12. Go make you ready

"That twisted, little-!"

"Sif, calm down." Fandral stood aside while his partner shredded Loki's cape with her sword. "We are the ones to blame, just for thinking he can be trustworthy."

Sif growled and picked up her sword. "What shall we do now?"

"We still need the horses," he shrugged. "We cannot leave Loki wondering around."

"We will go after him. He can't go far in the state he is."

Fandral snorted. "He was playing with us. He used us to escape."

Sif shook her head. "No, Fandral. He is sick, in more ways than he shows. What we need to know is where he might be going."

Fandral looked at the sky and grinned. "I think I have an idea where he might be now." He pointed at the raven flying into the city.

"Let's go for the horses, then."


Loki crossed the gardens, cloaked in the colours of the night. However, his magic wore out just when he had found shelter on the other side of the street. Several guards passed by without noticing him; still, Loki's heart pounded and a feeling of despair invaded his soul and body. He fell on his knees, hugging himself to stop the tremors. His head was full of noise, just as it had happened during Raegos' attacks.

He was in pain; cold ran uncontrollably through his body. He did not admit it, he could not; but he knew that fear was crawling inside. The worst part was not to be sure if it would ever go away. Loki covered his face with his hands, holding back the tears, looking for his inner strength. More frustrating than pain was not being able to use his magic at full power. Magic was an essential part of his being. It was also the only connection with Frigga that was left to him.

He sat down on a bench in the square, feeling dizzy and weak; he hesitated before deciding where to go next. He might visit Ulrika; her potions always made him feel better. After consideration, that seemed the only option. He stood up too quickly and lost balance. Loki sat again, waiting for the world to stop swirling around him. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Out of nowhere, Muninn came to perch on the lamppost in front of him. "Why are you still with me? Go, I release you; look for Huginn, let me alone."

The raven cawed and took flight. However, she did not go far. Loki knew that Muninn was waiting for him to follow her, like before. He hesitated, but at the present there were not many choices. He got up slowly and started to walk. He was too busy putting one foot in front of the other to pay much attention to where he was going.

"I'll fight my way to the relic room; there is nothing else to do." Thor was determined as he stood up; the same determination that had gotten him in trouble in Jotunheim, some time ago. Volstagg was not that eager to follow Thor.

"We don't have many weapons. You know they will shoot at us with all they have."

"Do you have any suggestions? Unless we can make ourselves invisible, we have to try the hardest way." Thor had just finished talking that when the pantry's door opened abruptly. He was astounded to see his younger brother step in.

Loki was no less surprised and both yelled at the same time:

"What are you doing here?"

Volstagg shushed them both. "There are guards outside, someone can hear you." In a more civilized tone, he turned to Loki and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Loki rolled his eyes, lost colour and almost fainted. Thor held him up until they reached the table and he could sit down. Loki rested his elbows on the table, covering his face with both hands.

"What happened? Weren't the hinterlands soundless enough for you?" he asked Thor.

"Weren't you supposed to be hanged today?" Thor retorted.

"I was," Loki lowered the collar of his shirt. His neck was still reddish from the rope. "But first, I was poisoned, and died. I was brought back to life; I'm exhausted." He leaned back on the chair.

"Are you all right?" asked Thor rather concerned.

Loki chose to ignore the question. "Nym! Water!"

The young girl, raised to serve the royal family, did not even hesitate. She handled him the glass and he took it without even looking at her. Nym lowered her eyes; she was returning to her post when she gasped.

Loki glared at her. "What?"

"You are bleeding, my lord," she whispered.

Thor sighed and signed at Shryd for a towel. Loki rubbed his forehead while she and one of the servants attended to his wound. Thor proceeded, trying not to pay attention to his brother's condition. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here," Loki winced. "Well, I used to live here."

"Where are Fandral and Sif?" asked Volstagg, filling his plate one more time.

"Last time I saw them, they were heading for Bifrost."

"Why aren't you with them?" Thor leaned forward.

"We differed about which path to follow," Loki took a sip of water and breathed deeply.

"What did you do, jumped out of the ship?" asked Volstagg.

"Actually, we did," Loki dismissed the servants. "Lodur was at our back; we abandoned the ship before he could see us."

"Where?" Thor was losing his patience.

"At the shore, near the marketplace."

Volstagg shook his head. "It will take them half a day to reach Bifrost."

"They were running," Loki grinned through a wave of pain.

"Why aren't you with them?" Thor insisted.

Loki's eyes glowed with quiet rage. "Because I do not need them where I'm going."

"And where exactly are you going?" asked Thor.

Loki shrugged. "Far from you, and your damn family, what else? Asgard is yours, I don't want it anymore. I will be out of your hair; there are nine realms to choose from."

"And you have been making friends in all of them," snorted Volstagg.

Thor kept his voice calm, taking into consideration that the servants were there. The group was quietly doing their daily work, struggling to give Thor and Loki some privacy. "Lodur will go after you. He will turn everyone in the Nine Realms against you."

"And that would be so hard to do," snorted Volstagg, paying no attention to Loki's glare.

"That is my choice," Loki said. "I do what I want, Thor."

Volstagg finished his meal and was ready to move on. "Let him be, we need to think about Fandral and Sif. Let's get Mjiolnir."

Loki laughed and leaned on the table. "Is that what you came for? Your hammer? It is sealed under a ton of chains and locks; not to mention guards and magic."

"I will get in the relics chamber one way or another." Loki breathed deeply, folding his arms over his chest. "What?"

"Nothing," said Loki. He got up slowly, heading for the stove. Both cooks lowered their heads and recoiled. He uncovered one pot and stirred the soup with the scoop.

Loki's attitude made Thor nervous. He knew something; he was up to something. "What are you up to, Loki?"

"Nothing, brother of mine; I'm leaving."

Thor stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Where's Father?"

The question took Loki by surprise. He tightened his jaw and glared at him.

"You cannot even lie about that, can you?" Thor said. "Until you have an answer, I cannot let you go."

"Oh, and how are you going to stop me? You're an intruder too," Loki grinned.

"I'm thinking about that. You may shut up in the meantime." Thor paced around the table.

Volstagg paced on the opposite direction and they met in the middle. "How about a secret passage? The palace has plenty. The relic chamber should have one too."

Thor and Volstagg glanced at Loki who was leaning his elbow on the counter. He looked rather happy with himself. Thor came up to him. "There is a passage, isn't there?"

"Could be, could be not," he shrugged.

"Loki, we have no time for pranks."

"I can make him talk." Volstagg's words set the kitchen staff on alert. They were peaceful servants; no one was used to violence.

Loki put his hands in front of him. "No need for that. Let's say that I might know a secret passage. I could show it to you in exchange for something."

"For what?" Thor stopped inches away from Loki's face.

"You, out of my back; stop following me." He dipped his finger in the soup and licked it. "That is the only condition I ask; Mjiolnir for my freedom."

Thor felt that every pair of eyes was on him; waiting for an answer. He straightened up and sighed. "All right, I accept the conditions."

Loki's eyes glowed when he stared at his stepbrother. "Give me your word."

Thor lowered his eyes and nodded. "You have my word."


Sif brought her horse next to Fandral's; she could not believe they were following the ravens again. "The palace? Do you actually think Loki would come back to the palace?"

"I don't know," Fandral shrugged, pointing at the birds. "Both ravens are here. Couldn't it be possible that… maybe they know where Loki is?"

"I think you have too much faith in birds." Sif sighed. "How would they know we've been looking for Loki?"

"Come on, Sif; we need to start somewhere."

"Fandral, we're traitors; there are men after us."

Fandral covered his nose with his handkerchief and opened the gate to the chicken coops and the pig pens. They crossed the orchard and entered through the servants doors. "Who would be so stupid as to come to the palace? They will not look for us here."


Volstagg and Thor followed Loki to the pantry and through a door behind one of the shelves. The corridors were narrow and dark. The brick walls looked gray and muggy under the green light Loki had produced in the palm of his hand. Brightness died upon contact with the concave roof. As they turned into a dark passage, Loki's light died.

"What happened?" asked Volstagg.

Thor looked at Loki, shaking and pale. He touched his shoulder, gently and with concern.

"D-dark," Loki mumbled for Thor's ears only.

"It is," Thor said softly. "Let's go."

Loki stopped again, following something with his eyes. "What's that?! Do you hear it?"

Volstagg grabbed his sword in alert mode. He looked around and glanced at Thor with a shrug. Thor laid one hand on Loki's shoulder. "There's nothing here, only shadows," he spoke as gently as he could. "We need to go on."

Volstagg caught up with Thor and whispered. "What was that about?"

"I don't know," said Thor watching his brother closely. They had reached the end of the tunnel; a brick wall with no more turns to follow.

Loki hesitated; he closed his eyes as though every movement caused him severe pain in his heart. He touched the wall and a section of the bricks, big enough to be a door, vanished before their eyes. They entered to a very familiar room. Even Thor looked uncomfortable as they went in.

He sounded annoyed when he spoke. "Mother's bedroom should be sealed."

"It is," said Loki in a barely perceptible voice. "She and I made this passage many years ago… I haven't come here since… not even as Odin." He waved the invisible bricks back into a solid wall.

Then, he went to the books Frigga kept by her bed. The lamp was still on her night table along with a hair comb and jewelry. He closed his eyes to stop the tears that had begun to fill in. He shuddered and all the crystal in the room trembled.

Thor feared what would happen next. He rushed to Loki's side and called his name. He grabbed his arm and shook him out of his reverie. The tremors in the room stopped immediately; meanwhile, Loki kept his eyes on the floor, struggling to control his own.

"I did not want to come," he whispered. "I wanted to get as far away as possible… I didn't want to come back here!"

Thor held him when he stumbled and made him sit on a chair. He understood Loki's pain; having been imprisoned when everything happened… when their world was torn apart beyond recognition. They could not set time back and save their mother. They both would have to live with this weight on their shoulders forever.

"How did you end up here?" Thor asked him.

Loki looked at the balcony and the raven flew in to perch on his shoulder. At the same time, the color came back to his face and the tremor in his hands stopped. "Muninn was my guide. She wanted me to come. Why?" he turned to Thor.

"Perhaps she wanted you two together," Volstagg answered the question.

Loki and Thor exchanged glances that they had thought were not there anymore. For a brief moment, the brothers found each other. Feuds and rivalries stepped aside.

Volstagg did not want to interrupt; but time was pressing. "Thor, we need to keep on going."

Thor helped Loki up and waited until he was focused enough to go on. Volstagg took the rear to make sure they would not get lost in gloomy thoughts. They crossed another threshold and went back to the tunnels.


Next chapter will be the last. Thank you always for showing your interest and support. I'm glad you've liked the story.

R&R :)