#I’m bad at Norse knotwork

[taaroko]

This is how I hope Thor looks the next time we see him. I want that beard trimmed way back and a full-on tattooed Viking undercut with at least a little braiding. I’m not good enough at Norse knotwork to design the tattoo I’d really want him to have, though. I’d want it to incorporate animals to represent each member of his family. Raven for Odin, cat for Frigga, snake for Loki, and maybe even a wolf for Hela.

Also his scar should be horizontal, not vertical. *hard side-eye at IW/Endgame makeup artists*

As to his physique, I’d be down for a training montage of him getting back in shape (preferably with the help/hindrance of the Guardians), but he can stop at a point of having a healthy amount of padding, because visible 6-packs are unrealistic for the type of physical labor Thor does (he should look like a barrel-chested lumberjack, not a bodybuilder), they’re potentially dangerous for the actor, and they’re not great for the body image of men in the audience.

[athousandrasps]

Hey, how did you learn to draw celtic/norse knot designs. I'm an illustration student and larper and would love to be able to design my own knots. But they always end up really bad. Any tips on how to get clean beautiful knots lile on your armour?

I study a lot of knotwork artists that I like. Here are my favorites on deviantArt:

http://one-rook.deviantart.com/

http://feivelyn.deviantart.com/

http://twistedstrokes.deviantart.com/ (who just put out a great book)

I start with the basic shape I’m trying to fill. Sometimes this is as simple as a circle, while sometimes the shape is more complicated, especially for armor. Then I’ll add main components--usually the thickest parts of the knot, and heads and/or feet for zoomorphic designs--to balance the composition. After that it’s just guesswork, and there are plenty of designs that don’t work out. Thumbnailing is always a great way to start.

[starborn1941]

Witchcraft - Wicca, Spells, And Magick.

Title: Witchcraft - Wicca, Spells, And Magick.   Summary: A Brief overview of Wicca: When witchcraft is practiced as a religion, it is called by the Old English term for witch, Wicca. This term is used to counter all the negative stereotypes that society has given witchcraft. Wicca is primarily a religion that worships nature, and sees all creation as sacred. In fact, all Wiccan holy days follow the cycles of nature and the changes in the seasons. Wicca also worships both a male and female deity, a female Goddess and a male God, ... Keywords: witchcraft, spells, magic, love spells, self help, wicca, religion, new age, occult, magic, witch pagan shopping online, Witch store, spells, wiccan supply, supplies, occult, pagan online store, love spell, ritual, jewelry, rede, chat, witchcraft, new age, wicca, magick, witchcraft books, affiliate program, jewelry, wholesale, resale, affiliate program, pagan holiday, pagan symbol, jewelry pagan, art pagan, pagan ritual, card e pagan, music pagan, chat pagan, pagan wicca, pagan gods, pagan god, pagan goddesses, pagan music ,wicca spell, supply wicca, spell wicca, dropship, occult, pentacles, pentagrams, celtic,norse, egyptian, shopping,retail, silver,sterling,knives, swords,athame,goddess,horned god,tools,circle,earth religions,nature,shaman,native american,sales,pendants,totems,totem animal, necklaces, rings, chains, bracelets,a mber,gemstones, ceremonial, cloaks, robes, cauldron, besom, broom, wand, staff, chalice,magick,magic,crown, fairies,dragons,dagger,spiritual,black handle,double edged, bolline,damascus, bracers,moonstone,clothing,amethyst,crystals, earrings,yinyang,anhk, scarab,cross, moons ,stars,knotwork,tibetan,blade,knife,steel,paganism,sabbat,r ituals,rites,initiation,coven, priestess,old  religion,spells,book of shadows, Article Body: A Brief overview of Wicca: When witchcraft is practiced as a religion, it is called by the Old English term for witch, Wicca. This term is used to counter all the negative stereotypes that society has given witchcraft. Wicca is primarily a religion that worships nature, and sees all creation as sacred. In fact, all Wiccan holy days follow the cycles of nature and the changes in the seasons. Wicca also worships both a male and female deity, a female Goddess and a male God, who had together created the world and everything in it. Witchcraft is neither black nor white. Witchcraft is a religion that respects Mother Nature and She is neither completely positive or completely negative, this is the same for witches. Spells are used by Wiccans, and are a series of rituals and prayers that are conducted in witchcraft to ask for divine help in a certain aspect of life. All spells must adhere to the witchcraft code of conduct, meaning that any spells used to harm another person is forbidden. In witchcraft, spells may also be changed or adapted to suit a Wiccan’s personality or specific wishes in casting the spell. What exactly is witchcraft, spells, and magick? Twenty years ago, I asked myself those same questions, and I’m still learning the answers. My journey started at 15 years of age, with a very understanding mother and a visit to New Age Shop. I remember entering the shop with a sense of awe, and instantly being put at ease by a wonderfully sweet aroma that hung over the bookcases. Yet, out of all the potions, oils, and books that filled the place, the one thing that stood out to me the most was the man behind the counter. He looked more like George Clooney than something out of Halloween Fairytales, and that was my first lesson. Witches look just like everyone else. Of course you may run into the occasional witch who looks more fiction than fact but other than those, most are just your average Joe, the majority tend to choose to blend in as much as possible. Why? Not everyone is armed with 21st century thinking, and in some cases, witches are put into the same category as Satanists, heathens, and just generally bad people. I eventually took more interest in magick, oh and not my spelling of magick. Witches refer to spells and divine help as magick, not to be confused with magic, which we consider to be what you would see at a show, a magician sawing a woman in half, card tricks, etc.. Magick, however, is sacred to all Wiccans. Ah yes, back to my story, I eventually took more interest in magic and at the age of 35 purchased an old building in New Jersey and turned into one of the state's only Wiccan Temples. I currently live at home with my two wonderful children and my familiar (husband as most people call it) enjoying life and being at one with nature. I currently make a living supporting 2017 Read the full article

[lokissanctuary]

Ru’s Dream Come True, Ch.14

Final chapter of an original fanfic in which Loki follows a dream of a beautful woman and ends up at a Renaissance Festival!

Ch.14.

Meanwhile, Teia and Sage have wandered off in search of garb that will make their otherworldly visitors stand out less in a crowd. The two of them hurry along the path away from the booth, coming soon to  a crossroads. 

“So, where should we go first?” Sage asks, looking around at the different shops, thinking of where they can find the best options to suit the Asgardians. Teia looks at her thoughtfully. “I don’t know…” She says slowly. They are standing in front of a shop selling hand-crafted leather boots, that are very popular at the Faire. Sage turns to Teia and asks “Did you see what they were wearing on their feet? Do we need to get them some boots?” Teia gives the booth a frown. “I think they were wearing boots already- and we don’t know their size.” Sage nods at this, already thinking of their next stop. “We know we need to hurry- lets head towards the joust field. Theres a small stand there that should have some base pieces in their size.” Teia nods at this, and the two make their way in that direction, passing more shops and a bustling pub, spilling over with drunken pirates. As they reach the narrow way past the pub, a pub crawl starts coming at them from the other side, forcing them to squeeze next the shops to avoid being trampled. As they force their way past, one of the hosts of the crawl shouts “Kilt!”, forcing all the crawlers to drink, as a man in a kilt has just been spotted. This gives Sage an idea. Once the crowd of drunkards has passed, Sage looks at Teia and says “Kilt!” “What?” Teia asks, unsure why Sage is babbling random words at her. “Kilt!” Sage insists. “We should put Thor in a kilt! I know they’ll come in his size, and its completely different from what he’s currently wearing.” Teia’s eyebrows lift in surprise at this, but slowly, she begins to nod. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” She says. “I know, right?” Sage says. “And its right up here!” She gestures at the small hill that leads to the best kilt shop at the Faire, and the two start up it, reaching the shop in short order. Just before they go in, Sage pauses and looks at Teia. “How are we gonna know his size?” she asks, looking concerned. “Just leave that to me.” Teia replies. “I’m a seamstress, remember? I sized him up the minute we met.” “Uh huh, I’m sure thats all you were “sizing up””. Sage answers her sarcastically, as they enter the booth. Teia shoots her a mischievous glance as a shop hand rushes over to them, eager to assist. 

“How can I help you girls?” the bearded, kilted man asks, with a friendly smile. Teia steps forward to speak. “We need a kilt- I’m thinking Pride of Scotland- in about a 45?” The bearded man nods. “I’ll be right back- I believe we have that one in the back.” He disappears into the back storage room of the booth, and quickly reappears, holding a new kilt in his hands, still bound with the threads that hold the pleats together. “All I have it in is the Utilikilt- will that be alright?” Teia and Sage look at each other. “It’ll have to be won’t it?” Teia says, more to Sage than anyone, and nods. “Sure. Do you have any shirts to go with it, say a double XL?” “Yup.” comes the swift response. “You want black or white?” Sage looks at Teia. “Go with black- a complete difference from his normal look.” Teia nods at this. “Black then.” The shop helper nods again, and fetches the long-sleeved black shirt from a tall display, with the help of a long metal hook. “Will that be all?” Teia and Sage look at each other, and Teia speaks “Yeah, I think so- oh! Add a kilt pin.” Sage nods at this essential, choosing one with a triquetra on it for the Norse prince. The shop man gives them their total, and neatly bags their purchases,  waving them out of the shop with a cheery “Fare thee well!” 

Once outside, Teia glances at her anachronistic Fitbit, seeing that time is ticking away. “We need to hurry.” She says to Sage. “Where to next?” Sage thinks just a moment before replying “Renaissance Fashions- the one over near the joust field- they’ll have plenty of base pieces to fit Loki- and then we can pick them both up something from Crimson Chain.” She looks to Teia to confirm this plan. “Lets do it.” Teia says, leading the way towards the Renaissance Fashions tent. Once there, Sage speedily chooses a green tunic and black pants for Loki,smiling at the fact that the v-necked tunic has gold knotwork edging on the collar and cuffs. Dishing out more of the conjured money, the pair now head to Crimson Chain Leatherworks, where the finest leather products at the Faire could be had, and at the best prices. Stepping into the booth, they are both met with a cheerful “Hello!” by most of the staff- they are quite well-known here. They proceed directly to the side of the booth that sells mens clothes, and then they look at each other. Glancing through the racks, there is one obvious choice for the trickster god- a leather jerkin, that closes in the front with metal latches, in black with green accents. For Thor’s look, they choose a pair of black leather bracers, to go with the Scottish look they are trying to give him. Black belts are chosen for them as well, and to complete the look, they purchase them both metal tankards with tooled leather wraps- a speciality of this shop. For Thor, an image of Mjolnir, tooled on brown, and for Loki, Sage finds the last Celtic wolf in the shop, tooled on a strange burnished gold color. Bringing their armload of items to the counter, the shop manager looks pleased with how much they are buying. “Someone went on a shopping spree.” He comments lightly, totaling all their purchases together with a grin. Sage speaks first at this. “Yup- need to spoil some friends.” The man ringing them up only nods, as he begins folding things and putting them into bags. Their total comes to over $1,000, and Teia begins counting out the folded wad of cash, separating out hundreds as she goes. The sight of this much in cash actually does pause the manager, and he almost stares as Teia neatly stacks the requested amount and hands it to him. They now have a much smaller stack than they left with, but they still have quite a lot, and Teia carefully stows it away out of sight. Shaking himself a bit, the man finishes their transaction, and gives them a receipt along with their bags. “You all have a great day now.” He says, smiling at them as they depart. 

Standing now outside the shop, the two are  now loaded down with many bags from the various shops. Sage looks at Teia, and almost starts to laugh.

“What so funny?” Teia asks, a bit confused as to why Sage has randomly burst into giggles. 

Struggling to speak over her mirth, Sage speaks “Look at this- we are standing in the middle of Faire, hands full of garb we have just bought to help hide actual gods that have just appeared on the grounds. Tell me thats not funny to you.” Looking at Sage with a bit of an odd look, Teia nods. 

“That is pretty funny, actually. But right now, we need to get this to them and get them in it- and out of Holly’s booth.” Teia replies. Sage nods to this and with a “Lets go!” they both hasten back towards the booth, pushing through the throngs of people that were filling the narrow lanes. They quickly arrive back at the booth, and Sage heaves a sigh of relief as she can see Holly still in the front, busy with a queue of customers. She leads Teia to the tiny back room, where Thor, Loki and you still wait. Sage swings the door open just enough to step in, and now the room is full, forcing Teia to wait outside, holding the door open. 

You almost jump as the door opens, half-expecting someone other than Teia and Sage to be standing there. One you realize that it is them, you relax a little. You are currently cuddled into Loki where he leans against the wooden bench, and Thor is crunched under the low beams opposite the two of you. Thor beams as he sees your two friends, and he approaches them. 

“Finally! It has been too long since you left us- what disguises do you bring?” Thor’s voice is loud and merry, and Sage hurries to shush him. 

“A little quieter, please- remember, not attracting attention?” Thor looks momentarily chagrined, before smiling again. “Sorry.” he murmurs, softer this time. Teia has already begun separating out which items go to which prince, and she hands the stack of kilt, shirt, belt, and mug to Thor with a flirty wink. He gives the bold black and purple tartan a strange look, before setting it down and starting to disrobe himself. He is not at all shy, and does not care if anyone is watching. You immediately turn around, not particularly wanting to see the god of thunder naked. Teia then reaches in and hands Loki his stack of garb, the gold edging on the tunic shining even in the dim light. He gives you a truly mischievous look as he quickly removes his own clothes, showing off his slim, pale muscles as he changes. A sexy smile plays on his lips as he slowly draws up the black trousers, sliding them over himself with sensuous gestures. The green tunic seems to please him, as he runs his fingers along the embroidered edge before slipping it over his dark head. A practiced twitch of his hands settles his hair neatly over his shoulders, and he is reaching for his belt when an exclamation is heard from Thor. 

“What the Hel is this?” Thor asks, sounding outraged. “You would have me wear a skirt?” He is  already clad in the black shirt, but he is holding up the kilt, looking insulted as he examines it. Sage just shakes her head and laughs silently, while Teia explains. 

“No, no- its a kilt. Its a traditional garment from my people- the people of Scotland. Both men and women wear them- however, if you want to wear it properly, you can’t wear anything underneath it. Wearing something under it is what turns it into a skirt.” She ends this explanation with another suggestive glance, this time at Thors  currently- naked groin and then back at his face, a broad smile now on her features. The blond god looks skeptical at this, but seeing as his choices were currently limited, begins trying to put it on. His unskilled attempt at this brings Sage to even greater laughter, so much that she is struggling to stay silent. Teia moves forward, to assist Thor, and leaves Sage to hold the door, allowing everyone more room to maneuver. “Here, let me.” She says, reaching out to take the kilt from Thor and fasten it properly. “I grew up with all boys- helping with kilts is nothing new to me.” Deftly, her hands find the buckles and fasten it around Thors muscular waist, adjusting the drape and afixing the kilt pin with a practiced hand. “There- you look very handsome.” she says with a smile as she steps back to inspect her handiwork. “I assume you know how a belt works- or did you need help with that too?” She teases him gently, holding up the long black piece of leather. Loki snickers at this, having since finished clothing himself in the rich black and green jerkin, with the belt and mug hanging from his waist. He is reclining back against the table again with his arms folded, watching Thor and Teia with an amused smile on his face. 

“I know how a belt works.” Thor grumbles, snatching it from her hand rather more roughly than he may have intended and sliding it through the belt-loops, tightening it with a grumpy lowering of his eyebrows. Loki grins at this exchange, and looks to you. 

“I like her.” he says, nodding his head at Teia as he speaks. “She amuses me.” Teia gives him a sardonic smile at this, with one eyebrow raised. Looking around the small space, Sage pipes up. 

“It looks like everyone is dressed- we should tuck their other clothes in our tote box, and get them out of here, so that Holly can eat.” She looks to Teia, who confirms this, and points to the plastic tote tucked in the low corner of the booth. Thor and Loki look at each other for a moment, and then bend to pick up their clothes, Loki folding his neatly, and Thor wadding his up in an untidy ball before shoving them into the box, with Loki following and gently inserting his and closing the lid. They both then look to Teia and Sage, who then look from them to each other. The moment is almost comical, and you find yourself giggling. Sage shoots you a skeptical look, with one eyebrow raised, but then turns back to Teia. “One more thing- if we are trying to hide their identities, they should probably go by different names. “Thor” and “Loki” are a little obvious.” Teia looks surprised for a moment, but then nods at this.

 “Yes- I hadn’t thought of that.” She then turns to look at the pair of gods. “Is there anything else we can call you, that you will answer to- like a nickname?” Both princes give her strange stares, and Thor speaks first. “Why would the sons of Odin have nicknames? Our names are our identity, and we bear them proudly.”  Sage’s hand come s to her forehead in a classic gesture of frustration, and she sighs as she looks at Teia. 

 After a moment, Sage has a thought. “Maybe we could just go with it?” Sage proposes. At Teia’s confused look, she continues. “Just tell people their parents were hippies, if they even ask. Here, that’s not that weird.” Teia looks thoughtful for a moment, and then nods. 

“Sure, why not.” With that statement, Sage looks around at the assembled, and gives a nod. Everyone seems to know what she means, because as she leads the way out of the narrow door, all of you fall in a line and follow, with Teia directly behind Sage, and Thor following her, with you next and Loki bringing up the rear. 

As you emerge, you blink in the bright sunlight, and a passing group of rowdy pirates nearly bowls you over on their way to the pub. Seeing their drunkenness reminds Thor of a promise from earlier, and he turns to Teia and Sage. “I was promised some of your Midgardian ale. Lead the way to it!” Sage and Teia look at each other, and Sage gives a half-hearted kind of shrug. 

“We did say he could.” she says, with a small smile. Teia sighs, having a gut feeling that adding booze to Thor could only be a bad idea, but not seeing any easy way around it. 

“Fine.” Teia says. “We’ll take them to the pirate bar.” Sage gives Teia a nod, divining her thought that that particular loud, crowded pub would be an ideal hiding place for the visitors, and they both lead the way, winding a path through the twisting lanes towards the bar. On the way, you pass many shops and people, and you stay close to Loki. You want nothing more than to be near him, and his presence is soothing to your ever-present social anxiety. You don’t run into any more people you know on the way to the pub, and you are silently grateful. One Carl was enough to deal with. 

In short order, your group rounds a corner and walks down a small hill and finds the pub. As usual, pirates are spilling out of every entryway and into the lanes surrounding it, and even getting inside proves to be a bit of a challenge. Sensing that the promised alcohol is near, Thor makes quick work of this problem, pushing his way to the front of your small group and  moving people aside as he goes. He starts towards the bar counter, ignoring the obvious line of those waiting to be served, and Teia quickly seizes ahold of his kilt before he gets too far. 

“Wait, stop.” She says. “You have to wait in line.” As she speaks, she gestures at the somewhat lengthy line that snakes around the inside of the pub. “Everyone has to wait.” She says with exaggerated patience, the way one would address a child, in response to his look of shocked outrage. You feel Loki beside you laughing, and glance over to see a small grin on his handsome face, laughing at his brothers upset. An answering smile comes across your own features, and you step closer to him, both to get out of the way of an exiting group of drunken patrons, and to feel his warmth against you. Feeling you press against him, Loki glances down at you, and the smile grows even wider. You feel his arm curl around your waist as he pulls you next to him, and you cuddle into him where you stand, sliding one of your own arms around his waist as well. 

Glancing up from where you are now holding each other, you see Thor with a grumpy look on his face, waiting in the line, with Teia and Sage near to him. The end of the line is near to where you are standing with Loki, and as he passes you, Thor asks “Brother- will you take some ale with me?” Loki looks mildly surprised at this question, but after a minute, slowly nods. 

Sage and Teia have been speaking amongst themselves, and at this moment, they choose to rejoin the group conversation. Steeping one to either side of Thor, Sage looks at you. “Sorry to cut the fun short kids, but we have to leave for parade soon.” Teia is holding her wrist aloft to confirm this, and you sigh, seeing what time it is. Part of your employment at the Festival requires you to walk in the daily parade of vendors, carrying a banner for the booth you represent. You sigh, looking up at Loki. The last thing you want to do is leave him, but you have to do this to keep your position in your booth. 

Both he and Thor look confused at this statement, and Sage hastens to clarify. “Ru and I need to go- Teia will stay with you guys, and we will regroup after the parade. Sound good?” Before they really have any time to reply, Sage nods, and goes to leave. Loki’s arm tightens around you, and he leans his dark head down to yours. 

“Hurry back to me.” he speaks softly, and his sensuous voice sends shivers down your spine. He ends this statement with another kiss- this one brief and sweet, but the feeling of it lingers on your lips . He then releases you, his arm sliding back away from you, but caressing you as it goes. Sage gives you a significant look, and reluctantly, you tear yourself away from him and proceed to follow Sage out of the pub. You would swear that you could feel his eyes on you as you hurry away, and the moment you are apart, you start missing him. Following Sage as the two of you rush through the lanes towards the booths whose banners you will be carrying, you wonder at this. No one you have ever met has ever made you feel this way- blood rushing, heart pounding, and like you always want to be near them.  Quickly, you achieve the banners you both need, and head towards the area where you assemble prior to the parade. After checking in, your mind is still spinning, and you stand quietly next to Sage. It takes you a minute to even realize that she is talking to you, and she has to grab your arm to get your attention. 

“Earth to Ru- anybody home?” She asks, with a smile, as she gently shakes your arm. 

“Huh, what?” you ask, as you come back to awareness of what is going on around you. You were lost in daydreams of dark leather and midnight hair, pale skin and emerald eyes. 

“You ok?- you look a million miles away.” Sage asks you, with a knowing grin. She clearly knows what  is occupying your mind, but she wants to make you admit it. 

“No, I’m fine.” you reply, but as you do, your thoughts turn back to him, and you can’t help the pink blush that creeps across your cheeks. Sage just gives you a teasing smile, but then turns to some other friends that have shown up for the parade, leaving you alone with your thoughts. 

And what thoughts there were, that occupied your mind at that second! Your Loki, your god of mischief, your dark-haired lord that you had been devoted to for years- was now here! And not only here, but here for you! The whole idea was a bit overwhelming, and even more so, the thought of what that might mean. What did he intend for you? Did he mean to bring you back to Asgard with him? What then? To be his queen, to rule with him? That thought was a bit much to handle- you had trouble getting yourself out of bed in the morning, let alone ruling a nation by his side. And if not that, then what? What did he want from you, now that he had come all this way to find you? And whatever it was, were you capable of giving it to him? 

All of these questions, and more, crowded in your mind as the parade started. Moving through the grounds, waving at the assembled crowds- you hardly noticed any of it, as your mind was fixed on him. You knew that the parade route passed by the pub where you had left him with Teia and Thor, and as you made your way there, you spied him. He was standing just outside of the pub, a full mug in his hand, leaning casually against a support beam for the slatted roof. It seemed as though your eyes found each other immediately as you came into sight, and he stared at you as you passed, those green eyes glittering in the summer sunlight. Looking at him, you were neglecting watching the ground in front of you, and just as you passed in front of the pub, your foot caught on a rut in the uneven ground, and you tripped. You almost fell- in fact, you would have- but he was there. In a flash, faster than you could have seen, Loki was in front of you, gently catching your arm and preventing you from landing in the dirt and mud. His eyes were full of concern as he carefully helped you back to your feet. “Are you alright?” he asked, heedless of the people staring at this man who had moved faster than they could see. 

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” you say, noticing everyone looking at you. Some of the folk in the parade have had come to a stop because of your pause, and you need to get moving again. “Thank you.” you quickly say, as you steady yourself and prepare to walk once more. He steps away from you and releases your arm, but he is still watching you carefully. As you move away, you see Teia coming towards him, presumably to warn him against being so obvious with his inhuman speed and grace. You walk on with the others, but your mind, and your heart, are still there with Loki. The way he rescued you, in an instant- and the worry that had crossed his elegant features! You hurry to catch up with the rest of the parade, overwhelmed by all of this. The rest of the journey passes in a blur, with returning the banners and Sage talking to you fading into the background. All you want to do is return to Lokis side- and then, what? Your thoughts always stopped there. What would happen next? 

Lost in these thoughts, you almost didn’t notice that Sage was leading the both of you back to the pub until you had arrived. Once you were there, you almost didn’t want to go in- torn between desire for the god who pursued you and the insecurities and fears the now plagued your mind. Sage saw you pause on the steps, and asked you ‘Whats wrong? Come on- he’s waiting for you.” As you looked up in that moment and saw his eyes again, all your fears melted away. He was looking right at you, with one hand extended- beckoning you to his side. As you ascended the steps and took his hand, you knew that whatever happened next, he would be with you- and that would be enough. This lovely, dark, complicated man would be with you, and you with him- and that would suffice for whatever your future held. 

Feeling better, you allowed him to pull you to him and embrace you. Your head slowly tipped back to look at him, and he just smiled- a full, broad smile, more beautiful than any depiction of him you had ever seen. You couldn’t help yourself- you smiled back. You could have almost melted into a puddle with all of the happiness you felt, but you were interrupted by  Sage talking. “Ok, we’re back- wheres Thor?” She barely got the question out of her mouth before it was answered, by Thor himself, staggering towards your grouping from one side of the pub. Straightening himself, it was clear that he wasn’t actually drunk, but had simply stumbled on the uneven floor of the tavern. 

“Your ales are weak.” he declared, looking at Teia as he spoke. “We give children a stronger brew than this.” Teia looks at him with an exasperated sigh. 

“Well, that’s what we’ve got. We aren’t gods, remember?” With this statement, Teia looks about at your small assembled party. “Who else wants to get out of here? Its noisy, and crowded, and hot with all these people.” You and Sage both nod to this, and Teia leads the way out of the pub with alacrity, making sure that Thor is in fact following them by grabbing ahold of the hand holding his mug and tugging him along. Once you are all out on the path and out of the bar, she drops his hand, and looks to Sage. 

“What now?” pipes in Sage. “I assume we aren’t planning on standing here all day.” 

“No, no we’re not.” Teia says. She is looking around, as it trying to find an answer to that question. As she is looking , her eyes hit upon a not-so-distant coffee shop, with a patio behind it where anyone can sit if they wish. Looking back at the assembled party, she nods. “Coffeeshop” she speaks towards Sage, before  departing, trusting the rest of you to follow. Loki and Thor look a bit confused, but they follow along, with you and Sage closing up the rear. The coffeeshop is not far, but on the way, Teia is stopped by a friend. He works for the Faire as well, playing the village ratcatcher, and stops her with a hug and a merry greeting.

“Hey there! I haven’t seen you yet today- where have you been?” He says, while almost lifting her off the ground in his exuberance. 

“Hi Eric.” She responds to him with a smile, hugging him back. Letting her go, he notices the rest of your party, including the two newcomers. 

“Who is this?” he asks Teia over his shoulder as he goes to greet your new friends. Teia and Sage exchange a worried look, but Sage swallows hard and then speaks.

“These are some friends of ours from out of town- this is Thor, and Loki.” She gestures to each in turn, and then indicates Eric. “Thor, Loki- this is our friend Eric.” Eric greets each of them with a firm handshake, and an oddly inquisitive look on his face. Loki especially, he greets with a curious expression, like he is trying to figure something out. As he steps back, he speaks what is on his mind.

“You know, you two look like- “ Loki swiftly cuts him off here, before he can proceed. 

“Yes, we’ve been told- the characters, which bear our names. Astonishing coincidence, isn’t it?” This seems to signal an end to this discussion, but then Eric notices you, standing just too close to Loki to simply be friends. This idea is reinforced by Loki draping his arm around your shoulders when he sees Eric looking at you. Eric looks suspicious at this, and raises one eyebrow in silent question. However, he chooses to keep his thoughts private, and instead excuses himself. 

“I have to be at the front gate in oh, about five minutes- but I’ll see you ladies later.” He says, addressing Teia and Sage. “Will I see you at camp as well?” he asks lightly, now looking at Thor and Loki. Sage gives a barely perceptible nod at Loki, who responds before Thor can.

“Yes.” he says briefly. Eric nods at this, and walks away, his tattered ratcatcher garb blowing in the warm breeze. Loki then turns to look at Sage with a more serious look. “What did we just agree to?” he asks, with a darkness in his tone. 

“Lets get to the patio, and I will explain everything.” Sage assures him, and leads all of you the rest of the short way to the wooden decking. The line of you push past the folks ordering coffee and tea, and Sage and Teia start searching for an empty table with enough chairs. This time of day, the patio is busy- but you are in luck. A large group is just leaving, and they are vacating just enough chairs for all of you. The table is tucked in a corner, too- as much privacy as you are likely to get, here in this public place. Sage and Teia lead the way to the table, and they take the farthest seats. Loki seats himself between Sage and you, with Thor between you and Teia. Once all are seated, expectant eyes alight on Sage, awaiting the explanation for the end of the conversation with Eric. 

Noticing the flood of attention in her direction, Sage speaks. “Do you guys know what this place is yet? Has she explained?” She gestures here at you, and you start to nod. Thor then chimes in to this conversation.

“Yes, she has explained that this place attempts to recreate Earth history.” He seems to not even be trying to hide anymore, allowing his voice to ring out at its usual full volume. “But why are you here? And what did that man, Eric, mean by “camp?” Sage goes to answer him, but Teia speaks first. 

“We are here because we love it here. Its fun, and this is where our family is at. Everyone we love is here. And camp means exactly that- we camp on the weekends that we are here, in a tent. This place is only open on the weekends, and we live far away. Seeing as how you two are stuck with us for the time being, I figured it would be a good idea to let him know that he would be seeing you again, especially because he camps right next to us.” Teia finishes this statement and leans back, clearly awaiting further questions. Thor then turns to Loki. 

“What do you think of this, brother? Isn’t it about time for us to be returning home? You have found your woman- shall we not return to Asgard, and her with us?” At this, your heart begins to pound. Loki slowly turns to you, a question writ on his face. Would you leave with him? Leave everything you have ever known- your family, your friends, your beloved dog- and go with him? Go, to another planet? To face an unknown future- but he would be there… All of these thoughts swirl in your mind once more, before he speaks and silences every one. 

“Ru (your heart beats even faster here at this, the first time he has said your name) will you come with me? To Asgard? Will you be mine?” He has extended his hand again, the way he did in the pub, and the look on his face, and in his eyes- he is pleading with you! His blue-green eyes speak to how much he wishes for you not to refuse, but a fear lurks there too- fear that you will. It seems like this is another one of those moments where all the rest of the world fades to nothing- mere background noise, as unremarkable as the wind in the trees or the sound of water at the seashore. You can almost feel time slow down as he looks at you- like slow motion in a movie, you watch his breath come slow, and an errant breeze blow some of his ebon hair across his face. He looks sculpted from marble, so pale and beautiful, with an expression so eloquent of expectation. You vaguely hear the coffee grinders behind you, and the shouting of the joust field, and you can almost hear your own pulse, thudding in your ears. In your panic, your eyes had darted to the side, but you feel them slowly, ever so slowly, turning back to him. Almost as though you cannot stop yourself, your own hand lifts to his and gently lays atop it, and you exhale. 

Time speeds back up as you breathe “Yes.” The word is barely audible, as your throat feels constricted, but you nod to make sure he knows your answer. “I will.” This answer too, comes out as almost a squeak, but it is enough. You see his eyes flame as happiness surges through him. Still holding your hand, he rises elegantly and pulls you with him. It is as though you cannot resist his will- you rise as well. Only a heartbeat passes, before he crushes you to him with his powerful arms and kisses you once more. This kiss is long and passionate, and it takes your breath away long before he is finished. His arms around you are the only thing holding you up, and as he releases you, nearby people start clapping, as they assume he has just proposed. Glancing around at the crowd, Loki gives a smiling half-bow, and lifts your linked hands aloft. As he brings them back down, you see something glinting in the sun on your ring finger. Lifting it to your face, you see a gold ring, set with a stunning emerald. Gasping, you examine it closely, and notice that the setting is a slim gold snake, holding the gem in his coils, with tiny diamond eyes shimmering in the sun. You look up at Loki, mouth open in shock. He simply gives you a playful smile, and looks back at the assembled group. 

“Shall we?” He addresses Thor, who stands as well, moving less gracefully than Loki in the small space. Thor moves to stand next to Loki, and then he looks at him curiously. 

“Loki- how do we get home? You got us here with magic- don’t we need the same to return to Asgard?” Loki gives this question a thoughtful look, and then nods.

“Indeed we do, brother- grab on.” With this, Loki holds his other hand out to Thor, and once Thor takes it, the world around you starts spinning.  You dimly hear Loki say “To Asgard!” as everything swirls like the fastest amusement park ride you have ever been on, and then darkness descends, as your eyes are forced closed. It feels as though you are hurtling through the air, as you feel it whipping past your body, buffeting you and tugging at your clothes. You tighten your grip on Loki, fearful of what might happen if you let go, and then everything stops. 

Your feet stumble as they meet solid ground, and your eyes pop open to see the bedroom you so often dreamed about. Thor immediately lets go of Lokis hand, and steps out of the circle on the floor where the three of you have appeared. He gives Loki a sharp nod, and the two share a smile at this latest adventure. Thor then departs, presumably in search of some proper ale, and Loki turns to you, a handsome smile covering his face. 

“Welcome Ru, to Asgard.”