Ensoulment

by Valerie Vancollie
valeriev84 at hotmail dot com

Notes: And here's the epilogue!

Ásgarðrian Asteroid Belt, 2018 A.D.

Space walking turned out to be quite similar to sky walking once his mother showed him how and Loki readily took to it, relishing all of the subtle ways in which it was different. Not to mention the world of possibilities it opened up to him. Sky walking had been a blessing in his youth and had opened up the entirety of the Nine Realms to him and while it would always remain special simply by virtue of the fact it allowed him direct access to his mother's true form, it was also limited to just the Nine Realms.

Space walking had no such limitations.

With it he could go anywhere he wanted and see whatever he so wished. The sheer number of possibilities was endless and thrilled Loki and he knew he would use the skill to go far and wide, exploring all parts of the universe. Yet he was also aware that for the next few millennia at least he would remain far closer to home, for while his mother's avatar could readily travel with him, Thor could not. Not with his brother's responsibilities as king of Ásgarðr.

It was the biggest reason he had never truly desired Hliðskjálf; the fact that as king he would be tied to it. His movements curtailed and his every action scrutinized. It was not a life suited for one born of chaos itself.

The reminder of all that had happened the last few years sobered Loki as he looked out over the asteroid field which was all that was left of the so called Realm Eternal. It was ironic in a way and he could fully understand all of the Ragnarök prophecies which had dogged his steps ever since he had been a child. If only they had known he would bring it about at the behest of Ásgarðr's rightful king rather than any whim of his own, how different things might have been!

Alas those days were long gone now and none still lived who had given him a hard time for it. Otherwise he would have reveled in ensuring they knew the error of their ways even if the situation itself left little to be satisfied with.

"What must I do?" Loki asked, looking at his mother.

He had no further desire to examine Ásgarðr's ruins and would not have returned here had it not been for Sága's comment that all was not lost if he did not wish it to be.

"First you must decide what you want to do," Sága said.

Loki raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Do you want to recreate Ásgarðr as it was or create your own world in its place?"

Oh. Loki had simply been thinking of recreating Ásgarðr, but the latter was very tempting and he had always had a lot of complaints about his old home. Still, it had been his old home and, what was more, Frigga's old home. Did he truly want to leave all which she had loved and cherished lost forever? Then there was also what Thor would think, not that he had to inform his brother he had possessed the means to recreate Ásgarðr if he chose not to.

"Recreate," Loki finally replied. "I can create an entirely new world elsewhere if the urge strikes."

His mother laughed. "How easily you come into your powers and the possibilities they provide!"

It was not the first time a comment of that nature had been made to him, but to Loki it was as simple as thinking items through to their natural conclusion. It was not his fault most could not do so. He had never understood the need for false modesty, particularly not why it should apply to the talents that were his strengths but not those which were Thor's.

"Am I wrong?" Loki asked.

"No," Sága replied, smiling. "But you are certain to make my life far more interesting than you already have in your infancy."

It irked Loki a little that his mother still saw him as a child, but seeing how ancient she was he could also understand it. Besides, the fact Sága looked forward to the mischief and chaos he would cause rather than either dreading or seeking to temper it was not only novel enough, but also delightful enough, to more than make up for any slight to his pride on the age front.

"Tell me what to do," Loki requested.

"First you much use Time, reach out with it to see what was, what is and what will be once more," Sága instructed, moving close. "Then reach deep within yourself to your connection with me. To that which is not mortal, but immortal. Reach towards your celestial half and feel what once was."

Loki gave himself over to the seiðr, both green and purple, seeing and feeling. It was all still so new, like a muscle he had not yet hardened into shape through use and repetition. Ásgarðr swam before his eyes, several thousand years of her history passing in an instant followed by her destruction. It hurt, to know he had done that despite how necessary it had been, but then Ásgarðr was back, all of her pieces slotting back into a whole like the puzzles Frigga had used to love making with him.

Then his mother's hand was on his chest and Loki focused on her silent prompts, reaching deep within himself to the parts of his core he had never known about before. He could still feel the awe and disbelief he had felt the first time Sága had connected him to her and he had truly felt all the glory and power of the Yggdrasill and become one with her. It came easier now and he could feel what the loss of Ásgarðr had done to her. The raw wound it was to her true form when one of the Realms she had created and nourished was snuffed out and torn asunder. An apology was on his lips, but his mother shushed him and he felt only love and understanding from her.

"It was necessary and you did not know," Sága reassured him. "Now focus on the connection between me and where she once was."

The words made Loki frown and it took him a few tries before he could suddenly see what his mother meant. It was the broken threads of connection which had run through the very core of Ásgarðr herself and linked her with the Yggdrasill. In some ways he had felt them before, but he had never recognized them for what they were, simply believing them to be Ásgarðr's own seiðr and the connection all Realms within the Nine had with the Yggdrasill.

With the realization came understanding and Loki reached back with the Time Stone to see precisely how it had all been, slowly drawing on his new found celestial powers to draw the pieces of the newly formed asteroid belt back together again. It was painstaking and complex work, to ensure every tiny little particle went back into the right place, especially since many had to be recreated before he could do so, but rewarding as Ásgarðr slowly reemerged from her own ashes before his eyes.

When he began to come back to himself Loki could hardly believe or even comprehend the sheer amount of both seiðr and power flowing through him. It felt completely natural, though, and Ásgarðr lay before them once more. Her waters flowing out into space, down towards the very roots of the Yggdrasill.

"You feed off your own creations," Loki realized with a wry smile.

"And why shouldn't I?" Sága inquired. "I sustain them, they help sustain me."

It was true and rather ironic given how many Realms had notions of the circle of life.

"You have done very well, Loki," his mother praised. "None shall be able to tell what transpired here."

The words and sentiment warmed Loki, but they did make him frown as well. While he had wished to recreate Ásgarðr, his contributions had so often been overlooked before. Should he leave his own mark?

Unable to help himself, Loki modified things ever so slightly. It was only a little mischief, really, hardly even a proper trick.

"What did you do, Little One?"

How well she knew him already.

"Nothing," Loki replied, giving her his most innocent smile. She simply gave him a look. "Ásgarðr is so very golden. I merely redecorated a little."

"Added some green?"

"Aye."

Just a little. To Hliðskjálf and his brother's personal chambers.

Loki laughed, already well able to imagine Thor's reaction when he found them. If his brother asked nicely he would turn them back.

Maybe.

/

And done!

I hope you all enjoyed this fic, my first completed foray into this fandom, and a very big thank you to everyone who favorited it and especially those who left reviews. Those are always appreciated, let me know what works well and they help to feed the muses.

As I have said before, I am still currently looking for a beta reader in this fandom, so please do let me know if you are interested in helping me out as I am definitely planning on writing more Loki fics.

Now, if you are interested in seeing the original story notes & ideas for this fic or you wish to download it, please got here: archiveofourown .org [forward slash] works [forward slash] 18551869 [forward slash] chapters [forward slash] 44993941

Old Norse:
Hliðskjálf - the high seat of Óðinn allowing him to see into all realms - i.e. Óðinn's throne
seiðr - witchcraft, sorcery / a type of sorcery practiced in Norse society during the Late Scandinavian Iron Age - i.e. magic