I inhaled sharply as I let go of Re's magic but the heat lingered inside me. I heard Thor call Re's name and caught swift movement out of the corner of my eye, but I couldn't lose focus now. I was full of power, and I didn't want to waste it. I lit Fire candle and then the incense before I consecrated Thor's hammer with the elements, and then I finally crafted the spell. It was a long process involving several chants and poisonous ingredients. The poisons wouldn't hurt a god, but it was what they represented that was important. Death; these were instruments of death, and my spell would deliver it. Even to an immortal.
I coated the hammer with death; it had too much of its own magic to absorb the spell. But all we needed was one use, and I was certain that the enchantment would last through at least that. By the end of the working, I was surprised that I was still full of power. The spell had taken a lot of magic, and I had expected to need to refuel through the Earth. But I set the spell easily and lowered my circle feeling refreshed and... warm. I was really warm.
“Vervain, what did you do?” Thor rumbled.
“I cast the spell you asked for,” I huffed as I turned to him.
Thor and Pan were crouched to either side of Re's chair. Re was sitting back in his seat as if he were winded; his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. I gasped and hurried over to him.
“Re, I'm so—” I lifted my hand toward him and saw that it was glowing; my whole body was alight. “What the hell?”
“You took my magic, La-la,” Re whispered with a little smile. “How did you do that?”
“I don't know,” I murmured. “I was connecting to the land, and then I felt all of your magic around me. I...” I swallowed roughly as I remembered the music. “Are you all right? Fuck; am I all right?” I held my arms up and stared at them in horror. “Will this go away?”
“I'm fine,” Re assured me. “My magic will replenish itself. At least you stopped before you took all of it.”
“I could have taken it all?” I whispered. “Oh, Re; I could have really hurt you.”
I knelt before Re and took his hand. Re sighed as my light seeped into his skin. I looked down in wonder, and then I willed it back. I pushed that borrowed warmth back into Re, and it went eagerly. The sun magic hadn't felt at home inside me; it wanted to be with its god. I could see the light draining from me and flowing back into Re, and I exhaled in relief. Re inhaled my breath and sat up; his whole body coming alight. The rest of us had to avert our eyes, but it was only for a moment. The Sun God had complete control of his magic and turned off the glow nearly as soon as it began. Then he yanked me forward into an embrace.
“That was amazing, La-la,” Re declared. “I had no idea that such a thing could be done, much less done in reverse.”
“I'm glad that I was able to give it back,” I said as I clutched at him. “I don't know why I took it in the first place. I think it may have been the singing; I heard this beautiful music and it promised me warmth. Something inside me responded to it and craved its heat, but the song was too far away to reach. Then I felt your magic, and I turned to you.”
“It's all right, my love,” Re whispered as he stroked my hair. “No harm was done. In fact, we've learned that you are far more powerful than we thought.”
“What music?” Thor asked me.
Re and I broke apart to look up at the looming Thor.
“I don't know who was singing it; it sounded like hundreds of voices,” I said. “They sounded sad and... scared.”
“Ring any bells, Thor?” Pan asked.
Thor just shook his head.
“I could feel all of the gods in Asgard when I started to call upon the Earth,” I tried to go through the experience from the beginning. “I felt each of you—your energies—and then I felt the fainter trails of magic that I assume were gods who were further away. Then the singing began, but it was even further away still; across forests and mountains.”
“Forests and mountains?” Thor scowled. “There are two other Norse Worlds connected directly to Asgard; Vanaheim and Alfheim. The Vanir aren't known for their singing, but... ” Thor blinked and then stared at me in surprise. “But the Light Elves are; they can heal with their song.”
“Elves?” I asked with wide eyes. “There are Norse Elves?”
“They are the original Elves,” Pan said. “As in; the inspiration for Lord of the Rings.”
“Huh,” I said as I tried to remember the music. “Elves. You know what? That feels right.”
“Why would the Elves be singing to you?” Thor asked with narrowed eyes.
“They probably weren't,” Re said. “Didn't you hear what she said? Vervain was touching everyone's magic, and the Light Elves use their song as magic so they were heard instead of felt. That's all.”
“Then why did their song cause a reaction inside Vervain that compelled her to take your magic?” Thor asked shrewdly.
Re went silent and pensive.
“Alaric, do you have anything to offer?” I asked.
You aren't ready to hear that truth, Alaric said. But I will say that this is not something you need to worry about. Let it go, for now, Vervain.
“What did he say?” Thor asked as I scowled.
“He won't tell me why,” I said. “But he says that we don't have to worry about it.”
“Not worry
