Choices

Chapter 116
"It was a pleasure meeting you," Tony said to Frigga as she got ready to depart after a week of being in his tower. "You sure you can't dish out any dirt, some embarrassing stories, a few details about the great God of Thunder?" Tony tried one more time to get Frigga to tell all.
Frigga chuckled at Tony. Unlike everyone else, Tony hadn't crossed the line or said anything disrespectful in Frigga's presence. "I'm sure you'll come to know more than enough about my son if you two are truly friends." She replied patting Tony's face in a motherly fashion.
Bruce Banner had arrived in the last few days to work on things in Tony's workshop and he'd had the pleasure of meeting the Queen. "It's been nice meeting you," he said shaking her hand in Earth's customary way.
"Dr. Banner, remember what I told you." She reminded him. Cephera wasn't sure what the queen might have said to Banner, but whatever it was he nodded his understanding.
"I never thought I'd be able to say I've hosted the Queen of Asgard in my home." Pepper was beaming with pride. Since the queen arrived she'd made sure everything was in order everyday.
"I will miss your cooking," Frigga told Pepper embracing her.
"I'll miss her cooking too," Tony commented, giving away that Pepper didn't usually cook so often. Frigga didn't let on she'd heard Tony, but the little smile that broke on the corner of her mouth said she had.
"Feel free to come back any time," Pepper smiled and stepped back.
Frigga glided over to Cephera and took Ikol as he was offered. "You be good for your mother," she whispered to him, kissing the child on the forehead. Using one arm she embraced Cephera close to her and Cephera returned the gesture.
"I miss you already," Cephera sighed.
"I know. If all goes well, hopefully you will be able to return home soon." Frigga had high hopes, ones Cephera didn't share. She found it hard to share the queens optimism after everything, but she tried to keep smiling and just live life to the fullest that was currently offered.
Frigga handed back Ikol and turned to both Suvia and King Yorin. "Are you sure you're ready?" She asked Suvia.
"With your help I am positive I have complete control." Suvia responded with a determined nod.
"It's high time I got back to Mechanova. They'll want to hear of the birth of Ikol so that we may celebrate it. The circumstance won't allow for a formal attendance of the mother and child, but I think my people need a little spirit lifting."
Cephera had convinced her father he needed to go back and help fix the order of things. It took a lot of arguing that she would be fine in Tony's care. They had to stop worrying about her and ignoring the rest of their lives.
It was time they all learned to live again. No more running, no more hiding. The future would present itself and no one could predict when. What was a life unless you could learn to enjoy the time you had in it.
Frigga gave Cephera a looked that told her to be careful, but no words were spoken. She had many discussions about the topic of Krystoff and Cephera won each argument. It was time to move forward.
(Krystoff)
Silence was all he heard in the midst of the night. The baby, Ikol was sleeping soundly and no one, not even Tony Stark was awake at this hour.
It had taken less time then she'd promised, but Amora had found a way to cloak Krystoff and send him to this location on Earth. He stood feet from the bed where Cephera slept soundly.
He watched her peaceful face in its slumber. Little wisps of her hair moving under her breath where they had fallen across her nose. She wasn't attractive in the same ways as Seraphina, but he'd learned to appreciate her physical form over time.
To be honest, Amora had better attributes regarding looks than either twin, but Amora was his tool, not his goal.
He was on a timer. In less than a minute he'd be instantly teleported to a place of his prior choosing and with him he would take Cephera.
Amora orchestrated all of this from a remote location. He wondered if she'd done so, so that he could not harm her once the transition was completed.
She was smart to. He didn't need her opening her mouth afterwards, but it was too late to deal with the distance she'd put between them now. He'd deal with her when the time came.
This was not what Demos had in mind. He'd wanted Cephera to come to Krystoff willingly, but the old man was too blind to see that would never happen.
Krystoff had a different idea. He'd force her into submission. Beat her down until she obeyed him, and only him. He'd make her so compliant that everyone would believe they'd run off together by the time he safely could return with her. By then though, she'd have had a child..., or two..., or 10.
However long it took, he was in it for the long hall.
It was a pity her baby had been a boy, a girl would have afforded him secondary opportunities for attaining the heir he needed to usurp the throne.
Time was ticking.
He'd contemplated killing the child before he left but knew that was a stupid move. Instead, he left him slumbering and right before the last of his minute ticked down, he grabbed hold of the sleeping princess.
By the time her eyes flew open it was too late. They'd disappeared from the room and no one would find her until the time was right.
(Cephera)
Her head pounded from whatever magic was used only moments before she'd opened her eyes. Wherever she was, was dark and cold.
His hands gripped her wrists, pinning her down so hard her fingers had begun to numb under the pressure. "Let me go," she growled.
She didn't need to see him to know it was Krystoff. His breath heavy against her face.
"I've been waiting for decades for this." He told her, excitement clear in his voice. "So long you've evaded me," he sat his weight upon her chest and let one of her wrists go.
She attempted to throw him off her when his free hand moved to touch the skin of her neck and then grip the front of her tank top. He yanked effortlessly to tear the fabric down off her.
Her squirming did nothing. His thighs had a hold on her like a vice. His strength was more than she'd ever imagined.
"I should show you my thanks for helping me obtain you." Her eyes had adjusted and she could see the smug smirk on his face.
"What do you mean?" She asked, stopping her fight and reserving her energy.
"Amora was a great help to me. Without her, I'd have had to wait months if not years to get my hands on you." She cringed when he licked her face.
"You'll never get away with this." Cephera growled attempting to grab at him with her hand. He rolled off her and suddenly she was free to get to her feet.
She did so in a fluid motion ignoring her torn top. He was laughing at her from only a few feet away. "Fighting won't help you as I'm sure you're aware of the strength I possess. Running won't help either, if you don't believe me, see for yourself." He pointed toward a heavy looking door.
Unable to tell if it might be a trap, she scooted around Krystoff not taking her eyes off him. When she grabbed the door handle she expected it to be locked, but instead the door opened and swung outward.
She backed out it and gasped when her foot slipped on an edge. She just barely caught herself from falling to her death. She clung to the edge and cried out when Krystoff pulled her up by her upper arm. He held her roughly and took her on a tour around the small shack that was located on what looked like a floating island.
She couldn't tell it she was on Asgard, Midgard, Mechanova, or somewhere else entirely.
"Amora showed me this spot. Fortified it with magic so we could remain hidden. Your gatekeeper can't see us here and only I can use magic. My darling, accept your fate now. You're all mine." He threw her back inside and lit a torch.
"No fortress is impregnable." She scowled and backed up, for the all the good it would do her.
"But you are." He grinned so wide it made her step back again. "It might take a few tries though."
He vaulted across the room and snatched her back in his grasp before she could evade him. He pinned her hard to the wall and removed the remainder of her top.
Cephera pushed with her hands and even tried to dominate the fight, but he had more strength in his one arm than she had in both of hers. Soon she was on the floor, her legs spread around his hips.
He bruised her hips holding her in place. She interrupted him from his goal by managing to pull herself away when he let go to attempt to free his pants.
But she had nowhere to go. He seemed to enjoy the chase, tackling her each time she managed to get away. He didn't resort to striking her to subdue her, but he really didn't need to. It was only a matter of time before he got what he wanted.
Soon, she was back on her back in the same position he seemed determined to have her in. On her back, looking right up at him. "I'd like to say that if you cooperate that this won't hurt, but I'm afraid I've waited too long to be patient or gentle."
She whimpered and coughed when his hand squeezed her throat hard enough to temporarily deprive her of air. This couldn't be the end..., it just couldn't.
(Loki)
He didn't mean to react with such enthusiasm when his mother's vision appeared in his cell.
But he stepped toward her with eagerness to hear of Cephera and her son..., no, their son. Despite who the father was, Loki would take on the responsibility, if he would ever be free to.
"You look tired," Frigga commented.
"I've had better rest," Loki admitted. Truthfully, he'd been waiting for news for what felt like forever and it had kept him awake.
"I've brought you another book," Frigga said, placing the book on the table using her magic and making it solid.
"Thank you," he replied ever so politely.
"Did you finish the last one I brought you?" She asked and Loki scowled. She was going to make him ask about Cephera.
Sometimes he underestimated Frigga. She knew he wouldn't be able to resist asking eventually. He might have been better contained if the situation had been different, but he had to know.
"Cephera and the child? You went to see them, did you not?" Loki bit his pride and plans to hear the news.
Frigga smiled knowingly. "I did. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy." She announced at last. Loki breathed out heavily, unable to stop himself.
Heathy..., thank the fates for that.
"She's named him Ikol." Loki felt his heart twitch with pride. Leave it to Cephera to name the boy after him in some manner. "He's a big baby. 10 pounds, 9 ounces." She continued. "Some dark hair and violet eyes."
"Good," Loki tried to sound neutral and not invested, but he failed.
"Cephera sings to him to put him to sleep at night. He has a large appetite too." Frigga gave bits of info as if each one gave her joy to watch his reaction.
"She always enjoyed singing." Loki agreed, remembering the nights she'd sometime sing as they lay in bed together. He missed those nights. Where had their youth gone?
There was an odd look on his mother's face, but Loki couldn't discern what it might be. Something she looked ready to say, but was holding back.
"What else?" He urged her.
"I wish you could see them," she said avoiding what was really on her mind. Normally she'd be the master at hiding her worry, but whatever was bugging her seemed to be haunting.
"I blame Odin for that," Loki had completely forgotten his previous facade of hatred toward his wife. The news of her and the child had lightened his spirits in a way he hadn't expected.
"He place your punishment, but you did the deeds," Frigga firmly reminded him.
Loki scoffed and turned away. He wouldn't have this argument again, not today.
"I heard guards talking, the other Mechanovians have been given access to Asgard." Loki changed the subject.
"They have," Loki turned and looked his mother square in the face.
"If he touches Cephera or the child, I will kill him, treaty or not." Loki felt it needed saying. He was not playing around. Neither of them had to name the man he spoke of.
"Cephera can take care of herself. I am confident of her abilities and you should be too." Frigga stood proud and tall at her statement.
"Cephera may have been trained in combat and magic, but she's no warrior. We both know dark magic can do many horrible things to people. There is no telling what he's capable of." Loki reminded her with a growl.
He was not ready to dismiss the idea that Cephera was still trouble.
Guilt knotted in his stomach. If things had gone differently..., if he'd made different decision he'd be there to help protect her. She'd never have carried another man's child and he may very well be holding his own standing proudly at her side.
He hated the feelings regret brought to him, but he felt it often. What he deemed as necessary steps to protect her after his choices, were things that put her in danger from other people.
It wasn't just Thanos he had to worry about regarding his wife. In many ways, Loki felt as though he'd failed her in every way. His biggest regret was ever letting go of the staff at the Byfrost.
If he'd just hung on maybe his punishment wouldn't have been this, maybe he could have saved them all so much pain.
It didn't do any good thinking about it, but the thoughts played on his mind often and were hard to ignore when he was in solitude.
Frigga had not responded to his threat. Maybe she felt it was warranted or maybe she knew he was never going to be free to harm Krystoff that way.
But he would be free. His opportunity would come and he would set in motion the plans he had. He would set right the biggest wrong he made while off Asgard..., allying himself with Thanos.

Notes