The dungeons were dingier than ever before, even though the fire from the torches were lit every so often. The snowstorm had caused the place to grow even more cold than it already was, but as you got nearer to Loki's cell, an undying light was glowing throughout it. The queen was visiting her son. To him, it had seemed that it was millenniums ago since he last saw his mother, or anyone else for that matter. Thor had ceased to visit him and Sapphire as well. Loki thought she had abandoned him too, but Frigga was there, under Odin's permission, to give Loki an update on their whereabouts.
"So… She has not forgotten me?" The dark prince asked. His hair was a tangle of knots, his face marked by many sleepless nights; so many that he had forgotten what day and time it was.
"Of course not my son. She would continually beg your father-"
"Odin. " He coldly corrected his mother.
"...Odin," she continued, "to let her come and see you, but your father would deny her wishes every single time."
Despite the fact that Odin had prevented for him to see her, Loki smile a bit. Sapphire had tried to see him.
"I see." He said.
She still cares for me. He told himself.
"Does she make you that happy that such a rare smile shows upon your face?" The gentle queen's heart filled with warmth as her youngest son finally smiled.
His smile faded at this and he turned from her. He placed his hands behind his back and interlocked his fingers.
"Where has she headed to with that group of oafs and that ridiculous guardian of hers?"
"In search of a weapon stolen from her people." Frigga sighed as Loki once again raised those walls to his heart.
"Where to?" He now looked at Frigga intensely.
"Alfheim."
"Home of the light elves?" He asked intrigued.
"She is from there, son. Did Thor not tell you about her parentage?"
"Obviously not." He retorted.
"She's the princess of her people; the princess of Arce."
At this, Loki's mouth slightly dropped and then he nodded slowly as if understanding something.
"So that explains her guardian…"
"Yes, dear. She will make a great ruler for her people. According to Phoenix, her parents died a long time ag-" Frigga stopped mid-sentence as she saw Loki's eyes reflect his sudden anger.
"What I really want to know is why you are telling me about this just now?" He neared her, anger flaring in his eyes.
"My love, please understand that Odin forbade-"
"I could care less what that old fool ordered! That wouldn't have stopped you! Why now! Answer me!" He looked deeply in her eyes, searching for an explanation.
Frigga looked down, hiding any hint of tears surfacing in her eyes.
"I believed if you knew the truth then, you would make a foolish decision and escape this cell."
"I would've done that when Thor had told me about Amora nearly killing her! I'm not foolish, woman!" He clenched his fists.
"Loki, son, please understand me…"
"You are not my mother!" By now, Loki's eyes threatened to cry. "You abandoned me just like Odin did! Do not ever call me your son!"
Frigga stared at her son in silence. The minutes felt like an eternity and a feel of remorse grew it's way into Loki's heart.
"I am sorry…" Frigga finally said. As she turned to leave, Loki spotted a single tear roll down her cheek and before he could say anything to her, Frigga's imitation disappeared.
He took a step forward, his hand held out to her but there was nothing to take hold of. He was alone, once more.
"No, I am sorry."
"Tell me, again, why we must take the long road to Alfheim? Why can't we simply use the bifrost?" Fandral asked for the hundredth time.
"Yes, why do we have to put up with his bluntness?" Hogun said quietly.
Fandral growled at his friend.
"Both of you know it is to hide ourselves from whoever is following Sapphire. The less conspicuous we are, the less chances we have at being discovered." Phoenix replied, guiding the group through a vast forest, far from Asgard.
Fandral groaned. The blonde Asgardian loved challenges but this was torture.
"Fandral, now you'll have a new story to tell!" Sapphire giggled.
"Hmm! Yes this is true!" Fandral nodded vigorously and the gang laughed.
Phoenix simply smiled at Sapphire's comment, walking ahead of them.
Sapphire noticed and tilted her head to the side. She trotted over to him and tugged on his shirt. Phoenix turned his gaze to her and smiled.
"Hey." She returned the smile.
"Hello."
"You alright?"
"Of course. Why do you ask?" He continued walking, his gaze on the road ahead.
"Well, um… I've noticed you more distant lately…"
At this, he turned to look at her. "Is that so?"
He chuckled a bit. Phoenix was at a war inside of him. Despite how many times he told himself that Sapphire would be safe, he couldn't help but feel afraid of losing her. He had a feeling in his gut and he couldn't shake it off. Something told him that she was in grave danger and he needed to be extra careful not to let her out of his sight. All of this meant that he also needed to push away his feelings for her, as hard as that sounds, he managed to be able to do it. And all of this focus and concentration had caused the guardian to distance himself from the common chatter the group would have.
"Yeah, you haven't been your beaming self lately." Sapphire looked at the red-head worriedly.
He let out a small laugh. "Sorry."
"Sorry? That's it?"
He blinked at her. "Er… I'm fine!"
He smiled at her, widely. There was no way he was going to burden her with this. He was her guardian and she needed all sense of protection.
"Oh, I see how it is." Sapphire crossed her arms over her chest.
She stopped walking, suddenly, and stomped one foot on the ground, calling everyone's attention.
"Guys, I'm tired! Let's rest and eat!" She said looking at them.
"Oh, yes, please!" Fandral agreed.
"Uh…" Phoenix looked at them, then at Sapphire who was looking at him angrily. He sighed and gave in.
"Okay, but let's look for a safe place to rest."
So they walked for another few minutes until they came upon a desolate cave. Thor and Hogun checked inside, making sure it was empty.
"It's safe." Said Thor as he and Hogun came from within the cave.
"Good. Let's gather up some wood and I'll get a fire going." Phoenix pointed to Volstagg and Fandral to do him that favor.
"Aye!" They said and took their leave to gather some wood.
A few minutes passed and the group was inside the cave, making themselves comfortable around the fire Phoenix had made for them. A small hog was being cooked over the fire.
"This smells splendid!" Said Volstagg.
"Not sure you can make a few pints of Ale appear, can ya?" He asked Phoenix.
Phoenix let out a laugh, "No can do, my friend."
"What an oaf!" Said Sif, rolling her eyes at Volstagg. Thor smiled, wrapping an arm around Sif, keeping her warm.
"Phoenix?" Sapphire walked up to him.
"Yes?" He looked at her.
"A word please? Alone." She eyed him.
"Sure." He gulped.
She lead him a little towards the inner parts of the cave, the fire still visible.
"What's up? Something bothering you?" He asked her.
"As a matter of fact, yes, something is bothering me a lot."
"Tell me."
"Yeah. Answer me this because I can't seem to understand why. Why is it that if I am going through some kind of problem, I can easily come to you for help, but when you are going through something, like right now obviously, you can't come to me for help?"
Phoenix was about to say something but Sapphire raised her hand, indicating to him that she wasn't done.
"I don't care if you are my guardian. You are and will always be my friend, first. Plus, as I have understood, I am your princess so I order you to tell me what is bothering you." She looked at him seriously.
Phoenix had never seen her so serious and what she had just said caused him to feel happy, but, at the same time, he found it cute how she now was trying to force him to tell her what was on his mind, using her title as a means to get anything out of him. He tried to maintain his serious posture but was failing miserably as he held back a laugh. Phoenix pressed his lips tightly holding the laugh inside. Sapphire noticed and growled angrily at him.
"This is not funny!" She stomped her feet.
"Hahahahahahahaha!" Phoenix's laugh echoed into the cave and he stopped himself, holding his stomach. He was still laughing, but softly now. When he finally gained his posture, he looked at Sapphire who was still looking at him seriously.
"I'm sorry." He said chuckling.
"It's not funny."
"I know, I know! It's just…." He stopped himself. He was about to say that she looked so cute and adorable but he couldn't say it. This little neko always found a way to touch his heart and make him fall in love with her even more but he had to ignore it, for her sake.
"It's just what?" She asked, angrily, oblivious to his inner turmoil.
"I hope we find that weapon soon. It'll allow you to fight and double your chances at succeeding once we go and take your people from captivity."
"Oh no mister!" She stomped over to him, pointing a finger at him. She stopped right in front of him, poking his chest with her finger.
"Don't change the subject on me! Something is bothering you and you aren't telling me."
"That's it, I swear." He slightly laughed, raising his hands in defense.
Sapphire shook her head. "Stop lying to me, Phoenix!"
"Sapphire," Phoenix placed his hands over her shoulders, "I'm fine."
"Phoenix, please…. Tell me what's wrong." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading him to open himself up to her.
He let out a small sigh, as he looked into her blue eyes. He could stare at them forever and lose himself in them. Something about her made her more beautiful than ever before, tonight.
If only she knew how much she means to me.
"All of this, is for you, for your family and for your people but don't get careless. No matter what happens, you'll listen to what I tell you. Right? You won't do anything stupid?" He said.
"So, that's what this is? You think something will happen to me?"
"Just promise me you'll listen to me."
"I promise." She hugged him tightly.
A sense of joy filled him and he embraced her tightly.
Please, stay here with me forever. He closed his eyes tightly, savoring the moment.
"But that goes for you too!" Sapphire looked up at him, her arms still around his torso.
"What?" He blinked down at her.
"You don't go doing anything stupid, okay? That's an order."
"Right."
"Promise?"
"Promise…" He looked into her eyes and watched as they gleamed up at him, a smile coming over her delicate small lips. He wanted to kiss her and tell her he loved her, more than Loki would ever love her but Phoenix couldn't do that to her. So, he lowered his head and placed a soft kiss over her cheek. He remained there for a few seconds and then pulled back. Sapphire's eyes were wide now, confused by what he just done.
"So," he scratched the back of his head, releasing her from the embrace and changing the subject, "that hog must be done! You need to eat."
He turned her around and lead her back to the group.
They joined the group and Sapphire began to eat. She watched Phoenix as he conversed with Hogun, smiling and laughing with his friends. Sapphire now knew what was bothering him. He still loved her and he feared for her safety. He struggled to accept the fact that she would never love him like he did and Sapphire felt guilty for that. There was nothing she could do. Her heart was Loki's and even if it had been a very long time since she last held him, since she last kissed him, she could still feel like it was just yesterday and she longed to see him, to hear his voice.
Loki, I miss you.
An image of Sapphire played before a dark figure, sitting on his throne. He let out a low chuckle and waved the image away.
"It's to our advantage now." A female figure stepped into view.
"Indeed. I am going to enjoy this very much." Said the man.
"I will be rewarded, as you had promised?" The blonde woman smiled at the man, her emerald eyes looking at him.
"Amora, when have I not?"
She smiled and bowed, taking her leave.
"Bring them in." He told his guards.
They bowed and opened the large doors. Outside was a young man and a young girl. They walked inside and as they drew near to the throne, they bowed.
"My king." The young man said.
"We are ready." The girl smiled at him.
"Good. Now is your turn to prove yourselves worthy of this throne." The king stood and walked towards them.
"Our enemy is out there and I will not leave one single soul alive. Find her and bring her to me. I want her to suffer like my people suffered."
They nodded and continued to bow.
The dark king neared the young man and placed his finger under his chin, raising his face to look at him. The young man's crimson red eyes looked into the king's crimson red eye's. "I'm expecting greatness from you. Do not fail me, son."
"I won't."
"Hey, your other kid is me, not just Zadok, y'know!"
"Yes, of course. Help your brother, Trin. Your tracking skills as a hunter are superb. I expect nothing less of you."
The white haired, green eyed girl smiled widely at her father.
A guard stepped in. "Your majesty!" He bowed, "The preparations are done."
"Wonderful. Go." He told Zadok and Trin. "Return her to me or never return."
They both nodded slowly and made their way out.
"You sure you can do this?" Trin asked her brother.
"Don't ask such a stupid question. Let's just do this."
They boarded a ship and headed towards Asgard.
Back at the palace, the king smirked to himself in front of a mirror. He let out a low laugh.
"You'll soon be mine, Norling. Very soon." His smirked widened, as he held out a white orb over his hand, looking at it as an image of Sapphire appeared in it.
Somewhere in another galaxy.
"Well? What news do you have for me?" The titan standing a few feet away was watching the empty space in front of him, his back facing the unknown guest.
"The idiot has no clue." It was Amora's voice.
"Good. Keep it that way." The titan raised a sword , held in his hand and laughed menacingly.
Wow! Okay, I'm so happy I finally got to post this today and I am hoping you all are liking it. Please leave your thoughts, suggestions and even complaints in the reviews! Be soft on me though, lol. I struggled to end this chapter... I had a nasty writers block for like 4 days but anyways, here it is! I hope not to take as long to upload the next chapter... Heck, maybe I'll upload 2 this time. :D
Until next chapter my readers!