Um…hi? I'm so sorry for my long hiatus. Please read my profile for further details.
Anyways, I was just browsing through my old files when I found this gem. I wrote it sometime after reading Hammer of Thor, when I had just discovered MCGA.
Also, this will not contain Blitzstone. I'm still having an internal debate whether I want their relationship to be romantic or platonic, but for the purposes of this fic, their relationship will be strictly platonic.
Warning: Possible OOC-ness.
…
Loki commanded Randolph to attack, and he obeyed.
My first thought was that he would attack Sam. Magnus must've thought the same thing, for he stepped in front of her comatose body. Unexpectedly, Randolph rushed right past them.
It took me about half a second to realize he was aiming for me.
My eyes widened. Time seemed to slow down. My legs froze. I was glued to the spot. Randolph might have impaled me right then and there if a tall figure hadn't stepped in front of me at the last second.
With a cry of horror, Magnus's crazed uncle stabbed the sword in my best friend's gut.
Hearth stumbled backwards and fell to one knee. He clutched the wound, blood seeping through his fingers, staining his clothes. I screamed his name and caught him, setting him against the wall. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it, whispering that it was fine, he would be alright, even though I knew full well he wouldn't be able to hear me.
I called for Magnus, and he was at our side in an instant. He immediately placed his hands on the wound, and he tried to heal it.
Keyword: Tried.
I sensed something was wrong. Magnus's hands were glowing with enough Frey-power to damage my best fireproof jacket, but Hearth's face was still scrunched up in pain. I immediately started panicking.
Magnus stood up and shouted at Loki, "What do you want, Loki?! How do I heal Hearth?!"
The god sneered. "Oh, didn't your little friends tell you? Thankfully, those two questions have the same answer."
Magnus whipped his head around to face me. "Blitz, what's he talking about?!"
I was about to say that I didn't know, when Hearth signed weakly, He wants the stone.
I knew which stone he was talking about.
Loki continued, "Wounds from the Skofnung Sword never heal. They just bleed out forever…or until death, whichever comes first. The only way to heal them would be with the Skofnung Stone. I didn't think my daughter's wedding would be enough incentive, but the death of one of your precious friends?"
His lips curled into a malicious grin, as if he was amused by the idea. I gritted my teeth. If Hearth weren't bleeding out in front of me, I would've punched that smile off his face.
"Consider this your first and final warning, Magnus Chase. You have until the wedding to deliver both sword and stone. The dwarf knows where it is. And do get a proper tuxedo. Come along now, Randolph. Chop-chop!"
Randolph winced, and the two of them disappeared. I turned to Hearth. He wasn't looking much better. To say I was worried would be a huge understatement. He had already cast three runes today, which had already weakened him considerably. I barely registered Sam waking up and rushing to our side. "Oh gods, what happened?!" she cried.
"Blitz?! What stone was Loki talking about? Where is it?!" exclaimed Magnus.
"It's at…it's at Hearth's old place, in Alfheim." I replied, wincing at the reminder of Hearth's past.
"Then let's go get it!"
No, signed Hearth with difficulty. Do not retrieve the stone. Not worth it. And not enough time. I will die.
Those words hit it home.
My eyes burned with tears, threatening to break free. This was all my fault. How could I have been so stupid? Now, because of my stubbornness, my best friend in all the Nine Worlds was dying, and there was nothing I could do about it. We were losing him, and we all knew it.
I wanted to tell him he was worth everything to me, that I would do anything for him, but I did the exact opposite.
"It'll be over soon, buddy. Just close your eyes. Go…" My voice cracked. "Just go to sleep."
He smiled weakly at me, closed his eyes, and exhaled.
The tears fell.