Chapter Ten
A few days ago, Duke Howard Stark had received news that Prince Loki was still alive from a knight that had returned from visiting the queen. He had seen Loki being chased by the guards of the palace and then jumping off into the sewers, he hadn't thought it to be real until he heard the one called Helblindi call for Loki.
Now he talked this over with his son as Tony came through the gates, fresh from border patrol.
"Loki's alive?" Tony asks, his heart leapt for joy at that, "Father I'm going to go find him!" he says.
"No. Tony, I will not waste an army for you to storm the castle. It's too dangerous. Besides if he's in the sewers he could be anywhere by now!"
"Then I will go alone father. I must find him! I promised him," Tony said turning his horse around headed towards the portcullis of his father's castle.
"But Tony what if something-"
Tony cuts his father off, "I'll find someone. Don't worry," he reassures his father before he pulls on his hood and rides out into the rain, headed for the village near the queen's castle. If he was on time he would catch Helblindi's patrol.
Sure enough as he arrives in town he finds it eerily quiet seeing the men on horseback.
"Sire, we've sighted the prince in the Marshvilles," one of the informants say.
"Well done, we'll attack on the cover of darkness," Helblindi says dismissing the man.
He steps forward now, hiding himself with his hood, "I want to join your party," he says.
Helblindi looks to him as he blocks the way ordering one of the men to shoot him, Tony catches the arrow by the shaft, putting it to his bow before shooting the man down, "Now you're going to need me," he says, seeing Helblindi's evil smirk at that movement, apparently he'd earned his respect and a place in the troop that was headed to find Loki that night.
The company of men is in the village now, the village is asleep and Tony is alert as he stands, bow at the ready as the flames are lighted to the dry grass huts. Then the attack on the villagers begins. Tony heads for the main hut where he guesses that Loki is. He is however impeded by running, hysterical women and sobbing little girls along with falling beams.
He shoots down one of Helblindi's man, one that is about to rape one of the women, he then continues on into the fray, headed for the main hut. Just as he reaches it, a large flaming wall erupts behind him and as he turns, getting out of the way he sees him, just a glimpse that he isn't even sure. But the ebony hair confirms it, the prince Loki is there, behind this wall of fire. His betrothed. Tony's eyes scan the area, he needs to get around this fire somehow.
Loki shook his head, looking into the flames again. He could almost swear that he had seen Tony there, in the flames. No. It cannot be. Tony is not here, he's nowhere near here, he doesn't even know that he is alive. The prince's heart is aching so badly, he knows it's because of the huntsman. But he doesn't know why Thor has affected him so…or maybe he does…love…
"Hurry," he says helping the little girls into the rafts. It's all his fault that the village is burning in flames. He shouldn't even have been able to escape! He doesn't deserve it. He should have died.
In the darkness Thor had set out trekking thought the marshes, his heart heavy.
"Maybe he wanted to protect you Thor? Did you look at it that way? He is after all a prince. Don't you think he'd feel responsible for your life?" Felicity had tried to reason with him. But why would Loki do that?
Slowly the darkness grows to light, a bright orange light accompanied by the acrid smell of smoke, burning wood. Something isn't right. He turns and his eyes widen at the sight of the orange flames licking the tops of the huts, the flames bright against the night sky.
"Christ! Loki!" he growls and he finds himself running through the marshes and back towards the village. He needs to save Loki. He heads straight for the hut that Loki and him had last been in, where they had fought. Thor kicks in the door, he heat was unbearable as the flames licked up the new addition of a wooden door. It takes him only a second to see that Loki isn't in the hut and he continues on, fear growing in his heart.
"You get away from her!" Loki yells as he distracts the attention of one of the soldiers letting the girl run free.
"Or what? Little prince?" the guard leers, turning to him now.
"I'll kill you," Loki murmurs, hands clasped on the dagger that Thor has given to him. He remembers Thor's teaching and he needs to wait to lure the soldier in close. But the large man is charging him, his sword bearing down as he ran towards him and Loki freezes in that moment, fear grasping him, he's never killed before. He hears a sick dull thud and peeking his eyes open he sees that the man is dead.
"Thor?" Loki gasps seeing the huntsman standing before him.
"Come Loki, let's go," he says holding his hand and pulling him in the direction away from the Marshvilles.
"But these people!" Loki says, struggling to run back.
"Go Loki! We can handle ourselves well enough! You need to fulfill the legacy. Destroy the queen," Felicity says.
"May god bless you," Loki murmurs and then he's running away with Thor back into the reeds away from the village, away from the fire and into safety.
They are running, fast, when Loki collapses, he cannot run anymore, he's tired and he cannot find the strength in him to continue. He is afraid and he doesn't want to run anymore so he sits there and cries silently, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Thor bends down, "Loki hurry!" he says.
"Thor I can't. I killed them, all those that died its my fault. They died because of me!" Loki says grasping onto Thor's shirt.
"Loki they took you in knowing well who you were and what the dangers were. They wanted to help you."
"But…"
"Shh, come" Thor whispers, carrying Loki now, bridal style, cradling his body close. The prince is really light.
"Thank you…" Loki whispers, his hands going around the huntsman's neck, resting his head in the crook of his neck.
"For?" Thor asked a little confused.
"For coming back for me…I didn't think you would…I thought I'd lost you," he whispered.
"I needed to see you…I couldn't live with myself if I had left you there and something happened to you," Thor answered.
"You'll take me away then?" Loki asked his voice laced with hope.
"I'll help you to fulfill the legacy Loki. You will end this time of darkness."
"And if I can't?" Loki asks looking up into Thor's eyes, why did he think so much of him?
"I know you can. I'll be there for you Loki and I'll guide you. I'll make sure that you do it," he says, slowing his steps now, out of the danger zone.
"Those better not be empty promises huntsman," Loki says.
"Thor smiles, "Who are you to speak like that hmm?"
"I am a prince. You know that Thor," Loki whispers, a grin spreading across his lips.
"We've got to find a place to hide," Thor says, setting Loki down now he checks each of the trees in turn for hollowing.
It isn't long before they find a hollowed out tree, Thor lifts Loki and lets him enter the tree first before he pulls himself up, dropping into the hollow of the tree. The space inside is big enough for them to sit in and possibly even lie down in. As they right themselves, dusting off tree bark and leaves Loki asks, "Will they find us in here?"
"Well I hope that they don't," Thor murmurs settling down over his cloak and beckoning to Loki, "Let's get some sleep."
Loki stands still, looking at the confined space that they are offered, he would have to spend another night in the huntsman's arms and he's not so sure that he can trust the huntsman or even himself for that matter.
"I'm not comfortable sleeping with you…" Loki says, cheeks reddening at the thoughts that his mind conjured.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you" the huntsman assures, smirking in the darkness at Loki's odd fear. He feels the prince lie down beside him now, back to him and he moves just a little closer, letting his arm slide around the other's waist and pulling him close instinctively just as the hoof beats on the ground outside the tree can be heard.
Loki stiffens, "You're touching me," he whispers, feeling the fire spreading in his body already at the mere contact, his yearning for the huntsman even greater now than before.
"Sorry, I'll –"
"No, no leave it," Loki says, holding onto the huntsman's arm, pressing it to him, "leave it."
Thor smiles, feeling the prince tangle his fingers with his own, he presses closer, "Be quiet and sleep now," he says.
Loki turns now, facing the huntsman in the darkness, "Goodnight, Thor," he whispers, propping himself up on an elbow and leaning towards the huntsman, boldly kissing him on the lips, flicking his tongue into Thor's mouth smirking when he felt the huntsman tense. Before the other could even respond, he pulls away, settling his head on Thor's chest, hearing his heartbeat beneath his ear.
"If this wasn't such a confined space prince, you'd be in trouble. Goodnight Loki," he whispers, burying his nose in the prince's hair, inhaling Loki's scent, he kissed the crown of his head before he too settled down to rest. He knew in his heart now that the journey would soon come to an end, then they would have to part ways and he didn't want that, not at all. Thor wished that the journey would take longer instead.