This is the final chapter of Penance! I've been having a lot of fun with this fic, and I'm kinda sorry to see it end. Still, all good things must come to an end. Now I can write a follow-up with Loki enjoying his…ah….present, shall we say. But you'll see what that is for yourself. ;) Do enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, nor the characters Thor and Loki. I also don't own Chronicles of Narnia, which includes Jadis.
Lightning crashed off the stone walls and ricocheted back to his palms, aglow with crackling blue white energy that traveled down his right fist to Mjolnir's handle, and the rune inscribed metal. He hadn't meant to use his favored weapon in battle, but that ruling had quickly been overturned the moment he realized that this witch was a most fierce warrior. Unstoppable? Of course not. Thor could defeat any foe! But she was a mighty challenger, and he had sworn not to underestimate her. He wasn't. She possessed powerful magic, a strength not incomparable to his own, and a ruthlessness that rather reminded him of Loki. It would be a true pleasure to defeat her, and reap the benefits once her blood soaked the floor.
"Stand down, sorceress! If you submit now, I swear your death will be a quick one." Wearing a fierce smile on his dirtied face, Thor hefted his hammer and pointed it towards the white skinned creature across the room, her long fingers wrapped around the handle of an iron sword that would've been far too hefty for any other to lift. Yet she brandished it as if it were made of glass, the sharp tip pointed towards his throat. It had already drawn first blood. The cut on his arm seeped deep red, though it was hardly a trifle. She'd have to work much harder to harm him.
"You dare threaten me, Son of Adam? You don't understand the power I wield." Laughter bubbled forth from her icy lips. The brittle sound reminded him of branches breaking under the weight of winter snow. She was a creature of ice, but unlike Loki, who had the power as his birthright, it was only the utter chill that permeated her flesh and blood. It was in her heart as well. There was no love to this woman. Only hate, cruelty, the encompassing cold and deadly narcissism of one who thought herself above all others. Thor recognized that he might have become such a villain, had he never mastered his own arrogance. Had he never met Loki.
"I know not this Adam is, witch. I am Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard! Protector of the Nine Realms." He thrust Mjolnir out, fingers steadfast on the handle. Thunder boomed, rattling the stones beneath their feet. "Know my name well. You will call upon it when you beg me to spare your life."
Calculating onyx eyes gleamed mercilessly, shifting from him to the spot to his right. "Do you really think I would beg you for anything? You are ignorant, little prince, bringing yourself and your companion here. You won't leave with your lives."
What anger he'd been holding back returned full force, racing through his bloodstream with all the hunger for war churning in his belly. "You dare? You dare threaten my consort?" Thor took a protective stance in front of his future queen, feeling scarlet eyes pierce his nape. Loki didn't need protecting, would be amused by his attempts to try, but that didn't stop him in the slightest. He sensed the woman's power, and what she would do with it. That sword in her hand was no mere decoration; she had every intention of running him through with it. And then she would turn her fury upon Loki. "You'll not touch him, witch!" Thor roared, rushing towards her. "I'll rend your head from your body before I let that happen!"
She met him full force, sword clashing against his gauntlet. Magic and lightning sparked between their bodies, illuminating her sharp, though lovely face. It was a chilling beauty, hers, threatening to cut all who stared too closely. "Is that your purpose here? You think to kill me?" Teeth the color of pearl glinted in her smile, and she pressed more of her weight upon the sword, forcing Thor to dig in his boots and shove back. He wouldn't be outmatched by a seidr wielding shrew!
"Silence your wagging tongue, or I'll rip it from between those poisonous lips!" He dared a quick look over his shoulder, and scarlet irises instantly drew the breath from his lungs. Loki was watching their battle with unabashed glee, pacing back and forth while his shackled wrists clinked, the thick chain dangling between them stretched completely taut as it was twisted by azure colored fingers. He could snap it in a heartbeat. Quicker. But he waited, watched, heeding Thor's edict to stay out of it while restlessly pacing the room. For his sake, Thor would end things soon. Then he'd enjoy the wild chaos that was Loki, splayed across the flagstone floor. With those thoughts in mind, Thor grinned and swung Mjolnir down, planning to cave in the witch's skull.
He didn't miss. The hammer simply met her forearm instead, taking the brunt of the swing's power. What rightfully should've broken bones merely sent both of them flying backwards to crash against the floor, his body rolling several feet until it landed in a crumpled pile near the wall, while the witch was tossed against the foot of her throne, surprised fury painting her fair features. She'd expected to brush off the blow as if it were nothing. He'd expected it to be his ending stroke. Thor growled, unable to suppress his appreciation. "You're strong." He'd fought stronger. And he wouldn't be defeated, not this day. There was far too much at stake. No matter that his foe was an impressive force, or that her durability was on par with his own. Thor was going to destroy her, and prove to Loki that he thought him worthy, no matter what it took.
"You thought me weak, Son of Adam?" The woman who had declared herself future Queen of Narnia picked herself up slowly, with the true grace of one borne to royal blood. Whatever her fate was now, she would have made a fierce queen. Formidable, tempered, enduring as a winter storm. Thor felt no shame in confessing that he was pleased her realm was so very far from his own.
"You are an impressive foe." He righted himself and proudly threw out his arm, Mjolnir rushing back to his side with a cold gust of air. "It will do you no good. I will have your death this day, witch, and your riches shall be mine." For Loki. All for Loki. He wouldn't touch a single coin.
"Riches?" Scorn laced the woman's voice, and she turned her gaze from Thor to the observant Loki. "And you think to obtain them with mere force? For what purpose? A warrior has no need for jewels." Her mouth twitched with a heartless smile, dark eyes raging war with his consort's own scarlet, the abundant knowledge within them making Thor's protective instincts flare to life once more. Her sword lifted, glittering, the sudden flash blotting his vision with silver as sharp as her tongue. "Just as a witch has no more purpose for pretty baubles."
He had to move fast to block the blade, when it nearly came rushing down upon their heads. Thor growled at her, lightning dangerously flashing around his hands, striking out at the weapon half buried in his vambraces. The trickle of warm blood was jolting, but of no real consequence. Until she pushed harder, and he felt a burning sting overtake his forearm. Impressive. Aesir flesh was not so easily torn, nor their bodies harmed. "Your hold is weak, witch," he spat courageously, haunches rising, the scent of copper filling his nose. His mighty forearms gave a hard tremble, the muscles straining; yet Thor refused to back down, and gave twice the effort as before, pushing until he could feel the blade shaking in its sheath of golden flesh. "You seek to harm what is mine! I'll naught show you any mercy now." Thor's smile twisted in on itself, half morphed into a grimace. It was a frightful match to the scowl his enemy wore. "Nay. Now, I will take pleasure in your death, witch!" He wrenched his arm free of the sword and swung back his fist, Mjolnir crackling with power, "And I will present your broken body AT HIS FEET!"
"The death of a fellow sorcerer then. Truly, Thor, is this how you seek to gain your penance?"
The swing didn't muffle the pleasant tones of his consort in the slightest. Perchance, it had something to do with the veil of green that flashed between him and the otherworldly queen, tossing them both away from each other. And through it all, Loki took their outrage in stride, calmly stepping before Thor with his palms splayed out in a gesture of peace. It might have been believable, were he not so well known to the thunderer. There was also the seidr glowing brightly around them. That rather gave away his true intentions. "You are a fool. Your arrogance is that of a seasoned warrior, yet this? This is the scheme of a dim witted child. What good would killing her do? What purpose would it serve, either me or you? No. I can no longer stand by and allow this madness to continue. Not if we ever hope to leave this cursed realm with our lives."
What madness was he speaking? "Loki…." Thor narrowed his eyes, pride aching from the callous disregard of the Jotun's words. "Don't do this. You swore not to interfere…"
"I said I had no interest in fighting, Thor. That is hardly the same thing. And as you can see, I am not fighting. I'm merely preventing your own foolishness from ruining any opportunity you might have to see your goal realized. You should be thanking me." Weaving more magic through the air above his palms to keep out the woman picking herself up off the floor, Loki calmly stepped back into the protective nest of Thor's arms, though he didn't allow himself to be hidden away again. It didn't matter. The damage was already done. The witch's eyes were stubbornly turned upon him, never blinking, only moving to watch his lips spout their twisted words rather than his sorcery in elemental form, flaring between them like a wall of emerald fire.
It wasn't the first time, nor did he doubt it would be the last, but Thor desperately wished in that moment that he had some sort of means to silence his consort's silvery tongue.
"Do not play games with me, trickster. You twist both our words to suit your convoluted schemes, but for what purpose? Are our intentions not the same?" He knew the wall was safe, protecting them from any unwanted blows. It bore him no fear to turn his back to the livid woman outside its sanctity to hide Loki from view, so that he alone might look into those eyes and see what truths were encapsulated beneath their light celadon. "Loki. Tell me why you have done this."
Loki gave him a frown that bordered on exasperation. "The fault is not mine if you are incapable of listening to a word I say." He silenced Thor with a look that could have frozen his blood, his retorts dying off to only an irritated grumble. His thoughts were free though, and they ran rampant. What was Loki thinking? They had no time for this! The witch would not wait for them to speak, and sort out their differences. This was battle, war! And he was determined to slay her, that he might retrieve her belongings and offer them forth. There was no other way. Thor owed Loki a great debt, for his arrogance and quickness to disregard that which made the Jotun powerful had almost destroyed the budding relationship they had so tentatively and cautiously fostered. He couldn't stand by now and-
But he was. Before the duel, he had treated him much the same as he was now. Thor behaved as if he knew what was best for Loki, when in fact it had always been the opposite, hadn't it? Loki knew what he wanted, what he needed. He always had. He'd shown Thor the error of his ways in treating him like a defenseless child, and now he was doing it once more. Always the trickster, the god thought with a bemused smile, turning to face the waiting foe on the other side of the emerald colored barrier. "Speak quickly. You are a powerful sorcerer, Loki, but even your magic is not impenetrable. She will find her way past its defenses. I would have your wishes known before that happens."
"My wishes….." the words were tongued, as if being tasted. Perhaps they were. Loki was clearly skeptical of their worth. "Then you're willing to listen to what I want?"
"Aye. I didn't seek war with a power crazed witch for the glory, Loki. I care not for her wealth, nor the bounty of tales that shall be woven after this day. I do this for you, and only you." Hefting his hammer, Thor spared a glance over his shoulder to the Jotun, who was beginning to smile, and looking at him with that same unabashed glee as before. It wasn't the battle alone that entertained him, he realized. It was the potential, the promise for what could be. How fitting. "Now. I swore to you riches, and so you will have them. Name your prize, Loki. Whatever you desire. There is no price too high, no tribulation too great. For you, I would endure them all."
"…..Very well. There is something I desire from you. Something that I believe will make us both very happy." Thor tensed, awaiting the rest. Lightning sparked and began warring inside the seidr bubble protecting them; it was as eager as its master. On the other side his enemy lingered, speaking words he couldn't hear, drowned though they were in the sounds of his and Loki's breathing, the magic and lightning rippling through the air. He was this close to success. He could almost taste it. Loki had only to tell him what he needed to do, and then they could be done with this. Penance, and forgiveness would both be his.
If he answered. Why did he wait so long? Concerned, Thor turned his head and caught sight of the Jotun grinning, green flashing across his marked features. He recognized it as the shield falling, almost as soon as he realized that Loki was darting forward to meet the witch and her sword head on, his whisper carrying back to the prince's ear with a husky aftermath of laughter. "I would have you trust me, Thor. Trust in me, and what I mean to do."
"Loki!" Down the blade cleaved, rushing towards their heads. Thor screamed in rage, Loki's words ringing in his ears. Trust, trust him. But the sword- "Loki! NO!"