you by speaking telepathically, but you overheard what he was saying. Something with the soulbond had caused you to be able to hear him.  You felt yourself blushing that he was even making the warning to his brother. Surely, Thor wasn't going to hurt you.  You knew Thor and lived with him whenever he visited Midgard.

In one fluid movement, Thor turned to face Loki and a glare. He had set you on your feet, holding you protectively against his side. You squeaked in surprise as he did. It had just happened so fast.  Thor wasn't usually fast.

"It wasn't me!" Loki told them both, sounding indignant that they'd even thought he'd be capable of such a thing. Sif was looking at him now too, her sword drawn. She was the goddess of war after all. "Gods, how little do you think of me?" He glared at Thor.

Thor gave him an apologetic look.  "Apologies, Brother. You know as well as I that the question had to be asked," Thor finally said, apparently trusting Loki's outrage.

Loki nodded, reluctantly accepting the apology. "Now may I have my beloved back?" Loki grumbled at them, trying to pull himself out of Sif's grip, to no avail.  She'd grabbed him and drawn her sword to keep him away from you.

"No, you may not," Thor replied pleasantly. For such a large, muscled, man, he moved extremely fast. He had let you go and in the next instant had not only rushed over to Loki, but had folded his brother over his shoulder.

"Thor!" Loki yelled indignantly. He hit Thor's back much harder than you had in that position. You and Sif couldn't do anything but laugh at Loki's misfortune.

Thor chuckled. "Come, little brother. Our friends await!" Thor announced and set off again. Sif linked her arm with yours and you followed behind the brothers. Loki pounded on Thor's back with no effect. He finally sighed and allowed the indignity. You and Sif were still laughing at their antics.

Thor turned and threw open the doors to one of the smaller feast halls. "This is where the younger members of the court tend to gather," Sif explained to you as Thor proceeded into the room, standing tall and proud as usual. There were cheers from inside.

"Friends! My brother has returned!" Thor announced, setting Loki back on his feet and holding Loki by the shoulders so he couldn't run off. It was such a practiced movement that it was clearly a common one. There were more cheers at that. Thor waved to you and Sif half dragged you into the room with her. Everyone in the room stood when you entered and you felt yourself turn red in embarrassment at all the attention.

"Lady Sif," came the respectful, much tamer greeting to Sif. She dipped her head in acknowledgment of their greeting.

"Friends, Prince Loki's soulbond, Lady Y/N, has come to visit as well," Sif dragged you forward and pushed you next to Loki where you'd be presented to all of their friends. "She is not used to your rowdy ways, so be nice to her." There was a threat in her words and you could tell that none of them would argue with her.

You were given places of honor in the middle of the table, surrounded by their friends. They were a rowdy bunch, but they were fun. Thor set a giant mug of beer down in front of both yourself and Loki. Loki picked yours up and handed it back to Thor. "She is 18, Oaf," he explained. Thor considered that for a moment, and then set two giant mugs of beer in front of you.

"She is still growing!" he announced and went to go sit with his wife.

You just laughed as Loki vanished the beer. "He means well..." Loki said with a sigh of exasperation. You giggled.