Author's Notes: :)

Disclaimer: Yup.

Chapter 6- Escape

Loki had barely slept the past couple days. Things seemed to only be getting worse and worse as she waited within her cell. A fear clung to her from the very depths of her mind. Was she going to stay caged up forever again? Thor wouldn't let it happen. He couldn't…

Luckily, Fandral and Volstagg had been slipping in to give her better accommodations. Loki had a pile of books to read if she grew bored and a cot to sleep on if she grew tired. Sif had been monitoring her meals like a hawk. Anything that made her nauseous was quickly thrown aside and replaced. It was like nothing had really changed. It was exactly like living back in the tower, but much, much more confining.

She wasn't sure if Odin was aware of her spoiled stay in the dungeon or not. For all the grief that the All-Father was suffering, he hadn't cared to take any time to explain why exactly she was being charged and what the consequences would be. The warriors hadn't heard anything and they were almost too busy anyway with rebuilding Asgard's defenses and fortifying in case of another attack.

They had too much to worry about already and yet they still tried to keep her content while she was a prisoner. Loki would have to thank them later.

Then there was Thor and her children. The thunderer had been down to see her every free second he had on the first day. The second day he hadn't shown. Loki figured he was busy. She didn't desperately need to see him to know that he was alive and well. As long as she didn't receive some horrible news while sitting in her cage, she didn't mind.

Loki hadn't seen her children since she had left them back in her room. It was beginning to grate on her nerves. Who was looking after Nanna and keeping her out of trouble? Was Lokhor still fighting the weak spells from the Aether? Was his condition deteriorating or was it holding steady so long as the weapon didn't lash out at anyone? Loki let out a sigh. Maybe it was for the better that they didn't see her in this worried mess...

Loki sat in the far corner of the cell, where she had opted to wedge the cot. It kept her out of sight of the other prisoners and let her break out of her calm demeanor for a time. Things were not going well. This was the third day she was imprisoned and she had heard nothing from the others about the All-Father's intentions.

Was she really going to sit here until he finally decided on something? No news was good news, right? But it also meant that nothing was getting accomplished either.

Loki supposed she would have to sit if she didn't want to have any actual crimes charged against her. Breaking out was not the most forgivable thing in Asgard…

She leaned against the wall as her stomach turned over. Loki let a hand fall to her stomach and gently ran her thumb over it. Feeling sick almost all of the time wasn't helping her mood. There was only so much Sif could bring her of the foods she needed, and Loki had to make do with consuming other disagreeable things to keep her health up. She hadn't vomited yet; that was a plus.

Footsteps outside the barrier caught Loki's attention. It was the infamous sound of Sif's boots. Wonderful. Loki had company again, but for how long?

Sif appeared on the other side of the barrier. Her face was filled with agitation as she waited for Loki to come over. Loki got up with a small groan and made her way over to the shield maiden.

"Good morning Lady Sif," Loki greeted with a slight sneer to her voice. She was bored after all, "Or is it afternoon now?"

"I am not here for small talk. Loki," Sif hesitated as she glanced down the hall. When she had decided that no one else was listening she continued, "I have news from the All-Father."

"Pleasant news I hope?" Loki could have almost laughed in relief. Odin was reconsidering his hasty decision and she would be back in Thor's arms before the day was out. She had to be happy! "Does Odin finally believe I am no threat?"

"He has sentenced you to execution," Sif's blunt reply stopped Loki cold, "Tomorrow."

What?

"Sif I do not think this is a time for joking…" Loki couldn't believe the shield maiden's words, but the look Sif gave her made her apprehension grow. "You... cannot be serious…"

"I am," Sif glanced away as a pained emotion crossed her face. "We have argued with the All-Father but he stands firm. Thor has even fought with him over the matter… it will happen tomorrow unless we do something…"

Loki turned away from Sif as she tried to explain the past few hours of debate. This wasn't happening… Loki thought she had gotten past all of the doubts and mistakes. How could Odin so blindly throw her under an axe just because of… her past.

The sickening feeling from before rose in Loki's stomach. She tried to push the nausea away but it overwhelmed her in that moment as a certain thought hit her. Frigga had been the only reason Loki was kept alive after she had failed to take over Midgard; had it been holding true up until the Queen's death? Now Odin was going back on his word because he didn't have to fulfill the promise anymore?

Loki grabbed the nearest bowl and emptied her stomach. This wasn't happening… it couldn't be… not when she was married to Thor, had two strong children and another on the way… It was like dealing with Sanguine's madness all over again, except this time, inside their own halls.

Her head was spinning when hands landed gently on her shoulders. Sif had moved inside the cell. The shield maiden brushed hair from Loki's face and tied it back carefully. "Do not stress yourself," she whispered as Loki's stomach threatened to convulse again. Loki barely heard the other woman's voice over her strained breathing. "We are meeting. Thor is taking matters into his own hands and we will decide what must be done, with or without the All-Father's blessing."

Loki looked up at Sif but the shield maiden wouldn't meet her eyes. "Thor believes Asgard is not ready for another attack if one comes. Many of us agree with him, but… he thinks that taking the weapon away from this realm is the answer."

"Taking Lokhor away?" Loki murmured pathetically. Why would Thor risk such a venture? The Dark Elves would follow their son wherever he went. He couldn't very well hide somewhere until everything blew over!

"He would give you a better explanation," Sif replied, "His thought is to draw the enemy away from Asgard. He would openly challenge them in another place, leaving Asgard safe from further harm."

It made sense but Loki's mind still reeled at the thought. He was going to risk their son's life to protect Asgard's walls. Their son's life. She couldn't take it. Loki didn't care what happened to herself, but dragging her children into the mess was crossing a line! She retched again.

Her thoughts came to a halt. Lokhor was already involved whether they liked it or not. The Aether had chosen him as a host. Maybe Thor was considering how to remove the weapon from Lokhor in the process? She didn't know.

"I must go now. They are waiting," Sif stated as she stood and took the fouled bowl, "Is there anything you need? Water or otherwise?"

"I need Thor," Loki rasped back as her head fell into her hands.

"He has been forbidden to see you… though I do not think that will stop him," Sif replied as she crossed over to the barrier. Loki heard the magic briefly flicker as it allowed the shield maiden to leave and then it was back to the nearly inaudible hum it always made.

"Good," Loki responded, more to herself than to the other woman. Surely Thor had a plan to get her out of prison or to at least delay her execution for a time. Putting faith in him was what she had learned years ago, and it was time she laid everything in his hands once more. It wasn't like she had a choice at this time.

A long while passed as Loki waited. She didn't know if Sif would return or if anyone was even going to fill her in on their plans. There was no use worrying over the matter; Loki had plenty to worry about already. She had to figure out a back-up plan for escape in case the others couldn't pull through on their side. She still couldn't believe Odin would order such a thing on such short notice. And without a trial or defense plea. Loki feared there was more going on than simply being blamed for Frigga's death.

This was so frustrating! She rose from her spot. Magic exploded from Loki's body sending a chair into the barrier and flipping her cot up awkwardly against the wall. She was feeling the same grief for the loss of her mother just as Thor and Odin were! Why did this have to happen? Couldn't she mourn in peace with Thor and everyone could move on?

"That was rather excessive," someone stated from the other side of the barrier.

Loki turned and met blue eyes. Thor was standing there watching her!

"You should conserve your energy," Thor stated as he watched Loki, "You will need it with where we are going."

He had expected Loki to be in a far worse condition with the way Sif had been reporting to him. Apparently Loki was barely eating meals and the lack of freedom had made her more agitated as the days passed. But here he was, staring at his love and she looked barely fazed by his sudden appearance. Thor could see a slight shadow to her cheeks, otherwise her body appeared fine. Maybe Sif had been over-exaggerating just a bit…

"I thought you could not see me," Loki broke the silence between them.

Thor saw it then. The way Loki moved toward him was off. It was more feline, more defensive than her usual graceful walk. It mirrored her actions from the time before they were married. She was literally moving like a wary beast biding its time while trapped inside a cage; each action was calculated and controlled, waiting for the right time to strike. What had they done? Thor hoped getting her out would calm the obvious nerves she had. He just hoped her mood wasn't as affected as well.

"I have made an exception," Thor responded. Loki smiled at him but it was forced. He hated the idea of her going back to fake masks. It had taken years and a madman to break Loki of the habit before. Could they not go back to that time?

"You know I cannot stay away for long…" he half-smiled as Loki stood in front of him. The only thing keeping him from wrapping her in a hug at that moment was the impudent barrier, but that would be gone soon enough.

Loki raised an eyebrow and the forced smile became more genuine. Good. Thor at least knew how to maneuver enough to make her calmer. "I assume your presence means more than just a simple visit," she stated. Loki looked him up and down. Now what did she mean by that?

Thor reached for the orb that controlled the barrier. As his fingers brushed over it, the magic faded between them. Loki watched him with some curiosity. "We are leaving," he told her.

"What? Leaving Asgard?" Loki frowned, "Where?"

"It is not wise to leave you here with what father has ordered. Bifrost travel has been forbidden until further notice. I have no choice but to have you guide us through one of the secret paths out of Asgard," Thor couldn't explain everything. There were plans already in motion and they needed to get moving.

"For what purpose?" Loki's gaze hardened.

"We are taking Lokhor away from Asgard so that the enemy cannot cripple our realm further," Thor knew what was coming next. He started down the hall as Loki quickly pursued him.

"You are putting our son in danger for the sake of the realm!?" Loki's biting reply came.

"I believe the Aether can also be removed from his body if we tread carefully," Thor glanced back at her. Oh how he wished he had the time to explain everything! But he didn't… not right now, "I will explain later. Right now we need to hurry."

Loki fell silent as she followed him through the halls. Thor wasn't sure if it disturbed him or made him feel relieved that she was going along with his judgment. There was probably going to be hell to pay later, but she seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.

Visiting her in the dungeon was already crossing a line that Odin had set down. Removing her from her cell had even worse consequences, but Thor couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. The All-Father had been completely unreasonable in his rage and grief. He had even told Thor straight to his face that he would sacrifice every Asgardian to protect the realm if need be. It wasn't like him at all.

And the confusion and criminalization of Loki didn't help his growing madness. Loki hadn't even been given a hearing or trial. It was just straight imprisonment and condemnation. Thor needed her in his life, and not just to make this revenge plan work. If everything worked out as he planned, they would be able to destroy the Aether and return to Asgard after a single challenge to Malekith's might.

"Where exactly are we going?" Loki asked as they quickly slipped up a flight of stairs.

"To the High Chamber," Thor responded. To Loki it probably didn't make sense, but she would put the pieces together soon enough.

"Why there?" she questioned the decision with some unease.

Thor stopped Loki with an outstretched arm as guards passed by. He kept them to the shadows of the columns until the group disappeared into another hall.

"Oh, now you see. I like this," Loki commented close to his ear. Thor shivered and stepped away from her. This was not the time to start joking!

"All secretive and mysterious," Loki murmured as they continued to walk, "Are we going on an adventure like old times? Bashing and crashing our way through a multitude of enemies that happen to be wearing Asgardian armor this time. Oh what fun times we'll have Thor!"

He put a hand over Loki's mouth and shoved her against a column to keep her from being heard. Her smile curled up under his fingers as Loki waited silently for another group of guards to pass. Thor hated to see that she might actually be enjoying this. What was he going to do with her?

Thor continued them on their way. He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure no one was following. He turned back as Loki commented casually, "If you wanted more acceptable company you could have just asked."

The thunderer practically jumped out of his skin as he looked at Loki. A guard was walking next to him, but as he watched the shorter man, Thor could definitely tell he had Loki's stride. Loki was making this a game!

"Loki…" he growled lowly as she bounced in her steps. Was this what she was going to be like now that she had her freedom?

"Loki? Isn't she in the dungeon?" Loki replied. Her voice was not her own, but the look on the guard's face was one of contempt. She was enjoying this too much.

Thor heard rushed footsteps coming from a side hall. He stopped and Loki made a move to ready her illusioned spear like any guard would do. Sif appeared, red faced and breathing heavily. Lokhor was at her side as they made their way over. "Where is Loki?" Sif asked without a moment's hesitation.

"Here," Loki responded. The illusion faded.

"Mother!" Lokhor's face brightened. Thor smiled as their son ran over and threw his arms around Loki's stomach. The happy reunion was going to be short lived however.

"The guards are moving. They will stop us if we do not hurry," Sif told him. Thor nodded and took Loki's hand. Loki looked back as they moved on toward the High Chamber. Sif readied her weapon, "Go with speed! I cannot guarantee I will hold them for long!"

"Look after Nanna!" Thor called back. It felt wrong leaving their youngest in Asgard as the rest of the family fled, but Nanna was too young for something this dangerous. Thor would have left Lokhor behind as well if not for the Aether within him.

"You expect her to watch—"

"Yes," Thor cut Loki's words off. They didn't have time for arguing and Loki damn well knew Sif would be the best choice for looking after their daughter. She really couldn't argue as they passed into the grand hall that made up the throne room. The High Chamber was still damaged and the throne all but gone. The large black ship was still in the middle of all the mess. That was Thor's target.

"You expect us to walk out of here without resistance?"

"No. We're flying out."

"Thor you cannot take three people…"

"I know Loki... trust me."

Volstagg gave them a wave from where he stood near the craft. "It's all yours!" the burly warrior called. Loki passed Thor an 'are-you-serious?' look. Her prior amusement was gone. Volstagg's axe swung up into his hands as the metallic sound of guards running greeted them through the main hall.

"Get a move on!" Volstagg shouted. Thor saw the glance back that both his son and Loki took as they stepped up the ramp leading into the ship's interior. This was going to be a long venture indeed.

Lokhor watched his parents as they looked around the ship as quickly as possible. He was lightheaded and just wanted to lie down somewhere and sleep. It was wonderful to see his mother out of the dungeon. Was she out on the All-Father's orders or had Thor busted her out just for the occasion?

Lokhor didn't know, but he knew for sure that the guards were after them partly for his own escape. His grandfather had locked him away in the north tower and he hadn't known what to do. When Sif came knocking—literally knocking two guards out in the process—he had willingly complied with her orders to run. They had just met up with his parents and now they were all stuck on an unmoving ship while his parents searched for the power or anything to make it move.

"This is absurd," Loki commented under her breath. Thor walked up to what looked like controls. "You intend to fly a ship you know nothing about?" his mother asked.

"How hard can it be?" Thor responded. He started pressing on the handles. Lokhor looked back out the open ramp. Volstagg was having a merry time as guards poured at him. They needed to go before the warrior was overrun!

"Well, I would suggest you move faster…"

"Shut up Loki."

"We must have missed something."

"We haven't. I've pressed every button on this ship!"

A loud bang echoed in the small space. "Don't hit it! Just press it. Gently!" Loki snapped at Thor as the thunderer lifted his fist again.

A sudden image crept into Lokhor's vision. It was of the ship glowing and moving. Chiming lights and a dull thrum filled his ears. Before he knew it, his hand was reaching out and his fingers touched a panel near the exit. The ramp made a hiss and ascended into the ship as the door closed.

Loki glanced over but didn't question it. Thor let out a laugh as a long screen appeared before them. It was a lucky guess right? Lokhor shook his head to clear the ghostly images away. Was the Aether showing him what to do?

Lights blinked into existence along the handles and Thor seized them. A clear orb formed around his parents as Lokhor waited with an anxious heart. Were they going to get this ship flying or not?

The ship lurched around them as Thor found the thrusters. The entire space shook as the ship sputtered to life and slowly lifted off the ground. "All right…" his father commented to himself, "And this should…"

Lokhor watched the screen as their view changed. Thor was moving the ship around. A crash echoed dully around them. "I think you missed a column," Loki stated.

"Shut up!" Lokhor had never thought his father would raise his voice to Loki. She was being a tad difficult with her commentary of the whole ordeal. Lokhor probably would have laughed had their situation not been so dire.

With some coaxing, Thor finally managed to get the ship outside. Loki seemed amused by Thor's piloting skills, "Why don't you let me take the controls? I'm clearly the better pilot."

"Is that right? Out of the two of us, which can actually fly?" Thor shot back. Lokhor didn't know if they were being serious or if it was some sort of parental banter. He just wanted off the ship as it lurched to the side. Flashes of red crossed the screen as it picked up the Asgardian warships following them.

"You know I can…" Loki muttered and crossed her arms, "I just choose not to…"

"Loki…" Thor growled. Lokhor shook his head.

The ship shook again as they were fired upon. The shaking caused Lokhor's body to jar to the side and he fell to the floor as his muscles locked up in response. He heard Thor say something and then his mother was next to him.

"Lokhor?" he barely heard her voice.

"I'm fine…" he mumbled as the world spun around him. The Aether was reacting to the ship around him.

The ship lurched again as it struck something solid on the outside. "Not a word!" Thor stated over the hum of the ship. Lokhor saw the smirk his mother had.

"Now they're following us," Loki stated the obvious as more flashes of red lit up the screen in front of them. A rumble rolled over the side of the ship as it shook again. "Now they're firing at us!"

"Yes, thank you for the commentary Loki. It's not at all distracting!" Thor growled as he forced the ship onward.

Lokhor was confused at this point. Were they arguing or was this how his parents always were when they did something this reckless? He couldn't imagine what their lives were like before they had settled down.

He looked up from the floor in time to see an image flash of a large statue. A crash sounded through the entire ship and the lights flickered as it jolted to the side. Lokhor would have skidded into the wall had his mother's hands not stopped him. "Well done, you just decapitated your grandfather!" Loki announced.

"Are you done?" Thor shot her an annoyed look.

Loki shrugged, "Oh, this is wonderful. This is a tremendous idea. Let's steal the biggest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that!" Loki stood as Thor leveled the ship out over the waters beyond Asgard's walls. "Flying around the city, smashing into everything in sight so everyone can see us. It's brilliant Thor! It's truly brilliant—!"

Lokhor let out a shout as Thor shoved Loki toward the wall. In the brief seconds it took for her to fall back, a panel opened and she was swept out into the open air. Lokhor tried to get up but his muscles wouldn't respond. His father slipped arms under his head and knees the next moment. "What're you—" his words cut off as his father rushed to the open side and jumped.

Wind rushed by Lokhor's ears as they plummeted toward the sea below. He was completely done with this entire plot! He closed his eyes and willed the whole thing to stop. To just be a dream. He couldn't handle everything being thrown at him at once!

Red filled Lokhor's vision as he saw Asgard's city and fields beyond. It was a peaceful sight until the streaks of red covered it. Buildings started to dissolve under their touch and a dark far blacker than anything he had ever seen consumed the sky. Everything shriveled and died under the red streaks' touch. It was too much! He couldn't watch Asgard burn!

He was jolted from the vision as Thor hit something solid beneath them. Lokhor looked down and saw a deck of wooden planks through his blurred vision. A ship?

A laugh arose from the blonde warrior standing at the back of the craft. "I see your time in the dungeons has made you no less graceful Loki," Fandral called out.

His mother struck out with a hand and Fandral barely avoided it. He was still laughing but there was an uneasiness to it. Lokhor felt his body touch something soft. His father was laying him on a pile of blankets at the front of the ship. He looked up weakly as Loki watched the waves go by, "All right. I'm impressed."

"Glad you're pleased. Now take… through…" his father's words muffled as Lokhor finally tried to relax. He had to stay strong and calm for this! This was his first real mission to protect Asgard; he couldn't disappoint his parents now.

"Rest my son," Thor's hand touched his forehead as he heard Loki hum in the back. Lokhor couldn't let himself do so but something dragged his mind in the other direction. The Aether was willing his mind to a stop! But he couldn't! Lokhor struggled and finally gave up against the overwhelming power. His vision darkened until he finally closed his eyes. A dark comfort fell over him laced with red. Lokhor felt the ship lurch upward. Once he was up again, he would make up for his failure to stay awake. He would make sure of it.