Author's Note: So, for anyone unfamiliar with "Thor: Tales of Asgard," this is a what-if story based on a scene about half-way through the movie in which Thor and Loki meet up with the unsuspecting Warriors Three. Its sole purpose was to make the warriors aware of the brothers' presence before they travel on to Jotunheim, but for entertainment purposes there is a fight scene added where the Asgardians fight the other people drinking in the inn and then run away, unharmed and laughing all the while. So, I started off with a bit of a recap of the scene up to my change. My story takes over at a particular point when the wolf, Fenris, has Loki backed against a wall, and Thor comes and knocks the beast away from his brother before it can hurt him. Well, what if Thor had been just a second too late?
So... I didn't care for the way I originally ended this. I had several ideas for it, but decided not to add them because they didn't flow together very well. But I've had a bit more free time than usual lately, so I've been working on a way to put some things together for this. But I also decided to split it into two chapters and leave the part I don't plan on editing here. I should be adding the rest soon though.
And there is a little bit added at the end of this one now.
Sorry this took longer than I expected.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own "Thor" or "Thor: Tales of Asgard."
The Warriors Three set sail early this morning under the pretense of searching Jotunheim for the Sword of Surtur, a powerful weapon long since lost. But in actuality here the three liars sit in a drafty inn nowhere near the home of the frost giants, waiting to overhear the heroic (and soon to be stolen) tales of the other patrons. The inn is filled with all kinds of fold; be they Asgardians, nixies, dwarves, hobgoblins, or any other race you could imagine hidden amongst the rabble. However, the Warriors Three now stare in disbelief at the last people they ever expected (or wanted) to see here. Before them stood the two young princes of Asgard, Thor and Loki Odinson. Having stowed away aboard the warriors' boat, the two boys simply smile at the horrified men gathered around the table. This couldn't possibly lead to anything good...
"Relax. Lift your steins for a toast, lads, to frigid worlds and lost swords!" Grabbing a mug form a waitress' tray behind him, Thor raises the drink for his proposed toast, smiling joyously as he does so. But before the prince can take even a single drought, a large furry claw clamps on his arm and pulls him around to face its owner.
"You took my ale." Fenris the wolf glares down at Thor with murder in his eyes.
"You dare lay your foul-smelling paw on the son of Odin?" Thor meets Fenris's stare with an indignant one of his own. The monstrous wolf only growls in response.
An ax crashes down on the table next to them. "Stay your hands!" The barkeeper is annoyed at the two for causing such a fuss in his establishment, "Fenris..." With a final threatening snarl at Thor, Fenris rips the stein from Thor's hand and storms away to stand on the other side of the room.
"Ugh! And I thought his paw was foul-smelling." Thor mutters as he rejoins his friends.
Loki watches as Fenris raises the mug to drink. "Inatua." As Loki whispers the brief incantation, he gives a slight wave of his hand. Suddenly finding his drink empty, the wolf growls and holds the dry mug directly above his head that he may look inside. With the flick of his fingers and a muttering of "Geffa Rigna," Fenris's ale reappears, only to instantly come spilling out onto the wolf's face.
Fenris growls furiously, ready to kill whoever was responsible for this trickery. Loki is laughing openly and still has his hand held up from performing the spell. As soon as the young trickster god notices the wolf snarling at him menacingly, his laughter dies in his throat, and his mischievous smile vanishes. As Fenris moves to charge at the mischief-maker, Loki steps to the side, placing Thor between the bloodthirsty wolf and himself.
Fenris rushes towards Loki and Thor. The latter turns to see what the noise behind him is just as the furious wolf bats him aside. Thor tumbles over a nearby table, thoroughly upsetting its disturbed occupants. Loki takes off running as the angry wolf chases him about the now chaotic room. It's only a matter of seconds before the entire crowd has joined in the fighting. Thor fights any brute that dares to cross him, greatly enjoying this first test of his strength outside of the training arena. Hogun easily bests his opponents, just wanting the brawl to be over. Despite being in the midst of battle, Volstagg drinks his fill, occasionally using the large keg in his arms to beat down a foolish attacker. Fandral somehow manages to find time to still flirt with the waitresses between opponents. And Loki runs through the room, weaving around combatants, in an attempt to get away form the still bloodthirsty Fenris.
The murderous wolf gains ground on the young trickster god, finally driving him back against a wall with no way to escape. Realizing he's trapped, Loki turns to face Fenris, bracing himself against the wall. His meager magic is no match for the brute strength and razor claws of the wolf currently staring down at his frightened prey. Loki looks around for someone to whom he could call for aid or someway out of the corner he had been backed into, but there is nothing, no one who could possibly help him in time... He is defenseless as Fenris raises his mighty claw to smite the young prince.
Thor sees the trickster's peril and rushes to help. But as the wolf prepares to strike, he sees he will not reach his little brother in time... "Loki!" Thor calls out to him just as the vicious attack lands on the terrified boy.
Fenris's claws slash down the left side of Loki's face and across his chest, effortlessly ripping through his clothing and skin. The young prince of Asgard cries out in pain and starts to collapse onto the inn floor, but Fenris delivers another blow before the boy even hits the ground. This time the wolf's paw strikes the side of the trickster's head, leaving a deep gash and sending him flying across the room. Loki slams against the wall and crumples to the floor, unconscious and bleeding.
Only now is Thor close enough to his brother's attacker to be able to hit him - only now that it is too late to protect the young trickster god. As soon as he's close enough to apply adequate force, Thor crashes his fist against the wolf's ugly snout. Fenris growls as he stumble back from the thunder god. But Thor isn't intimidated by the beast; no, he's just angry now. This wretched creature had dared to lay a hand on his little brother... And Thor would not let him get away with that...
The thunder god pummels the wolf with another blow, this time aimed at his gut. Fenris doubles over in pain, but only for a moment. Before Thor has time to hit him again, the wolf swipes his claws at Thor, meeting his mark and knocking the young thunderer's legs from beneath him. The Asgardian prince tumbles to the floor and quickly rolls o the side to avoid Fenris's follow-up attack. As soon as the wolf's fists crash into the ground where Thor had been only a second ago, Thor jumps up and, clutching his hands together to double the force, brings his combined hands down on top of the wolf's skull. Fenris howls in pain as he falls on the dirty floor. Before the beast has time to recover, Thor delivers a swift kick to the side of his head. The wolf lies still, having lost consciousness from the impact of the young thunder god's furious attack. Thor wants to see the monster suffer more for hurting his brother, however, that same brother still needs his help...
Thor hurries to where Loki now lies on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. He hasn't moved since he landed here. He's barely even breathing... About this time, Volstagg sees the two princes in the floor - one lying very still and the other kneeling beside him. "Hogun! Fandral! What you boy say we be gettin' out a here?" He points to the two brothers as the two warriors look in his direction Upon seeing the royal children on the floor, Hugun's eyes open wide. They are going to be in so much trouble...
The Warriors Three make their way to the young princes and are alarmed by the amount of blood covering the floor. Thor looks up at them, concern clear on his face. Loki's eyes are closed, and it is obvious the blood is his.
"You alright?" Fandral asks Thor hurriedly, glancing over his shoulder at the inn's patrons moving in on them. Thor nods, and Hogun hauls him to his feet. Volstagg drops the keg of ale he had been carrying in favor of scooping the unconscious Loki into his arms. The trickster hangs limp and is unnaturally pale, even for him.
Hogun and Thor push through the crowd first, clearing a path for Volstagg and Loki. As soon as they can, they barrel through the door and out into the cool night air. The angry innkeeper and his guests chase after them, but they make it back on their small ship with no further injury. As infuriated as the inn's patrons are, chasing after the Asgardian ship would just create even more trouble. So with their problem sailing off into the night, everyone is able to return to their drinks only slightly grumpier than they were before.
Volstagg carefully lays a still bleeding Loki down on the ship's deck. Thor instantly at his little brother's side, clearly concerned. The young trickster god is awake now, but he lies still, his eyes darting from worried face to worried face as everyone hovers about the badly injured boy. Loki finally makes eye contact with Thor. The glint of gleeful mischief Thor usually sees his little brother's eyes is one, replaced now by terrible fear and pain. Thor wants desperately to turn away from that look, but he knows he could never turn his back on his brother.
It is Fandral who finally breaks the tense silence. "I dare say we should try to bandage his wounds somewhat. Just staring at him all night will hardly help anyone." The Warriors Three set about locating a way to clean and bandage the nasty cuts on the younger prince's head and chest. Thor says with his brother, unwilling to leave him alone for even a second.
"Just hold on, brother. You're going to be alright." Tears form in Loki's eyes; he really wants to believe his brother, but he just can't. The pain is too great, and he can tell he is fading... Thor puts his hand on Loki's forehead, trying to be comforting. The touch makes the gash on the trickster's head to burn, but he appreciates the gesture nonetheless. Volstagg rushes back into Loki's sight a bowl of clean water and a tattered cloth in his hands. A moment later Fandral appears with cloth to use for bandages. Thor carefully turns his brother's head so is friends can tend to the boy's injury there first as it is likely the most serious. Loki gasps in pain as Volstagg begins cleaning the wound His eyes are bright and fevered, showing pure pain and terror. After only a few seconds, Loki's eyes close, and his breathing slowly returns to normal. "Loki? Loki!"
"Calm yourself, Thor." Hogun says irritably as he helps Fandral place a bandage on Loki's head.
Volstagg looks up at Thor now as well. "He's only passed out. And likely for the better too." Thor frowns at the large warrior but says nothing. He simply returns to staring down at his dying baby brother and holds his hand tightly, afraid he shall never again see Loki's bright smile or mischievousness eyes. The image of Loki's eyes in that moment of unbearable torment is burned into Thor's mind. He can't help but wonder if this will prove too much for the young trickster to handle...
Thor wanders the halls of his father's palace in Asgard. They had arrived back safely, and Loki had been taken directly to the healers. Yet it had been nearly two weeks, and Thor's brother still sleeps. His wounds had become infected before they even made it back, and that had led to a horrid fever. Loki suffers nightmares day in and day out; he never has peace, and he is healing slowly. The healers are unsure if the trickster god shall ever be able to recover from this. Thor has been encouraged to with life for now, but he can't do that. It wouldn't be right. It is his fault Loki had been hurt. He will not have rest until his brother does. Thor foresees many sleepless nights ahead of him as Loki's condition never seems to improve...
