Welcome back Avid readers!
Quick update this time, a thankyou to all who have paid interest to this story. This story is dedicated to kingsgates.
Enjoy.
Thor pulled onto his reins sharply as he made his way into the stables feeling fresh and alive. He looked over to his warriors as they laughed boisterously at their adventures.
Thor had forgotten what a good hunt felt like.
Swinging his leg over he let one of the stable boys take hold of his steed as he stretched his back.
The rain had hindered some of his trip, but it only lasted a few hours. A few hours were indeed a worthwhile sacrifice for the few days of bounty he caught afterwards.
"It would have been nice to save at least some of the bounty." Fandral whined mournfully, hitting Volstagg playfully.
"Come now my friend…"Thor chuckled, "Volstagg needed his sustenance, and who are we to deny him that."
Volstagg rubbed his stomach with pride.
"The whole point of a hunt is to bring something back. Not eat it along the way." Sif chided, removing her sack from the saddle.
Everyone turned to Hogun who had remained silent as they waited for his input.
"A good hunt is one tasted." He spoke softly but wisely.
"And delicious it was." Volstagg added.
The warriors chuckled heartily as they left their horses in the care of others.
Together they escorted Thor back to the palace, busy in conversation. Thor sighed as his heart lifted… it was good to go hunting, to get his mind off his brother. Thor had felt his rage drop a few days after his first Bilgesnipe kill and it gave his head room to think. However, he was still angered over his brother's manipulation of Jane, no matter how accidental it may have been.
Thor sighed, knowing he would forgive Loki.
Thor wondered if he should go back to Midgard and attempt to persuade Jane to reconsider, but his mind was distracted as the King Horn blasted through the palace, signaling the Prince's return. He smiled, knowing that later his mother would seek him out to hear of his deeds. In rare instances, even his father would pass by.
But those days were so very rare.
"Thor."
Sif's voice broke him from his thoughts and he looked towards her frowning. Sif shook her head, chiding him for not paying attention.
"I said you think too much."
Thor hummed.
Sif punched his shoulder to lighten the mood.
"If you do not wish to attend nightly festivities—"
"Nay Sif, I must. Mother often wishes to hear our tales."
Sif smiled and nodded.
In truth Thor was not overly worried about seeing Loki in the hall. Boisterous conversation and energy from those who attended the feast distracted Thor most of the night. He listened to Volstagg's recount of the bounties he had eaten and laughed at the appropriate times. Even as he recounted his own daring hunt of the alpha male his mind lay distracted.
Something was missing.
Loki, Thor thought glumly as he sat down amongst friends. The deafening noise of the festivities became a low hum as Thor looked around for his brother. Even as they raised their silver cups of mead in a toast to a successful journey Thor wondered where he was. He knew Loki never enjoyed these things, but he always attempted to attend.
So he avoids me, Thor shook his head in somewhat guilt.
As the night had continued and ended, Thor found himself wandering down the hallways towards where his mother could be found at this late time.
Dismissing the guards by her door he entered, and softened at the sight of his mother embroidering one of her intricate patterns into cloth.
Frigga looked up, placing her craft beside her and stood to embrace her son.
"My son." She said kissing his forehead tenderly.
Thor brushed his hand to her wrist to return the affection before she pulled him gently to sit.
"The guards tell me the great hall experienced quite the celebration tonight." She smiled.
Thor looked down sheepishly.
"There were many refills mother."
Frigga hummed in a playful disapproval.
"So I hear." She neatened out the folds in her dress. "I hope things with your brother have settled my son."
Thor looked up and swallowed the little guilt he still felt.
"The hunt made me think things through clearly," he started. "Loki is many things, and has talent with his words… I'm sure he intended no harm, even when harm was done."
"Nothing you cannot fix."
"Aye." He agreed.
Frigga leaned forward, rubbing her sons shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile only a mother knew how to do. Thor looked at her and smiled back.
"I am glad you and Loki sorted it out together during your trip." Frigga said.
Thor had rubbed his eyes, nodding in approval but stopped at his mother's words.
"Together?" He said confused.
Frigga nodded, clasping her hands together.
"I suggested he accompany you." Frigga said as though Thor knew, "I'm sorry if he showed up halfway through your hunt my son."
Thor lowered his brow and spoke slowly.
"Loki never accompanied us mother. I never saw him on my hunt."
Frigga tilted her head trying to understand his words.
"Impossible," she smiled, "I sent Loki to you not even a full day after you left."
Thor shook his head.
"We never saw him." He stated.
Frigga stood and Thor followed at her expression.
"But I heard the King's Horn." She began to fidget with her hands.
Thor shook his head.
"You would have heard two blasts if he had been with me mother." He placed his hand on her shoulder, seeing the sudden show of anxiety cross her features.
"But you went north did you not, To the Wind Plains?"
"Aye at first, but we left the great north road and turned west." Thor moved to gain his mother's attention. "Fear not mother, Loki will turn back once he reaches the mountains and has seen no trace of us."
Frigga nodded.
Thor smiled softly.
"And if by what you say, that he left not too long after us, he would be turning around by now. We should see him in two days."
Frigga returned the smile.
"You're right, forgive me. It is a mother's duty to worry over her children."
Thor softened his gaze.
Loki was a skilled navigator; he had always led the directions when he accompanied him and his friends on hunts.
He needn't worry.
He could hear water drip from the stone walls, a gentle and constant noise that kept him aware of his surroundings, but he could not feel it.
He was numb.
It had been days since he fell.
He had tried to move hours ago, but the mud from when he fell had long since set against his torn clothes. Loki had all but managed to twitch the fingers that were free from the ground's embrace.
It was all he could do.
A drop fell, cleaning his cheek as it tore a path through the dirt on his face.
He coughed, sending spasms to ripple through his broken body as blood pooled down his lips again.
He felt as though he were drowning for a moment, until his body naturally coughed again, sending more of the red liquid to run down and seep into the ground. Loki cringed in pain, until a cool sensation ran down his face, sliding down his neck and resting itself onto his heart. It had been so cold; the sensation left a chill to run down his spine and through his nerves. He wanted to know why the cold had affected him so? It never did.
He twitched more of his fingers.
Loki's mind drifted upwards from the bland awareness he had been, sensing things more sharply than he had ever felt while on the chasm floor. He tried to open his eyes as the sensation ran down the other side of his face, ending again at his heart.
It felt familiar.
He continued to push his will on his broken body, commanding it to open his eyes.
"So long."
He heard something whisper as if it were far away, the sound echoing softly against the walls.
His eyes broke free from their sealed prison and Loki slowly moved his blurred gaze around, looking to find the voice.
"So long has it been … since I've felt such strong power and will to live."
Loki turned his head slightly, ignoring the pain as he continued to look for the voice; a nervousness setting through him. All his eyes could see were the sharp jagged edges of the walls that ran like towers above him.
The same cold sensation ran down his face.
"And such an aura too…"
It was then that Loki knew why it felt so familiar.
Hands.
It was the sensation of someone gently stroking his face.
Loki immediately snapped his gaze downwards in worry. A thick dark substance that appeared like dense smoke, oozed from the chasm wall near his body. It kept low to the ground, almost swimming across the hardened ground, finding its way over his legs. Loki could feel a heavy sensation resting above him, adding pressure onto his body as he tried to move, but the pain he experienced stopped him.
His breath hitched as he attempted to move his hands to swat it away, but it traveled over him, sliding like a snake, pushing his attempts down and keeping him there.
"Such strong will." It echoed, "Unlike the others..."
Loki tried to open his mouth, but the substance expanded with multiple tendrils, curling itself around his neck and silencing his attempts at noise. Loki closed his eyes as he felt something invade his aura. A seemingly invisible force that reached inside, clouding over something that was his… a part of him.
His chest constricted and he tried to resist, but it continued to cloud over him, reaching into places only he was able to. Loki went rigid, teeth clenching in silence as it felt like someone was squeezing his heart with their bare hands.
The voice hummed approval. Loki quickened his breath, the voice was echoed, as if multiple people were talking at the same time.
Loki struggled internally as his aura seared like white fire through him. The cold sensation of hands clasped his head firm. His hands dug into the ground, in a feeble attempt to drag himself away but he was pinned down, utterly and hopelessly.
"Hush now little one." The voice soothed, intensifying its assault. Loki twisted, ignoring the pain, a softened rumble leaving his throat before the pressure around his neck silenced him further with a gentle squeeze.
The force dragged his struggling form back into the same position to where he had been on his back.
It was then that Loki felt true fear. A fear so raw he was frozen as the darkness covered his face.
He choked, straining his fingers as he smelt and tasted a putrid texture that ran over his senses. It was everywhere and he couldn't escape it. Loki wanted to scream for Thor, scream for his brother to save him.
But he will never forgive you.
As Loki felt like he would succumb to death the darkness disappeared, the struggling slowing to a stop.
Loki's clawed fingers went slack, his body suddenly relaxed. The need for sleep overpowered him and without objection he closed his eyes.
Two days turned into two weeks.
Loki had not returned, and there had been no word of any sightings.
Thor had tried to calm his mother over the days, but as each day passed Frigga had been beside herself, spending her time within the company of Odin, who murmured things only she could hear.
Exactly fourteen nights had passed, and Thor stood side by side with his father, looking out upon the city. It was a rare moment, spending time with Odin, and it was often accompanied by silence or short conversation. To Thor, it was enough… he knew the burden upon his father, one he too would face when king.
Thor looked down with sadness.
After Loki had returned he had not openly sought out to be in the same presence with their father. Odin too... as if he seemed to silently stand with their unknown terms. Thor wanted so much for things to be right between his brother and father.
After the Stone things had changed, and it left Thor wondering if was good.
He tilted his gaze near his father, who had uncharacteristically put his hands on the railing, leaning his head forward as if tired.
"Father?" Thor asked unsure.
"You had wished for the mortal to see the upcoming eclipse did you not?" Odin asked.
Thor could not decipher the manner of his tone and shifted uncomfortably, unsure if he had angered his Odin.
"I- yes I did, but something had arisen and Loki—"
"I heard you gave him quite the talking to." Odin stopped his son with a voice of authority.
Thor looked down ashamed.
"You should have used your words, like he used his. Instead you acted impulsively with your rage. Again."
"Father…" Thor began but Odin raised his hand.
"The bond you two have…you must fight to keep it, not fight to destroy it."
Thor nodded.
"Loki has a way with words, and it was unjustified to use them against the mortal, " Odin turned to stare directly in his son's eyes, raising a finger as if Thor were a small child. "but never again shall you strike him in the moment of your rage. Do you understand my son?" Odin asked deeply.
"Yes father."
Odin turned back to the city.
"Brotherhood is something that should not be broken."
Thor looked to his father, seeing nothing but weary resignation.
"I understand father."
Odin hummed.
Thor smiled softly at a memory that had suddenly surfaced. He wanted to help with their broken relationship, if not discreetly.
"Loki was keen on seeing the eclipse; he had been rather puzzled that there were no records in the great library regarding the last. "
Odin remained still, but Thor continued.
"You saw the last did you not father? What was it like? Perhaps I could tell Loki of it…when he returns."
Odin looked back sensing something, and Thor knew his father would have to leave. Odin put a hand on his son's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Thor looked into his father's eyes unsure when he would next see him, drinking in the image.
"I was not able to fully appreciate the last eclipse." Odin stated cryptically before nodding and leaving.
Thor frowned, but dismissed it.
The next morning had once again seen no sign of his brother and the worry that pounded Thor's heart was becoming unbearable. Thor knew however that he needed to ease his mother's heart, so he stayed by her dutifully, polishing Mjölnir while Frigga continued her craft with worried silence.
It wasn't until high noon, fifteen days after Loki's departure that the King's Horn echoed through the halls with a single blast.
An alert lets you apply a small battery powered fan to that 'smoke', a review lets you be thing heavy thing on Loki.
Trust me. it will be good to review on this one.
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