A/N: Part III! Whoo-hoo! I can't believe I've actually finished this portion…Thanks again to MacMhuirich, I Know Love Hurts 2010, and vamp of alium sativum for the reviews. And everyone who's following, or faved it...You rock. All of you. I mean it…
They arrived at the fortress the next day. The welcome they received was nothing less than spectacular. Thor wondered for a moment whether or not Grid had lied to him, but he caught a glimpse of something unpleasant in Geirrod's eyes. He knew to be cautious, but that is hard to do when you are under the pretense that you don't suspect anything. They feasted and drank late into the night. Geirrod promised to call them into his council in the morning in order to discuss the terms of their truce. Much to Loki's dismay, he and Thor were escorted to different bed chambers.
Loki took one look at his, and knew that they were in trouble. There were iron bars on the window, and from what he could tell, they were hardened against enchantments of any kind. He sat down in the bed, utterly hopeless. Cold hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down flat on his back, binding and gagging him. He struggled in vain. He was completely at the mercy of the guards now. What had he done?
Thor's room was actually not that bad. He prepared himself for sleep, not forgetting Grid's warning. He left the belt on, and lay down to sleep. The staff he also kept with him, ready in case of emergency. He fell into a deep slumber.
He woke up to feeling the bed move underneath him. "How odd…" He picked up the staff, and held it ready.
"Who goes there?" He felt the bed rising, and getting uncomfortably close to the ceiling, which was decorated with steel spikes, imitating icicles. Seeing them so close, he realized how sharp they looked. In his panic, he shoved the staff against the ceiling and forced himself down, feeling a surge of power from the belt that Grid had given him. Two voices cried out in anguish and fell silent as the bed fell to the floor. Thor leapt to his feet, brandishing the staff. Two giantesses were crushed beneath the heavy wooden frame, dead. Thor knew that the time to act was now. After fumbling through his pack for the gauntlet, he kicked open the door and rushed into the hall. He had to find Loki.
Loki considered the guards for a moment, waiting for the right time to spring his magic on them. If he struck too soon, more guards would come and there would be no hope of a second chance. When Thor came barreling through the door, he seized his opportunity and a flash of green fire filled the room, knocking the guards down. Thor glanced around the room, dazed by the bright light. Loki rubbed his wrists, trying to get the circulation going again. The green fire had broken his bonds. He smirked at Thor.
"What took you so long, brother?" he asked. Thor shook his head.
"It's been a rough night. Surely you understand?"
"Indeed, now let's get out of here." They crept down the hall, listening for anymore guards.
They entered the now-empty feast hall. Thor glanced behind him, and noticed Loki leaning heavily on the doorpost.
"What's wrong? Loki?" Loki shook his head.
"Magic uses energy, remember? What I did back there was not simple, by any means." He straightened himself out, and took a faltering step towards Thor. "But I shall recover shortly."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Geirrod snarled as he stepped out of the shadows. He strode up to Loki, and stuck a dagger into his side. Loki wavered for a moment, disoriented from the pain.
"Thor…" he gasped, before falling to his knees. Thor caught him before he could hit the ground. He cradled his brother in his arms, recalling their last trip into Jotunheim. This time, Loki's wounds were not an illusion, this was real. Too real. Blood covered his side, and Thor's hands.
"We'll get out of here, brother, I promise."
"Speak for yourself…I'm sorry I brought you into this…Please forgive me." Loki rasped, blood appearing at on his lips. Thor shook his head.
"No, don't apologize. I know why you did it." Geirrod watched them with mild amusement.
"Come Thunderer, do you wish for vengeance?" Thor eased Loki onto the floor. He slowly stood up, thoroughly enraged.
"You will pay for this." He said in a low voice. Geirrod held up his hands and conjured a glowing golden ball of fire.
"I don't think so." Without warning, he lobbed the fire at Thor. At this unexpected attack, Thor ducked to the side, fearful of getting burned. He then remembered the gauntlet he wore. Surely it would protect him from the heat…He stood back up. Geirrod laughed as he summoned the fire to him once more. This time, Thor stood his ground. They exchanged the fire several more times, before Thor's temper got the better of him, and he flung it back with all the force he could muster, aided by the belt. The fire struck Geirrod in the chest, leaving a gaping hole. The giant lord fell to the ground, dead. Thor stood over his fallen foe for a moment, and then turned back to his brother.
Gently, he removed the blade. Loki couldn't heal himself if it was left in the wound.
"Thor?" Loki's eyes opened slightly. Thor shook his head.
"Do not speak, brother. Save your strength. I'll take care of you." Loki's eyes fell closed again. A moment later he opened them again.
"Tell Sigyn…that I should have listened to her…in the first place…" Thor gave a humorless chuckle.
"Tell her that yourself. We're going home." Loki's brow knit together in confusion.
"Home?" Thor nodded earnestly, tearing up his extra tunic to make a bandage.
"Yes, Loki. Home. To Mother and Father, and Sigyn…"
"Sigyn…" Loki whispered. Thor smiled. The tenderness in his brother's voice was something he didn't hear very often. After binding the wound up as best he could, he picked the trickster up. Without looking back, he left the fortress behind.
It was growing colder by the minute, and Loki was not faring well. They came to the clearing they had camped in just the day before. Thor lowered Loki to the ground behind a little outcropping of rock that sheltered them from the merciless wind. Loki stirred slightly, moaning in his sleep. He was shivering. Thor removed his cape and tucked it around his brother, hoping that it would help. He dug through his pack, searching for anything that might be used as medicine, but there was nothing. Despair dug its angry claws into his heart. He was going to lose his brother, and there was nothing more he could do.
"Grid, I need your help…Please answer me. My brother is dying, and I can do nothing. I have done as you asked, and rid the land of Geirrod. Help me…please, help me." Nothing answered him, save the whistling of the wind. Loki still trembled from the cold. Thor pulled him into his arms, thinking that maybe he could help keep him warm. But nothing could fight the cold. A new sound drifted in on the wind. Wolves howling, and men shouting. A new fear crept into his mind. Geirrod's men were hunting him and Loki. He couldn't leave Loki, and he certainly wasn't a match for the hunting party, at least, not without Mjolnir. He resigned himself to his fate.
A small light pierced the darkness. Thor watched as it came closer, and soon it revealed the one person he'd been hoping to see. Grid ran to the two brothers, in her maiden form. She set down her lantern, her concern written plainly on her face.
"I'm here. Thor, we must leave this place. They're searching for you."
"I thought as much. Thank you for coming." Grid inspected the wound.
"Thank me when this is over. Much may happen within a short time. Help me carry him." Thor nodded and readily complied. Loki didn't respond when they lifted him. With a short spell, Grid transported them to her home.
Once they were there, Grid set immediately to tending to Loki. Thor sat down before the fire, allowing the cold to seep out of his limbs. After only a few minutes, Grid came out and set a bowl of broth in front of him, along with a goblet of mead, and a loaf of bread. Grateful silence reigned as he devoured the food. After ensuring that he was satisfied, Grid went back to check on Loki again. She came back out and seated herself next to Thor. He stared at the fire, feeling oh-so-drowsy. But concern for Loki won out over his need for sleep.
"How is he?" Grid sighed.
"He will make it. I suggest you stay here for another day, so that he can recover a bit more."
"Of course. May I see him?" Grid cleared away the empty bowl and goblet.
"Yes, just don't wake him. He's been through a lot." Thor stood and bowed.
"Thank you, milady." He went into the chamber where Loki rested.
Loki was so pale, in contrast to the wine-red sheets that covered him. Thor felt for a moment that he could be staring at a marble effigy. The only sign of life was the steady rise and fall of Loki's chest. Thor sat down, his elbows resting on his knees, head bowed.
"Thor?" Thor looked up to see Loki watching him.
"You should be resting, brother." Loki closed his eyes obediently.
"When can we go home?" he asked faintly.
"Once you are well enough to travel. Then we shall return to Asgard." Loki smiled.
"Good." He sank back into his slumber. Thor smiled. With a long sigh, he lay down on the bed directly next to Loki's, and fell asleep as well. Tomorrow, they would see whether or not Loki had recovered enough to make the journey home.
The brothers walked through the gates of Asgard two days later. No one was lined up to greet them, nor was anyone celebrating their victorious return. Loki went straight to the stables, where he knew Sigyn would be taking care of Sleipnir for the evening. She was silent this time, and heard him coming. She turned around, her face expressionless. Loki stopped in the middle of the hallway and held out his arms. She ran to him, throwing her arms around his chest. He nearly toppled over, but he steadied himself by returning the embrace.
"What happened?" she asked, finally looking up at him. Loki pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair.
"We won. And we're back now." He said simply, enjoying the moment. She smelled of sunshine, fresh-cut hay, and lavender. He could feel her heart beating against his chest, and her arms around him felt so right. He could get used to this…He quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. Someone so pure and beautiful as Sigyn could never be with someone like him.
Sleipnir nosed his way between them, giving Loki a playful nudge in the center of his chest. Loki rewarded him with a good scratch under his chin and behind his ears. Sigyn stood back, watching them interact.
"How have you been faring, my son?" Sleipnir snorted in response. Sigyn shook her head in amusement. She had no doubt that the horse actually understood speech, and that Loki understood what the horse was saying. Loki gave her a sidelong glance as he ran his hand over Sleipnir's velvety nose. "So she's been taking good care of you?" he asked. Sleipnir shook his mane. "I see. And she's been riding you too?" Another tossing of the mane. Loki smiled. Sigyn stared at the floor shyly.
"I hope you don't mind…" Loki shook his head.
"Not at all. He's been gentle enough for you?" Sigyn nodded.
"Yes. He behaves better for me than for the stablehands. You should've seen it. Two days ago, he was so restless, they couldn't even bring him in from the pasture. Ten of them were trying to keep him from breaking free of the lead rope, and as soon as I tried, he became docile. He followed me straight to his stall. I didn't even have to touch the rope." Loki laughed.
"I'll bet they weren't very happy to be upstaged by a woman." Sigyn shook her head.
"No, but still, ever since then, they've left him to my care. We've been getting along very well, haven't we, Slip?" Sleipnir lowered his head and allowed her to stroke his nose. Loki put an arm around her waist.
"I have a confession to make." Sigyn looked solemn,
"And what would that be?" she asked, a little worried.
"I should have listened to you. That morning when I left on my own, you were right, and I ignored you. Two days ago, I nearly paid for that mistake with my life. I thought you should know, so that you might keep me from doing something foolish in the days to come." He followed up his 'confession' with a quick kiss on the cheek.
Sigyn was shocked. Loki stared into her eyes for a moment, sorting through the different emotions he saw there. Smiling, he backed away, and disappeared down the hall. Sigyn put her hand to her cheek, almost giddy with happiness. With no other outlet for her emotions, she hugged Sleipnir's neck, and led him back to his stall.