Gerard caught it out of the air.
"So it is," he said, "you brought my enemy into Asgard. You built this together! Do you fear me so much that you would ally yourself with those who murdered thousands of your worshippers?"
Loki said nothing, but simply stared down at the dam.
"The first law of magick," said Gerard, "what two make, only two can destroy. Balder, take my spear. Thor, ready your hammer. We must hit as one. That dark stone in the very center. See it?"
"I have my mark!" said Thor, begining to whirl his great hammer. "I, also," said Balder, beginning to draw back his arm to throw.
Gerard again brought back his sword and let fly. All three weapons met almost the same point at precisely the same time. There was a loud blast and the weapons bounced back to their throwers. "Good try!" said Balder. "Shall we give it another?"
"No need!" said Gerard. "Look!"
As the Aesir followed his gaze they saw cracks begin to appear along the face of the dam. With each passing moment the cracks spread until finally water began to trickle through. More and more little streams poured from between the rock, then, suddenly with a great 'whoosh' the dam burst, and the water rushed free.
"It's done!" said Gerard. "It will only be a short time before the energy again reaches my people. Let us make camp here."
The others agreed, and soon fresh meat was being cooked over tthe fire. Thor and Balder were quiet, knowing Gerard would soon leave them now that his mission in Asgard was done. And Loki, too, was silent, for he knew full well that The Lord Of Light would not leave Asgard before fixing upon him a harsh punishment. Gerard, however rose.
"I will be back shortly," he said. Changing his form again, he rushed off into the night, returning to the place where they had fought the frost demons. He found most still laying where they had been struck down. Others had returned watching over their fallen comrads. When Gerard appeared, they backed off too frightened to challenge his power. Gerard stretched out his hand and a blue beam of light spread out over the wounded frost demons. As soon as the light touched them, their wounds healed and they rose up, all turning towards Gerard. When the last stood, Gerard turned to leave.
"Why?" cried out one of the frost demons., "Why do you care if we suffer?"
"It is simply my way," said Gerard, "and, the way of my people. Once the lesson is learned there is no longer a need for pain. I do not wish you to fear my kind, I wish you only to respect them. Thor and his kind do not understand. You are not individuals but the part of a whole. Your intelligence is not separate, but one. I have known such creatures aas you before. Do you understand?"
"Yes," said the frost demon who had spoken. "I am the focal point of our intelligence for the moment. But what I perceive the others do also. Thank you, Lord Of Light. Your kindness will not be forgotten."
Gerard returned to his companions. "How far is it," he asked Thor, "to the place where I appeared?"
"Little better than a day's journey," said Thor.
"Good!" said Gerard. "I can return through any gateway, but that one is best. Now, Loki, you did harm to my people. That cannot go unpunished, and you know what Odin's word meant. He gave me the power to destroy you, but I think that would be a crime. I have never in my existence but once destroyed an eternal spirit, and I do not wish to make it a habit."
The Ancient One extended his hand. A red light from it extended around Loki. Stones from the ground flew up and melted against the light, until a smoothe, black rock shaped like a pear with a bulge at the top stood where Loki had been.
"This," said Gerard, "is your prison, Loki, for the next ten years. You will be able to see without and hear what transpires, but no one will be able to see or hear you. And one day a month you will know total and complete darkness, absolute solititude. Exactly ten years from now, one who loves you will break the stone and you will be free; I hope having learned your lesson."
Gerard took a rope from his horse and secured it around the top of the stone. Then he whistled and a flock of birds appeared. He tossed the rope into the air. One bird caught the end, pulled it taught. The others grasped its length then winged skyward. The stone rose with them.
"Where does it go?" asked Balder.
"To Odin's palace," said Gerard, "I do not think Loki will ever trouble me again, or any of my people. Now, that food smells good!"
"Let us eat," said Thor.
Little was said that night, but as they journeyed on the next day, Thor asked Gerard, "Hela said she might come to be with you. How could she do that?"
"She would have to become human," said Gerard, "be born as a human child and grow up and endure all that curtails. But she would still have certain gifts, certain powers."
"Could any Aesir do that?" Thor asked.
"If they wished," Gerard acknowledged.
"Why do you take human form Gerard?" asked Balder.
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