Bifrost Ch. 03

This time, Kirk could not stop himself from releasing as she milked him. Her cries were filled with the intensity of her pleasure and nothing would ever sound as magical to him than when she said his name in the face of passion. He held her as she continued to shudder from her orgasm, until her body let go of the tension she was holding in his arms. As he rubbed her back and spoke softly to her, she wished to stay there forever, never having to face what would soon become of them.

When they finally entered the noisy hall, she was relieved. She no longer felt the presence of her brother. Her eyes traveled across the long table at the back of the hall, she spotted the real General Frovik hunched over his plate, looking like he would be sick. The poison Loki gave to his victims in small doses was never enough to kill them, only to knock them out until he was done borrowing their likeness. The General was most certainly experiencing the harsh side effects of the drug Loki had made himself. Everyone else was seated at tables throughout the hall, or crowding the floor to show their appreciation for the soft music in the air.

"We are to sit at the table with Frovik, Valkyrie." She nodded in response to his words and began moving forward through the throngs of dancing elves and humans, swaying near their round tables. The hall was decorated lavishly with assortments of jewels surrounding candles, giving the hall multitudes of soft glowing colours. She spotted Eric dancing with a brunette elf much taller than he, stepping on her toes repeatedly. It was not hard to place that the strong mead the elves had received from the dwarves was his undoing. When Eric spotted them, he shook his head disapprovingly, and focused his efforts on the frustrated female in front of him. The colorful jeweled dresses in the hall were nothing like those worn when they had first arrived. She was reminded that in the Old Vertanian culture, pairings were only welcomed during community gatherings, when everyone had an equal chance to showcase their availability and their personal wealth. They bid faint hellos to Frovik, who was turning passionately chartreuse.

Aztrit noticed the King wasn't present tonight. After she asked Kirk about his absence, he told her he would only be available after the celebration tomorrow. He was away finalizing supplies for the deal they would barter. With everyone else done their eating and crowding the tables in front of them, they only had each other as company while they ate.

"I want to know more about your home." He said to her while she tried to chew quickly through the bird that was served.

"What do you want to know?" She tried to say, covering her mouth from his eyes.

He wanted to find out as much as he could before he revealed himself. He wouldn't get another chance. She deserved to know. "Tell me more about your brothers."

She nodded her head and scooted closer to him, unable to speak loudly. "Either one okay to start with?" He signaled yes and she continued. "Thor is the oldest. He's my only brother by blood. Loki is the second, as you probably already know, adopted from the giants of Jotunheim, one of the nine worlds we belong to at the roots of the Great Tree Yggdrasil. "

"Why would Odin adopt him as one of his own?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I never really thought to ask him. But my father has always valued power. Maybe he saw what Loki could do, and chose to keep him close. Thor was furious when it happened. He enjoyed being Odin's only son. He's always been quick to anger, and slow to understanding."

Kirk took in what she had said about Thor, how would he react to what was happening between them. "What would your brothers think about us?"

She choked on her mead and coughed roughly. "Thor would most definitely try to kill you. I'm his only sister, and he's ridiculously protective of his family. Loki already knows, and what he'll do with that information, I don't really know. But my brothers love me. Just as much as I love them. They do not however, get along with each other. Thor especially hates Loki's children, our nieces and nephews. I'm not particularly close with them because they're all much older than I am. But I've met Fenrir, his son. Not a pleasant being. And Jormungard, I'm sure you've heard of him, the big serpent in the ocean that surrounds Midgard."

"The one that eats its own tail because of its length? I thought that was just an old wives tale to keep children from the seas? He's Loki's son?" Kirk shook his head as she said yes. He was fascinated, why hadn't he asked more about her world sooner? "And your niece?"

"Oh." She sat her cup down and breathed deeply. She didn't like talking about her. She had never met her, but from the tales her father told her about her, she belonged where she was. "You know Helheim, world of the undead? His daughter is Hel."

Kirk stood abruptly, knocking the chair backwards, causing it to clatter against the marble floors. She jumped from the sudden movement. "Are you okay Kirk? What's wrong?" He looked just as sickly as General Frovik did, with shock reading wildly off of his irises.

"Loki is Hel's... father?" He said it slowly to try to clarify that she had said that to him.

"Yes. Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?"

He stared into her worried face. Too stunned to move. When he gathered the courage, he picked up his chair from it's off kilter position and sat back down. He ran his hand through his hair and down his beard. This couldn't be happening. After everything they had done together. How could he not have known?

She touched his back and peered into his distressed face. "Are you okay? You're scaring me. Was it something i said?" She was confused. They had been talking so casually, and then he turned different shades of red and blue. "I know Helheim can be a little unsettling to think about."

"No, Valkyrie. I'm fine. Keep going, I'm listening." He didn't look into her face. He was too embarrassed.

She continued to try to soothe him. "I have a biological niece too. Tihala. The Valkyrie you saw that night in the Dark Woods. She looks so much like her father sometimes, and I worry for her on the fields. She's so young and new to war, but she has his craving for it. That scares me. I don't want her to struggle the way Thor has had to."

"So Thor is a redhead too? I always imagined he was blonde. That myth that blondes are empty headed, like he's said to be, crafted my picture of him." He was calming himself down now, attempting to joke with her. To his delight she did laugh.

"Aye, that is true. He is not the sharpest spear. But Tihala takes after her mother in intelligence. Thankfully." She paused before she continued. She had been thinking about telling him the true reason she was sent too him on Midgard. After she spoke to her father, she had made up her mind. Before she met Kirk, she wasn't sure she could've done it just off of principal alone. But after he had showed her what real happiness and affection felt like, she was positive she could not do something so damaging to their relationship. She was going to tell him tonight. He deserved to know. "Kirk, I have to tell you-"

She was cut off by the loud booming of Eric's voice as he approached the table with a new, much younger elf with long black hair and sad looking eyes. "Cousin! And witch my cousin has bedded." He nodded sloppily to her as he pressed the elf into his body.

Aztrit narrowed her eyes at him as he belittled her. Because she had refused his advances, she was witch and a whore now? It may have been the drink he partook in talking, but she could feel her pulse rising with anger. Before she could retort, Kirk stood and spoke instead, "I think that's enough for tonight Eric. You have to rest for tomorrow."

Eric stood staring back at Kirk as his arms grew lax, giving the shy elf underneath him a chance to escape. His face was plastered crimson, as he swayed back and forth from his weight. After unsuccessfully attempting to stare Kirk down in dominance, Eric threw his hands and the mug he was holding in the air in defeat. "I was beginning to tire anyway."

Kirk turned to Aztrit and took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles gently. "Forgive me, but I have to ensure he actually gets to bed. You could meet me at my quarters later or I could come to you." She couldn't help but blush lightly from his frank statement. He was not asking. She could only nod her head in agreement, unable to formulate words. When he let her go and left, she berated herself 'Relax. It's not your first time with him.' But it would be the first time they might really spend the night together, and wake up next to each other. She knew exactly what they would do with all of that private time. But she was ashamed. Would he be so willing to continue if he knew she was supposed to confirm the suspicions he used to have of her?

She got up to leave the hall next, walking with haste towards the room he would be staying in. She was so enamoured she hadn't felt the blind eyes on her back as she walked again through the graceful elves, and out of the mead permeated hall.

***

Kirk had finally gotten Eric to rest in his bed. When he left the grand barracks the Vertanians had fashioned for the visiting warriors, he walked casually in the dark. He could feel a presence watching him as he winded through the upscale buildings. But it wasn't until he reached the courtyard before his destination that he turned to face the jade eyes boring holes into his body.

From out of the darkness came Loki, in his human form. "I've been trying to place your scent since we met this morning. Although you might not recognize me this way."

Kirk crossed his arms over his chest as he returned his glare. "Stealing images is quite a talent Loki. But stalking is not your strong suit."

Loki grinned and shook his head. "You have no idea what I'm capable of Lord Verdulke." He came closer and watched him for a moment before he continued. "Does she know who you are?"

Kirk tensed his jaw. "She doesn't. But soon she will."

"Lying to my sister is not a good way to win her family over. Although our father already favours you. I was going to tell him, but Aztrit wouldn't be deserving of the retaliation she would face. Especially if Odin's days are numbered." Loki trailed off as his said this, trying not to give too much away. "My sister is bright. I'm sure she already has some idea that you're not fully human. But she'll never be able to decipher who you've truly come from. I myself, am still trying to wrap my head around it. My daughter never told me she had a son. So you can imagine how surprised I am to realize you're a part of me."

"Hel was never a mother to me." Kirk was trying to control his anger. Never had she reached out to him. She had given birth to him, and then vanished, leaving his father with a newborn and nothing else.

"That I'm not surprised to hear you say. She was never very attentive as a child. But you are our family by blood. And that's all that matters to me. So I'm going to let you in on something I'm sure my sister has not told you. To spare your feelings or whatever lovers care about. Odin wants you. And he'll do anything to try to save himself during Ragnarok. But as an immortal, you're not fated to die for quite some time. Aztrit isn't here to make sure you win this war. She's here to make sure Odin can have you for the real battle. She's going to kill you so you can serve our father for Ragnarok."

Aztrit could feel something was wrong. After they joined the first time, she could feel his emotions almost as strongly as she could feel her own. At first it was uncomfortable, but she was starting to be thankful for it. If he was in trouble, she would be the first to know. She stood from the canopy bed in his room and moved to the door. As she reached for it, it swung open with such force she had to move out of its way. Anger was all she could read from his handsome face.

"I'm going to ask you a couple of things. And I don't want to hear anything other than a yes or a no." He kept his voice level and calm as he towered over her in the doorway. "Were you sent here to take me dishonourably?"

She could do nothing but keep her silence.

"Yes or no." He repeated through his gritted teeth.

She dropped her hands to her sides and tried to stop her eyes from watering. "Yes." She finally said, unable to look at him. "But Kirk, I didn't expect this to happen between us."

He held up his hand for her stop talking. "Did you fake what we have? Any part of it?" He held his breath as he waited for her answer. He didn't know if he would be able to carry the burden if she said yes. He had begun to hand pieces of himself to her the first time she kissed him. Never would he be able to reclaim the parts of himself that would be lost with her.

"No."

He released his breath and pushed past her into the candle lit room. He sat on the bed and took his face into his hands, unable to quiet his mind. He knew she was telling the truth. There was no longer a reason to lie. He couldn't be angry with her. He was just as dishonest as she was. He sat up and looked to her. She had changed into one of his tunic from his satchel, still her hair dangled loosely. She was so beautiful. He was convinced neither of them had expected to feel so strongly. "Come here." he told her, putting a hand out for her to grasp as she came close. He wiped the tears from her eyes and held her face. "You wouldn't have done it. Am I correct in assuming this?"

"Yes." She choked out, unbelieving that he was being so understanding. "I'm so sorry Kirk. I should have been honest with you. Never had I disobeyed my father. But I could not do something so power hungry and desperate."

Kirk held tightly to her. "I know. I'm not upset with you. I'm angry with your father, for forcing you to partake in his preservation. He wasn't thinking about you when he ordered you to do something like this. He was only thinking of himself. He didn't care about how it would torture you." He quieted and stroked her cheek. Here he was belittling what another man put her through. Was he going to let someone else divulge the information that she come only from his own lips? "Aztrit, I need to tell you something. And I understand if it's too much for you to comprehend. I only ask you give me a chance to explain myself as I've given you. Can you do that for me?"

She saw the plea in his eyes. Her heart dropped to her stomach. What could he possibly say to her to make her waver after what she hid from him? "Yes." She said steadily, praying that it wouldn't be out of her reach to forgive.

He took a deep breath and began, "I know you've already noticed that I'm not fully human. I lied when I told you that I was. I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want to complicate our relationship. But, I feel much stronger than I had thought I would, and things seem to be drifting to heavy dramatics already. The reason I was so shocked hearing about your family tonight, is because your niece Hel...is my mother."

Aztrit felt her face stiffen. She went through a myriad of facial expressions, trying to figure out which one was proper for the moment. "I didn't know Hel had a child." She whispered, more to herself than to him. Hel's involvement in Ragnarok was undetermined. But it was an unspoken certainty that because of her relationship to the Asgardians, she would be against them. If Kirk was her son, they could find themselves on opposing sides.

"Neither did your brother. And I didn't know who my mother's parents were until you told me tonight. I had planned on telling you anyway, but because we're technically related, I knew it would be best to let you know immediately. I've never had contact with my mother, and I want you to know that I would never willingly defend her."

She still didn't have any words. She assumed him to be some kind of supernatural being. But Prince of Helheim? She went through the family tree carefully in her mind. Hel was her niece, so he was her Great-nephew. He was another Harbinger. The son of an outsider. She shuddered and let him go. Loki wasn't her brother by blood, so was it still taboo? She had never really seen Loki's children as her family. They were all dangerous and disconnected. Hel especially so. She had been cast to the underworld and made it her own. She captured the souls of murderers, thieves, and corrupt individuals of every nature, sucking the life out of them until they became loyal corpses forced to do her bidding. But if Kirk could forgive her for lying, and plotting to kill him, shouldn't she be able to look past his lineage, something he had no control over? "How did you know that my brother didn't know?"

"He stalked me from the barracks, and we spoke."

"So he was the one who told you about what my father asked of me?" She raised her brows in understanding and pressed her palms together in front of her face. "This is so disastrous. How are you staying so calm? How can you not be upset with me? And we're related?" She racked her mind over all of the events so far, trying to consider how they should go about dealing with each other. The war seemed to be escalating quickly. Loki appeared to be playing the field.

Kirk reached up and pulled her hands from her face. She was over exerting herself going over the details. He kissed her hands as he looked into her eyes. "I'm not upset because I know you had no choice but to say yes. I was angry at the situation, not you. Even when your brother told me, I knew in my soul you were not going to comply, and that made me fearful of how Odin will react when he finds out. And he will find out. So we need a plan. And about us being related, I know you see Loki as a brother, but keep in mind, he is not. He's a god who your father took in. We're no more related than I am to Derkot. So I would really like it if we could continue what we've been working on."

She smiled back at him, "I would like that. It's just so odd." She couldn't help laughing. Out of everything she had heard and seen over time, being actually shocked by something was new for her.

He joined her in her laughter. "Isn't it?" He kissed her hands repeatedly, thankful the air around them was lighter. He should have been hurt by what she kept from him, but he could only feel relief. Everything was out in the open, and nothing was being kept secret between them. They could focus on what they cared about, before the worlds were emerged in war. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her further in between his legs. He slipped his hands beneath the soft material on her body, running his rough hands up her gentle curves. Her warm skin seemed to glow in the candle light. He worked his thumbs against the swell on the underside of her breasts.

She was elated. To be so candid with him about what was happening. "Can we just start over?" He chuckled as he continued to touch her body. His hands were making her anxious. She took her bottom lip in between her teeth and moaned.

"Where do you want to start?" He kissed the tops of her breasts through the fabric.

She put her hands in his silky black hair and pulled gently. "How about what your name is?"

He lifted the bottom of his shirt over her head and dove back into her bare chest. "You seem to know my name well enough during sex." His mouth moved against one nipple and tugged the other. He placed his other hand on her firm rear and squeezed it.

She made a sound of uncertainty, "I have no idea who you are sir. Care to remind me?" She laughed as he took her body into his hands and tossed her on the bed beside him. She watched him as he undressed. He started with his shirt, lifting it over his head, his muscles flexed under his scarred flesh.

He looked at her on the bed as he pulled his clothes off his hips, letting them fall to the floor. It was just like the first night he had touched her, but this time, he was more than confident in their ability to be much more than people who joined for pleasure. She moved her body until she was laying her head on the lush feather pillows of his bed. Her dark hair corrupting the white pillows underneath her.