Sindri feared asking what Loki had gotten himself into this time. Whatever he'd done must have been before their encounter at the altar, but the queen's rage wasn't any less assuaged by the passage of time.

While Sindri and Thayer kept a respectful distance and their heads dipped, the queen spewed more profanities than a common sailor. Her vernacular was quite impressive, if not crude and unbefitting of the ethereal beauty with flaming hair.

Once the Queen's wings settled into an irritated flutter from the blazing inferno of orange and red fire licking the humid air around them, Sindri wet her lips and dared to chance a peek at the woman who may or may not help. "I am sorry to hear you have crossed paths with Loki."

The queen huffed before inhaling a deep breath and soothing her flimsy dress. The fabric rippled like water under her delicate hands, and Sindri stared, shameless and transfixed by the small movements. Did all fairies hold the ability to ensnare the unprepared into their beautiful net? Sindri hadn't considered her sensual side, even when faced with marriage to Ivor.

The queen regained her composure and claimed her hands once again, resuming the image of peace when just a moment ago, she'd been ready to unleash the wrath of Hell upon Loki. Anger lingered in her ever-burning eyes though, making Sindri wary as she kept a safe distance. "Come. I shall bring you to my home, where you shall eat and rest."

None of that explained the queen's obvious issue with the Nordic god, but at least she hadn't sent Sindri on her own to fend for herself. Still, like anyone else, she wanted to know what had transpired between the pair. "Aye, of course." She hesitated before deciding to ask anyway. "Forgive me, but what did Loki do?"

The queen regarded her with a shrewd glare before responding in an equally icy tone: "He stole something from me. I shall be sure to return the favor in kind, but that is a worry for another day. For now, you should take a respite."

That should have been the end of the conversation, and Sindri truly knew better than to press, but she had to know. "Was he your lover?"

Thayer's mouth fell open, making Sindri shrink in on herself, but otherwise, she remained calm. She wouldn't receive answers if she didn't ask questions. "M'lady, you should not ask such things!"

New lesson worth noting: the fae were as prone to taking offense as humans. Sindri would do well to learn quickly so as not to incur magical repercussions.

Raising her hand in a halting motion, the queen commanded, "Peace, Thayer. 'Tis only natural the girl would have questions." She pointedly stared at other men and women as they left their activities in the streets and inched closer. They scattered with hasty bows when she looked their way. Ignoring them, the monarch faced Sindri again. "Come, child. You must be exhausted."

Sindri wouldn't argue with that, but she still had so much to know and do. Couldn't she rest later?

As if reading her mind, the timeless woman slowly shook her head. "I promise we will speak, but you must be patient."

Her pledge was good enough for Sindri, who finally took a tentative step forward. She hesitated long enough to ask, "How should I address you? For that matter, I do not know what to call myself."

The queen and Thayer exchanged a glance as the latter said, "She knows nothing of our ways and would have blurted her true name for everyone to hear if I had not stopped her."

The queen tapped her chin and cocked her head to one side, unblinking as she regarded Sindri. "You are a child of the Norse tribes, aye?" When Sindri nodded, the woman took her hands into hers, spreading warmth throughout her body. "Choose a name for me."

Sindri gasped, rooted in place by the woman's firm grip on her hands. Self-conscious doubt washed over her, squeezing the air from her chest and burning her cheeks. "What? I am a common farm girl. Surely, you could—"

"Almost all fae are born as such," the woman explained in a mild tone, "and are given two names: one from their mother, which must only be revealed before death or when you bond with your eternal partner. The other is assigned by the father, meant to be used for everyone else. In some instances, we allow others the honor, and therefore may answer honestly when asked for an introduction."

Sindri recalled Thayer's story about being born from stardust, but surely, she had to have chosen something during her lifespan. "Do you not already have one?"

She received a husky laugh in response as the queen's lips curved into the type of smile to ignite a war between all the world's men. "I have had many names over the millennia. Pray, humor me."

From a young age when boys built snow forts, played knattleikr, and learned to bear arms, the girls had been confined to learning more practical skills like sewing, cooking, and helping with the children. And though a woman could become a shield maiden, more often than not, the individual was strongly encouraged to remain home with the family. While the girls planned their futures and decided upon baby names for a far away future, Sindri longed to tramp through the mud and do the opposite of what was expected. Even now, despite narrowly escaping her marriage, the thought of anything domestic terrified her, including something as simple as choosing a name for an elfin queen.

Sindri scraped her teeth over her bottom lip as she considered her options. Fae weren't part of her teachings, but this close, they resembled humans. Beautiful men and women with wings and magic but wearing the face of a person. Old tales spoke of elves, the closest meaning of this race, and Sindri spoke before she realized she'd decided. "Elvinia. It means elf among my people."

"I like it," she stated with a sigh. "Elvinia is better than what men over the years have come up with."

Did Loki name her too? Sindri didn't dare ask, but by the way the queen changed the subject when asked earlier, the idea of them being lovers didn't seem too far-fetched.

Still holding Sindri's hands, Elvinia interrupted her musings. "I hereby name you Emma, and henceforth, you shall introduce yourself as such to protect yourself against those who would invoke your name for power."

Emma. Simple, yet elegant. Had she not been cursed, Sindri would have been compelled to take another name anyway. Was it lying when other people chose their designation? Einarr the Bonebreaker came to mind, and Sindri realized she didn't recall his surname. Everyone had always addressed him by his self-proclaimed title.

As the queen spoke, the name wove itself around Sindri's heart, whispering a song of hope for the future as the meaning took root in her soul: whole. Whether the context indicated she needed someone (she didn't) to make her happy or if the designation completed her fae identity, she couldn't say.

The stress faded while the magic flowed and hummed throughout every pore, easing the stress from Sindri's limbs. Her shoulders relaxed, and her eyes suddenly became heavy, sending her pitching forward. She'd have hit the ground face-first if Thayer hadn't been swift to catch and gently lower her to the soft earth. "What is happening?"

Once again, Elvinia folded Sindri's hands into hers, which had slipped away when she fell. Elvinia drew slow, steady breaths, tracing an invisible pattern into the younger woman's rune. Unlike Loki, she didn't chant, and though a soft, silver and ice blue glow shimmered beneath Sindri's skin, it wasn't as noticeable as when Loki cast the enchantment.

After a moment, the queen pursed her lips and uttered a soft hmph. When she released Sindri's wrist, she said, "Most fae are naturally born with their magic and learn to master it from a young age. You, however, are a result of stolen pixie dust in the wrong hands. The best I can do is provide the gift of discernment — knowledge when you encounter the catalyst to break Loki's spell."

She scowled, almost snarling when the tricker's name left her mouth as if she ate something foul and couldn't spit it out fast enough. "I am sorry I cannot do more, my child."

"Is there no way to undo his work?" Sindri asked, failing at keeping the misery from her tone. "What about Queen Frigga?" Surely, the matriarchal Norse goddess could help? It was a Nordic god who had cast the curse after all.

Pity shined from Elvinia's eyes as she shook her head. "I am afraid not. The pixie dust is magic as ancient as the fae born upon the fallen stars of the universe. As the caster, only Loki has the power to remove the effects, and the process is not only complicated, but dangerous and ill-advised. Even if Frigga could help, she will not. Though she has the gift of foresight, she reveals nothing, not even to Odin himself."

So, there was nothing to be done but wait and bide her time until Twenty-Twenty-Three.

Discouraged and resigned, Sindri allowed Thayer to support her while she followed the pair deeper into the Fae realm and toward her unknown future.

Word Count: 1537
Overall Word Count: 9855