Chapter 4

WARNING: Suicide Attempt.

A/N: Hey everyone! Luv here! Here is our fourth chapter. Sorry this took a while, Finals week is busy, busy, busy. Anyway, tomorrow's our last day before our Winter break, so updates shall be more frequent. Enjoy this chapter, and Happy Holidays!

-Luv


Thor flew from the palace to the very edge of Asgard to the location of the Bifrost with Sköllia under his arm. He landed, with an un-Thor-like gracefulness, and then he strutted side by side with the wolf toward Heimdall and approached him.

"Heimdall, take us to Jotunhiem," Thor said.

"As you wish," replied the gatekeeper, performing the ritual that allowed the transportation to the next world.

"Safe travels," The gatekeeper said as the Bifrost sucked them up into its void. It was a quick transportation, and when the void opened up, they found themselves back in cold, dark Jotunhiem.

Thor pulled his fur cloak tighter about him as the wolf led him through the snowy forests and eerie ruins of Jotunhiem. Soon a huge, dark, looming ice palace appeared. Sköllia stopped and yipped at the palace, as if to say, "This way, please."

She then took off toward it, running around the side of it and jumping through a broken window, entering the throne room. Thor followed her and was just able to squeeze himself through. Thor's eyes widened as he looked about the dark icy interior; things had been knocked over and scattered about, and the long crystalline table was overturned on its side, along with all the chairs. There was a puddle of frozen blood on the icy floor and in the throne, a hand-mirror lay face-down. Thor picked it up, the cold metallic nearly numbing his hand. There was a long, ugly crack in the glass part of it, so he guessed it had been thrown down.

Sköllia brushed her side against his leg. He put his hand onto her soft, warm head and stared down into her eyes and heard her voice say, That's the mirror Loki looks through to watch his mortal.

Thor studied the mirror closely, staring sorrowfully at the crack, when suddenly, it began to churn wild colors, and a vision appeared, it was a vision of his little brother, he was alive and appeared unhurt, but he looked different…he was an icy blue, with notches, ridges, and markings about his body…he was a…a…a Frost Giant! Thor's little brother was a Frost Giant! That's why he had run off! He saw that Loki was deep within the snowy woods they had been through earlier, on his hands in knees, his head down. He wore a garment that appeared to look like some skin of an animal tied around his waist as well as a fur cloak, "Forgive me, Brother," He said.

Thor's eyes were glued to the image. Then Loki kneeled in the snow, and scanned his red eyes about, and Thor nearly started to cry, the face of his brother was pained and depressed and tears were streaming down his frozen blue face. "Forgive me, Brother, I will not cause you any more pain." He pulled something from the shelter of his cloak and Thor realized it to be one of his daggers. He held it in attack position, and then he briefly touched it to his bare chest where his heart was before raising it up, ready to thrust it into his chest and take his own life.

"LOKI NO!" Thor dropped the mirror and ran out of the palace, with the wolf following closely behind. He picked her up in his arm and spun Mjolnir with the other, and they took off, getting to the forest in double time, landing right where Loki was. Thor put down Sköllia and ran toward Loki's hunched over form, calling out, "LOKI! LOKI DON'T YOU DARE!"

He tackled his brother, causing the dagger and Mjolnir to fall out of reach, feeling a freezing sensation rip throughout his body as they landed. They rolled as they landed side by side and Loki sat up, his eyes blazing with confused, insane, fury. He pinned Thor down into the snow and pulled out his other dagger, holding it, ready to thrust it forward and kill Thor. Then suddenly, his sanity returned, and he realized what he could've done. Fresh tears came into both their eyes and Loki got off of Thor and put his dagger away, sitting down in the snow and hanging his head, crying. Thor got up, recovering from the sudden shock. Loki looked up at him.

"I'm dangerous, Brother," he said through his sobs. "You never should have…should have…." He was crying too hard to finish.

Thor dropped to his knees beside his brother and pulled him into a gentle but tight embrace. Loki's frozen body nearly numbed him, but somewhat ceased as Thor's muscular chest touched him and turned him back to his Asgardian form. Loki buried his face into his brother's shoulder and wept and wept, wept away everything. Thor just rocked him and pressed his nose into his black hair.

"Shh, shh, I'm here, I've got you, you're alright, you're alright…" Thor's voice trailed away as he started again with his own tears, clutching his baby brother, rocking him, refusing to let go. He cared not if his brother was a Jotun, he was still his brother, and he loved him no matter what, even when no one else did, he loved him, he would always love him, he was his little brother. At last the reunited brothers let go of one another and stood up, and Loki turned back into his Jotun form.

"We should head back," he said, sniffling. "There's a blizzard starting up soon."

He's right, Sköllia said, after threading her way underneath Thor's frozen fingers and gazing up at him. We should head back, anyway, we've got things to take care of.

She blinked twice before heading off toward the direction of the palace. He watched her go.

"Come on then," he said, turning to his brother.

Loki nodded before trying to step off, though the moment he took a step, he buckled to the ground. Thor kneeled down beside him, his hands supporting his back, turning him back to his Asgardian form again.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bit tired."

"A bit? You can't even walk!" Thor replied, jumping into "big brother" mode. "How much sleep have you been getting?"

"I don't."

"You don't sleep? Well, no wonder why! You're suffering from sleep deprivation! Don't move I'll carry you," Thor said, getting to his hands and knees. "C'mon, get on my back."

"That won't be necessary—"

Thor gave him a questioning look, "Loki?"

The latter smiled at his brother's ambition, "Fine. We'll do it your way."

He started to stagger towards him, climbing on his back. Thor stood up, piggybacking Loki all the way back to the palace.

o0o

When they arrived at the palace, Sköllia was sitting up on her haunches, studying them, and then barking at them.

"Hey, don't be like that." Loki said.

"What'd she say?" Thor asked.

"About time you showed up. A little late, don't you think?" Loki answered.

"Rude," Thor commented. Sköllia barked, tossed her head, and gave her tale a flick.

"And attitude isn't welcomed either," Loki said as Thor set the mirror on the arm of the throne and sat him down. He turned back to his Jotun form.

"A apologize for the mess, brother," Loki said, once again returning to his saddened state. "I hadn't planned on your coming."

"That's okay, Brother, I've had my fair share of temper tantrums as well."

Loki replied, sounding suspicious and defeated, "How-how did you know that this was because of a temper tantrum?"

"Sköllia told me everything."

Loki nodded, and forced the tears that were threatening to cloud his eyes away.

"She tells me that a mortal has captured your interest, a mortal who is a lot like you; sad, depressed…angry. You want to help her but you're afraid. Afraid she'll scream when she looks at you."

"Yes, she is beautiful…but in so much pain I can't take it. I want to help her…I really do…but…look at me, Brother. I'm a beast. I'm horrid, ugly, cold-hearted, and useless!" his voice was rising.

Thor held out his hand to calm him, "No, no Loki, you aren't. You are one of the sweetest beings I know. What should it matter if you look the way you do? Isn't it supposed to be about personality, and not looks?"

"That's easy for you to say, Thor. You are handsome and charming; all the women in Asgard are after you."

"Loki—"

"…Face it, Brother. It's never going to happen. I'll always be nothing but a beast. Nothing will ever change that."

For a moment, Thor was at a loss for words, then he said, "You need to stop talking like that Loki. If this girl is the way you tell me, I would think then, she cares not for looks, but for a man who will love her no matter what. A man with a beautiful soul that treats her like royalty, what should it matter what they look like?"

"Thor, I'm not a man! I am a Jotun! A monster, a beast, a—"

"USE YOUR ILLUSIONS THEN!" Thor exploded, silencing his brother. Loki looked taken aback.

"I'm sorry," Thor said quietly. "But I don't know what else to tell you. I can't change your opinion of yourself. So, if you honestly feel that self-conscious, go ahead, use an illusion to make yourself human. Turn yourself back into your Asgardian form. Go to Midgard and meet her. Speak to her. Make her feel good. Charm her. Be your sweet, kind-hearted self. Be who I know you are."

"And what? Lie to her? How can I be my true self if I'm not even in my true form?"

Thor chuckled, "You must really care for her, this mortal. Considering that you don't even want to pull a trick on her, O God of Mischief and Lies."

"Just because I am doesn't mean everything I do have to be mischief or lying," Loki replied. "But, dear Brother, now that I think of it, it seems the only way that would work. Okay."

He stood up and turned himself back to his Asgardian form, "Well, then, I guess I prepare myself to got to Midgard."

o0o

At last the familiar sound of the fountain, and the rain hitting the cobblestones could be heard. Darcy lifted her head to see the courtyard, which normally would have been packed with people, yet it was dead. She crossed toward it and when she got there, just stood for a moment in front of the fountain, and enjoyed the silence. She started walking again and her feet led her to the bookstore. She pushed open the door, the bell chiming as she entered. A man was sitting at the counter, and stood up when she entered.

"Hello Darcy!" he called. He was and older man, short with a round body, kind of like a dwarf. He had sparkling grey-green eyes and a white, grey-flecked beard that was clipped short. He had blonde hair that was losing its color….So it was almost white and it came down to his shoulders, though now was tied in a small pigtail. He wore brown trousers and black saddle shoes with a green tunic over a white and yellow, puffy-sleeved striped shirt. He also wore small pair of spectacles perched at the bridge of his nose held by a chain, along with a bright smile. This was Mr. Walter Cromwell, the bookkeeper.

"How fares thee today?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Mr. Cromwell. Yourself?"

"Ahh, yes, I heard about what happened yesterday, I'm terribly sorry," He said, getting off track, which the jovial man had a habit of doing.

"It's fine," Darcy replied, frowning a bit.

"…Oh, and I am well," Mr. Cromwell added.

Darcy chuckled, grinning a bit.

"What can I assist you with?" he asked.

"I need a new copy of Romeo and Juliet," She answered. "My other one was dropped in a puddle."

"Alright, I think I have one in the back. I'll go get it for you; you just look around here okay? I'll give you another book, free of charge, since you are my favorite customer."

Then off he went, humming to himself.

Darcy watched him go before looking around at the tall shelves at all the various books. Darcy loved all kinds of books, though she most adored poetry and stories of romance and tragedy. So, she found herself climbing a ladder to reach the topmost shelf, where all the poetry was held. She searched through all the titles until she found the epics. To most, these long poems were completely boring, too difficult to read, and a waste of time, but Darcy, she loved them. She loved the imagery and the diction, as well as the fact that she had to read and re-read them so she could understand what they meant. She soon came across one she hadn't yet read; Beowulf. She had heard of it, though she had never bothered to look at it. She opened the cover to the first page, and was instantly drawn in by the first part:

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings

of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,

we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!

Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,

from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,

awing the earls. Since erst he lay

friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:

for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,

till before him the folk, both far and near,

who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,

gave him gifts: a good king he!

To him an heir was afterward born,

a son in his halls, whom heaven sent

to favor the folk, feeling their woe

that erst they had lacked an earl for leader

so long a while; the Lord endowed him,

the Wielder of Wonder, with world's renown.

Famed was this Beowulf:[1] far flew the boast of him,

son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.

-From Beowulf

Darcy closed the book and put it under her arm, it sounded very interesting to her, and the diction was phenomenal. She climbed down the ladder and found her feet leading her towards the romance and tragedy books. All romances should end in tragedy. They are a tragedy. She thought bitterly and she roughly searched through them until she found one called Tristan and Isolde. Now she had heard of this one, and knew that it was a legend, which was another thing she loved. She put that on top of Beowulf and started toward the next shelf. That was when Mr. Cromwell came out from the back, walking over to Darcy, "Here you go, lass, this was my last one."

"Thank you," Darcy replied, taking the book from him.

"Ahh, I see you found a couple more books for yourself."

Darcy looked down at them, "Yes, I did."

"Well, they're yours free of charge, so as long as you pay for that one," He pointed to Romeo and Juliet.

"Okay, I will, thank you very much, good sir," Darcy send, handing him the money.

"Don't mention it," He said, taking the coins.

"Well, I'm off to the market," She said, heading toward the door.

"Take care of yourself now, young lady," He called after her.

"I will. Goodbye Mr. Cromwell."

"Farewell, child!" he called after her.

She held the books close to her in one arm and pushed open the door, welcomed back into the outdoors with a fresh, freezing, strong gust of wind blowing in her face. She wrapped her cloak about herself tightly. The rain was not fierce and pouring as it had been earlier, though it still fell in cool droplets. It was also cold and windy and a slight "after the rain" smell could be scented in the air, signaling that the rain would soon come to a stop. Darcy inhaled the scent before making her way towards all the food markets.

o0o

Midgard London was strangely quiet. Loki walked alone along the silent streets, listening to the rain. It was strange being there in daylight, though the dreary, cold air still cast its dimness throughout the town, which made him feel a bit safer. He was in his Asgardian form, of course. His attire consisted of black trousers and black boots, a black shirt and over that, a somewhat thick, cotton, green long-sleeved tunic that came down to just above his knees cinched at the waist with a belt. Over that, he wore a black hooded cloak, and as of now, the hood was on his head, shadowing his emerald green eyes. He looked human. Except for the fact that he was quite tall, he would not be thought of as a Frost Giant if you were to look at him.

His feet found their way into the large cobblestone courtyard, the one that Darcy loved so much. He sighted the beloved fountain and decided to sit down there. The noise of the water, as well as the cool air from it, morphed with the cold, biting air and the sound of the rain, making a relaxed, cold environment. Perfect for a Jotun. From where he was sitting, he could see all 'round him. The courtyard was completely empty. He let out a frustrated huff; he had hoped he'd see Darcy today. She was in town, he knew, for he had been watching her through the mirror earlier. She'd come to town with her sister, wait, what was her name? Right. She was called Jane. However, by the looks of things, she wasn't in the courtyard. He wished more than anything that she would be here.

She could be in one of the shops, he thought hopefully. He peered around, scanning the perimeter for her. He huffed again in frustration, then took the mirror from the shelter of his cloak and looked into the cracked glass. It started to churn colors and showed the inside of what looked like a bakery. She was in there, talking to the baker. Loki watched as she paid the woman and was handed a basket of breads. She carried the basket in the crook of her arm, as were hands were already full of other things. She carried two books and a dress in one of her arms, as well as a basket of sewing supplies in her other hand and a plump satchel over her shoulder. The poor girl's hands looked very full, and everything was going to get wet the moment she stepped out into the rain. The vision faded as Loki heard the chiming of a small bell and she appeared out of the bakery. He started to get up, ready to walk up to her and take some of the things from her, but he was stopped as a young, handsome man ran up toward her, it was Ian.

"Darcy, Darcy, there you are!" He said. She stopped, looking through her load to see him.

"I'm surprised to see you Ian," She said with fake happiness, though she looked ready to either explode or burst into tears.

"You look like you've got your hands full there, do you want some help?"

"I'm fine, I think I can manage," she replied with slight hostility, clearly not wanting to accept help from the man who'd broken her heart.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes, I am," She said with attitude, pushing past him, nearly dropping her things.

"Well, alright, farewell, Darcy," he said, bowing and entering the bakery.

Loki watched as Darcy made her way toward the fountain, and sat down a little bit away from him, clearly not noticing he was there.

"My goodness," she said to herself. "I already have so much luggage and I still have more things to get! I really wish Jane were here right now to help me carry all of this."

She opened up a folded piece of paper and started reading off of it, "Meats, fish, milk, herbs, vegetables, fruits, cider, wine, and blimey, we're out of tea bags!" she angrily crumpled up the paper and shoved it back into her small satchel, "I really wish someone was here to help. I shouldn't have turned away Ian! No matter how much it hurts me to just be around him, I should have accepted his help!"

This was Loki's moment. He scooted over to her side, "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear you grumbling to yourself about having your hands full." Darcy jumped and turned her head, finding a strange man now sitting beside her. He was wearing his cloak-hood, so his facial features were shadowed, though she could see sparkling emerald green eyes.

"Hello," she didn't sound very friendly. "I don't believe I recognize you, though it is difficult to tell, I can't see your facial features when their masked and shadowed by that hood."

"My apologies," He took off the cloak hood, revealing a rather handsome, young face of a man about her age, only a bit older. She locked her gazed with him for a moment, just gazing into his beautiful eyes, until she bashfully looked away.

"You are troubled, no doubt?" Loki asked.

"Yes, quite, actually, though right now, I'm just trying to figure out what to do about all my luggage."

"I would gladly help you carry something, if you'll let me."

She studied him for a moment, distrust clear in her eyes.

"I promise I won't take anything," he said sincerely, reading her mind.

"Okay, fine," She handed over the dress, books, and sewing equipment, about half of the things she had.

Loki took them, holding the books in his arm and slinging the dress over his shoulder, carrying the sewing basket in his other hand, protecting them with in his cloak.

"C'mon, we have some walking to do," Darcy said. "I have to be meeting my sister soon, so I must hurry up." She got up from the fountain and they walked side by side in an awkward silence until at last, Darcy started a conversation:

"I've never seen you before, are you from around?"

Loki shook his head, "No, I come from a long way, so far that some would even say I'm from another Realm."

"You mean like Asgard?" she questioned.

How did she know that!? He nodded. "Yes, like Asgard."

She chuckled.

"You don't believe me do you?"

"Of course I don't, I know men make up wild stories to impress women."

What? Loki didn't understand.

"You have a name, Asgardian?" she put and emphasis on the word "Asgardian."

"Lazarus," Loki replied, not wanting to give his true name.

"Lazarus? Like the man from the Bible?"

"Yes," Loki replied after a few moments.

"You don't know who I' m talking about do you?"

"No, not really."

Darcy chuckled.

"You think me strange, don't you?"

"A little bit, but I like strange…strange is good," Darcy replied. "…Ahh, here's the butcher's place, come, Lazarus, we've got to pick up some meats."

She stopped in front of the door and Loki pushed it open.

"Thank you, sir," She said.

o0o

A couple of hours had passed and the rain was completely done, though the day was still of a grey dreariness. Darcy and Loki made their way out of the final shop, ready to head back. Darcy, for once, was smiling and chuckling as she talked with him, and Loki was as well. They were engaged in a lively conversation as they made their way toward the quilt shop when they were stopped by a young female voice calling from behind.

"Darcy, Darcy!" Darcy grumbled under her breath and turned to meet a beautiful young woman with delicate red curls.

"Rose!" Darcy said with fake happiness and a fake smile. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she said, embracing Darcy with a bone-crushing hug. "And you?"

"I'm alright."

"Hey, listen, sorry you had to see what you saw yesterday, Ian I—we're just sort of, you know, perfect."

"Nope, it's perfectly fine," Darcy replied, holding out her hand.

"Good, because it's official between us."

"Congratulations," Darcy replied with mock admiration, wanting this girl to leave.

"Anyway, I hope you'll be alright with that," Rose said. "Oh, looks like you've found yourself someone already," she commented, noticing Loki, "Good then, no worries. No hard feelings, right Darce?"

"I suppose not…shouldn't you be getting back to Ian?"

"Ahh, yes, of course, if I can find him," The girl turned with a majestic flip of her perfect hair, took up her skirts, and was gone.

"And that, Lazarus, is Ian's bonnie lass," Darcy said with a bite in her tone. "Anyway, we should keep going."

Darcy took off speed walking, despite the luggage in her arms, Loki following, thinking about his dislike towards this "Rose" figure.

o0o

When they had gotten to the quilt shop, they found a very large crowd had gathered.

"Excuse me, sorry, coming through," Darcy said as the pair made their way into the shop. Darcy found Jane and said, "Sister, what's all the—" she stop midsentence when she saw it…the embroidered tapestry that the crowd was abuzz about…the perfectly threaded tapestry of Jane and Darcy's father battling with the Frost king, Laufey…. Darcy's tapestry.

Darcy stared wide-eyed at it, anger boiling up inside her, and Loki, staring at it too, felt a huge knot form in his stomach.


A/N: Luv2Dream1212 here! How's the Cliff hanger for you all? Told you this story would pick up. I hope you all enjoyed and were impacted by the brotherly feels...because...and I speak for both me and the Kitty... we were nearly blinded by tears writing them. Reviews and feedback are most welcome..by the way, I just thought i'd point out that Skollia bites people who don't review...just kidding, but she might not like you...anyway.. Another update will be soon!

-Luv


A/N: Kitty here. Review and you have every right to proscribe dear Lokitty some medication :(