Welcome back avid readers.

Writer's block hit me like a two tonne block of concrete, hence the delay... even then I'm still not happy with it. That, and I was able to see Thor: The Dark World yesterday so writing was definitely off the tables for that day. To all my US readers... its amazing!Have no fear avid readers, This story will continue regardless of the influx of new fics regarding the movie. The plot i've planned will be the same as I thought it out weeks ago.

Enjoy

Loki was falling.

He had hung on for as long as he could, clinging to awareness fiercely as he screamed silently for days, colliding his will against Thaëir's so strongly that it had made his own body bleed.

Loki had left Thor at the doors of the council meeting, needing a moment by himself… away from his brother's persistent need to be around him. It was only then, it was in that moment, within the silence of his solitude, and deep down in the great library did he first feel it. He had been sitting within the darkest corner, flipping absentmindedly over a few meaningless pages that something had tugged at his heart. Loki had instinctively clutched the fabric near his chest as the pang of pain thrummed through him again. He stood, knocking over the chair and a few books onto the stone floor, clutching his heart as it continued.

What was happening? Loki had thought frantically.

Another pang, more prominent than those before ripped through him and Loki had given a surprised grunt as it forced him to his knees. Loki had fallen to the floor, landing ungracefully on his side as he felt like he was being choked once more.

He remembered it felt the same as before.

Loki screamed, as Thaëir took over, forcing his will through as he choked on his own blood.

He screamed for Thor, until… as Thaëir eventually secured his hold… those screams fell silent.

And Loki sank into the darkness.

"There now little one."

Loki felt himself be pushed further down into the darkness, as though he were sinking into an endless ocean… an ocean of silence and eternal darkness. Thick putrid coils had wrapped around him, holding him as it tore off parts of his own aura, little by little, piece by piece. Loki had long since grown numb to the white hot pain, which ripped through him each time Thaëir took a bite.

He could hear Thaëir's voice hum in appreciation.

"Unique you are little one."

Loki heard through muffled darkness, sounding as though he were underwater.

"You taste of apples, but smell like freshly fallen snow… truly unique" Thaëir whispered.

Loki tried to speak, but the coils wrapped tighter around him, silencing him.

And so he continued to sink further, deeper, until even Thaëir's voice no longer reached him.


"Here, Thor." Frigga said quickly as she pushed more books to her son. Thor looked up from the page he was skimming, briefly smiling before taking one of the books.

They had been at this for hours, scouring over every book in the great library for something…anything that may tell them how to extract Thaëir from Loki's body. As the hours had passed, books had begun to pile on the large table they worked at, eventually spilling over onto the floor, towering on each other in an array of covers. A few shelves had been cleared out completely by Frigga as she moved faster than her son, scanning her eyes of the contents without stopping.

Thor had pushed another book aside and reached for another.

"That book contains nothing but combat maneuvering; it is of no help to us my son." Frigga said without looking up. Thor hummed and placed it in his 'read' pile, before picking up another book.

He looked at it absentmindedly, taking in its unique covering. It was larger and thicker than all the other books he had currently encountered and its pages were colored white in such a way that Thor knew it was a fairly recent addition. Flipping it over to the title he rubbed his fingers over the gold indentation.

Brávellir

Thor opened the cover and widened his eyes.

It was Loki's writing… he could recognize his brother's unique script anywhere. Running through the pages with haste he skimmed the contents. While it contained only a mere recounting of a particular battle they had once fought, it was impeccably detailed. As he continued to read, the details jogged his memory of the smallest things that Thor had long since forgotten.

How could Loki have remembered all this? Even as to describe the movement of the wind… Thor thought with saddened wonder.

Thor tore his gaze from the book as he felt his mother's hand rub his shoulder.

"Ah," she hummed knowingly, taking the book from his hands and looked at it, gliding her hands as Thor did over the title. "Brávellir…a fine piece from your brother." She smiled, even if it did not grace all her features.

"Loki wrote this?" Thor whispered.

Frigga turned her head to the hundreds of shelves that grew as tall as the ancient ceiling itself.

"He's written hundreds, my son. You just have to know where to look." She smiled back at him.

"How do you know?" Thor turned to follow her gaze.

"Because I've read every single one of them." She said softly as she placed her son's book on the table. Thor turned when his mother did not re-enter his vision, instead he found her leaning over the table, eyes closed.

"Mother…" Thor quickly walked to where she stood, and placed a supportive hand on her back. "We will find a way." He repeated her words with hope.

"It's not that, Thor." She said with a shaken voice. "It's just… I cannot bear the thought of Loki suffering." Frigga's voice rose as she covered her face with her hands.

"He's suffered enough…"

Thor looked down and closed his eyes for a second… the sudden flash of Loki covered in blood stained his memory. Without finding a proper reply, Thor was left to stand, as he comforted his mother. After a few moments, Frigga composed herself and stood tall, her face determined once more.

"There is only two days left until full alignment. The first moon has already fallen into place" She said despondently, looking at her son.

Thor crossed his arms in thought.

"We have searched for hour's mother; father was thorough when he destroyed all remnants of Thaëir."

Frigga's face fell momentarily as her body sagged.

"Then all of our hopes are extinguished." She looked down.

"Save one."

Frigga and Thor snapped their heads to the voice that echoed through the quite space of the great library. They watched as Odin made his way slowly through the shelves, Gungnir tapping against the ancient stone flooring with every stride.

Frigga stepped forward, slipping her hand into her husband's for comfort.

Odin's eye gazed towards the hundreds of books strewn across the floor, some piled while others were cast away in a mad dash. Stepping closer to the table he sighed, defeated, and reached into his robes… pulling out a small bound package. Thor looked at it questioningly as Odin unwrapped the leather fabric with care.

"What is this?" Thor said firmly as he picked up the small book, its frame barely the size of his hand.

"Thaëir was a gifted sorcerer, much like your brother." Odin said, looking at the text with a voice that dripped with memories past. "He too wrote many tomes."

Thor widened his eyes as Frigga gently pulled the book from Odin's grasp and began to skim over each page. Thor turned to his father, placing his hand on his hammer for comfort.

"Before his corruption he sought to protect life…from all things. The enchantments and spells he created are still used even today. " Odin said softly.

Frigga gasped softly as she landed on a particular page, and looked at Thor with renewed hope. Thor's understanding grew as he looked to his father.

"You kept one of his tomes, you didn't destroy it all."

Odin tilted his head, confirming Thor's words.

"You yourself forced me to believe that killing Loki was the only option, why have you kept this from us."

"Best let your brother burn then to allow Thaëir upon the worlds."Odin stated.

Thor scrunched his face into a deepening rage as he stepped forward about to speak until his father raised a placating hand.

"But…" Odin began. "My mistakes are my burden."

Thor looked at his father and opened his mouth in shock as Frigga grasped his arm for support.

"You will help us?" Thor asked cautiously.

A long moment passed as Odin gazed at the ancient tome.

Thaëir had always shown enthusiasm, always wanted to share his new discoveries… amidst a world that had long since regarded his practice as cowardice.

"…Yes." The Allfather said softly.

Frigga softened her features as she embraced Odin.

"I knew you would never abandon our son." She whispered into her husband's ear, relieved at his change of heart…his silent confirmation that there was something still felt for his youngest son. Odin placed his free hand on her back, leaning ever so slightly into her embrace.

"I will end his suffering if we fail." He whispered to her with resolution.

Frigga embraced him harder, understanding his words as Thor could not hear his parents mutter between themselves. Instead, he gazed at the page his mother had looked at. Frowning at the inscriptions, he noticed a striking similarity to an event he had recently witnessed.

"Father…" Thor lowered the book as his mother parted from Odin's side. "You attempted this ritual in the throne room." Thor stated.

Odin stood taller than before, remaining silent.

Frigga moved herself to gaze at the inscriptions by her son's side, peering over his broad shoulders.

"If you followed this, why did it not succeed?" Thor motioned the book towards him.

"Thaëir was not restricted. I had almost succeeded until he realized I was using his knowledge against him." Odin stated.

Thor looked down at the inscriptions, his eyes following the faded ink as it etched its existence into the aged parchment. Replaying the events he read every step that he believed his father had followed until he looked at it with puzzlement. Turning the book around he pointed at a symbol placed within the corner of the page. Thor had recognized a few symbols but the language was too archaic for him to decipher.

"What is this?"

"The restriction." Odin stated, stepping forward to pull the book from his son's hands. Placing it back onto the table, he leant Gungnir against the wooden edge as he brushed his fingers over the ancient pages.

"To successfully control an aura we must first restrict the vessel in which it has attached itself to." Odin began as Thor stood by his father's side.

A sudden idea was beginning to form inside his head. Hope was arising through Thor as a new chance to save his brother was forming, with the aid of his father. Thor looked sideways, watching as Odin moved his hands over the symbols.

Odin was trying to find another way.

To kill Loki would be the utmost last resort… he knew that now.

"Then we must lure him into this trap." Thor said.

"Once placed, I will pull Thaëir from your brother, and end him… permanently."

"And what of Loki?" Frigga interrupted, "What will be of our son."

Odin remained silent and sighed turning to Frigga.

"Not even I have the answers you seek."

Thor captured his mother's attention, holding her hands and squeezing them with reassurance.

"The one thing I know about my brother, is that he is stronger than he looks, and besides…you taught Loki well." He smiled.

Frigga returned the squeeze, smiling as she held back all the memories.

"Of course I did, I am his mother." She looked back at her son.

Odin turned to leave, letting his queen and son to their conversation as he slipped silently away.

Swinging Gungnir forward with each step, Odin began to plan.

An alert lets you enter the great library. a review lets you read one of Loki's books

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