Mad

A swift breeze uncovered the sun as Fandral looked over Sif's brown and black clad self. His only female friend's hair was up in a high tail and her sword was in easy reach. Uncomfortable that she didn't look at all sad that so many people had gone to Valhalla. At least, Hogun and Volstagg looked as uncomfortable as he did.

It made him more uncomfortable, and irrationally angry, as Sif asked, "Where did you go after we were released ?"

Almost he reached for his foil as those angry thoughts surfaced. 'Where does she think I would go ? To a drinking hall ? How stupid has she become !'

He clenched his fists and tried to suppress the anger. Half-calmly, but still annoyed he said, "I wasn't captured ! I willingly went to check on you and put myself to His Majesty's mercy. After he let us go, I left the throne room and started going to the Bifrost to see if Thor, Jane a-and Loki had come back. Instead, Einherjar Otr, who came from there, intercepted me. H-he told me that Loki was dead and then I assume he went to tell His Majesty the same while I went home."

Hogun actually looked shocked, "He...is dead...for real ? I find that hard to believe, unless we can see his body."

Volstagg briefly clapped a hand on the black-haired and bearded Vanir's shoulder. "Those Dark Elves could kill anyone, Hogun, even Loki. Well at the least he looked far saner yesterday than when I visited him."

Flabbergasted, he questioned, "You...when did you go see him, Volstagg ? Why was Thor not nagging you to stay away from him ? He never stopped with me." Softer, "How was he then ?"

The red and brown clad man hummed for a second. "It was...uh, about maybe a month or two ago. Hnn, I'd say Thor didn't complain about my doing it because I wasn't in love with Loki. I'd say Thor was over-reacting because you two didn't tell him until you'd been together quite a while. As for how Loki was to put it lightly he was sane some of the time, other moments not so much. If he wasn't staring at nothing, he just kept muttering something under his breath, well, until he'd just start screaming for no reason. When I went in, he looked mad again and kicked me in the face. Then he ran to curl up in a corner and started whimpering."

'My poor Loki ! Damn it, Thor, I knew he needed me. He did look far saner yesterday than when I visited him. If that stupid girl hadn't been there I could have kissed him. This is her fault.'

"Well, he could have picked a far better time. He needed me, Loki was his brother and Thor didn't care. If Thor had just asked him for directions instead o-of...taking him along he'd still be alive ! It's not fair."

Sif started murmuring, "Fan-"

Except that he cut her off sharply, "No, Sif ! I don't even have to ask, I know you threatened to kill him. Well, I hope you're happy he's dead since he only helped you all for, oh, what was that pesky little number again ? Oh, yes...nine hundred and some years !"

Angrily, he shouldered past his friends then stomped around debris piles and staring people. As he walked the street changed from cobble-stone to the smooth beige of the palace leading into the gardens. When he felt eyes on him, he looked to the side...and froze. For a moment Loki stood there, regret clear on his face before he vanished.

Heard himself whisper, "I'm going mad."

"It is not mad young Fandral to think so when one you love dies." He startled at Odin's voice and turned to look at his king. Sympathy was in Odin's blue-eye as he continued, "Life-like dreams and visions are merely how we cope. Very rarely do the Norns make mistakes and when they do it whether it truly be's a mistake or not it hurts."

'Theymake mistakes ? There must be someway to contact the Norns besides going all the way to Nornheim. Maybe I could find a-a ritual o-or something ! Urd would know if he's dead because I don't feel like going to Hel or getting killed to find out myself. There must be something...anything. Didn't Loki have one or two ancient books on the Norns ? Someone did. If only I can find them !'

With those thoughts in mind and with a brief thank-you to Odin, he rushed toward Loki's chambers.