So He Speaks

Loki woke on his side with his forehead pressed against the stony floor. The back of his head throbbed painfully, but he was too groggy to move. It didn't help that his head also felt as if it were filled with rocks, too heavy to lift anyway.

The only thing he could do was open his eyes. But when he did, his vision was too blurred to make anything out in the darkness. The only solemn light came somewhere from behind him, but that hardly helped ease the shadows.

"Loki?" a small, softly spoken voice called out as he began to stir in earnest. Tilting his head, Loki looked further into the gloom to the figure standing just beyond the edge of the light. What he saw sent a shock right through him. He had to lift his head and squint past the dust swirling against the canvas of shadows to see the one standing behind the bars.

Golden.

"Frigga?" Loki mumbled, confused.

Nervous laughter. "Balder must have hit you harder than I thought if you think I'm Lady Frigga."

It was Sigyn! Loki forced himself into a sitting position while he gingerly rubbed the back of his head. He could have sworn he saw Frigga standing there. Was it something out of his memories? But why would she of all people ever come and visit him in a cell? Why would he be in a cell in the first place?

"What happened?" Loki asked as he attempted to get on his feet without first falling on his face.

"They said you went mad." Sigyn stepped forward and clutched the bars when Loki approached, her hands startlingly white against the iron. "Accusing them of being traitors and cowards. Balder knocked you on the back of your head and then they dragged you here. I snuck down to see if you were alright."

"That would explain why my head hurts, that ball-less bastard." Loki used one hand to nurse the back of his aching head while the other gripped the bar just above Sigyn's hand. "They won't do anything, Sig. Not a damn thing." The anger and frustration made his voice raw. The powerlessness to do anything to help Thor baited him. All those years Thor used his power to protect him and what good had that done for either of them? The gods resented Thor for sheltering Loki and Loki had their unabated loathing because his brother always stood up for him.

Loki cursed silently to himself.

He'd warned Thor about fighting all his battles for him. Now look at the mess they were in…

"I wish there was something that I could do," Sigyn mumbled, disheartened.

Loki looked at her again, his green eyes flashing through the bars of his cell. He slid his hand down the bar, the sound of the cold metal against his skin rung like tiny bells. Loki covered her hand with his. She was so warm, always so warm. Sigyn, that bright lure of freedom just within his reach, ever consistent in her friendship and loyalty. What had he ever done to make her trust him as she did? And how could he ask of her what he knew he must?

"There is something you can do to help me, Sigyn," Loki said gazing at her intently. She glanced up at him, her expression hopeful. "And I hate to have to ask you to do this," he frowned, "but you are all I have, and you alone hold all my trust." Loki reached his hand through the bars and cupped her pale cheek in his palm, the tips of his fingers brushing against her ear. "I need you to free me."

Determination set Sigyn's jaw and her dark eyes shone in the dim light. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She turned to leave, but Loki grabbed her hand before she went too far out of his reach. Sigyn whipped back around, confusion furrowing her perfectly smooth brow.

"Be careful," Loki said, his voice thick. He was humbled by her lack of hesitation to do this and he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her because of him.

Sigyn favored him with a bright smile. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." She let go of his hand then she was gone.

Loki slumped his forehead against the bars and closed his eyes.

Now all he had to do was hope and wait. And plan what to do once he was out of this cell. How was he going to get to Midgard? The Bifrost was surely closed to him. There was no way Heimdall was going to open it for him. That guy hated his guts more than anyone else in Asgard.

There was a soft fluttering that broke Loki's thoughts and a loud click as talons met metal. Loki glanced up to see Ikol perched on the bars above his head, staring at him.

"Ikol!" Loki gaped. "What are you doing here?" He stepped back from the bars to get a better look at the bird. "And where have you been!"

"There is another way to Midgard," the disembodied voice of the bird said. Its voice was flat and imposing, not what he would expect from the Raven.

"So he speaks," Loki observed gloomily. That was just what he needed. A talking Raven on top of everything else. "What are you saying about another way to Midgard?"

"Seek the aide of Hela."

"Hela?" Loki frowned. "Ruler of Hel and Niffleheim? Why would I want her help?"

"Seek the aide of Hela and she can show you the way ."

Loki scoffed. Hela was a force not to be taken lightly. She was the Goddess of Death! "How would I even get to Hel? It's about as impossible as getting to Midgard without the Bifrost!"

"Free the Hel wolf."

"The Hel wo-"

"Loki!" Sigyn breathed in a loud whisper as she appeared at the bars of his cell once more. Loki heard the key being slid into the lock. When he glanced up to where Ikol had been, he was gone. Sigyn swung open the door and waited for him to step out. "Who were you talking to," she wanted to know as Loki came before her.

Loki grabbed her and took her in his arms, burying his face in her dark hair. "Thank you, Sigyn."

He felt her tense briefly, surprised by his sudden affection. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders, like she had so many times before. Loki held her tighter to himself and squeezed his eyes shut.

Thinking on what Ikol said before, he suddenly knew what he had to do in order to save Thor…and he was frightened. He would have to forge a path on his own alone.

As he pulled her back he said, "I have to go."

"Go?" Sigyn asked, her expression growing concerned. "Go where?"

"I can't tell you that-"

"Let me go with you!" Sigyn interrupted, clutching his arms eagerly. Loki stared at her, his mouth agape. Her eyes sparkled with the prospect, but Loki looked away. He had no idea what laid in store for him or what he would have to do in order to save his brother, but he knew it was going to be dangerous. There was no way he was going to let himself even entertain the thought of putting her though any of that.

On a whim, Loki grabbed the back of Sigyn's neck and pulled her closer. He slammed his lips onto hers before she could know what he was doing.

When their lips touched, Loki's mind went blank. He was actually kissing her. Loki couldn't believe it himself. But when else was he going to get the chance?

This was goodbye wasn't it?

Sigyn stiffened as Loki ran his hand down her arm and held the keys still in her hand. He pulled back and bored his green eyes into hers. "Go, Sigyn." He took the keys from her hand. "Go."

"But Loki I-"

Loki grabbed her face in his hands, the keys dangling from his thumb. "GO."

Tears filled Sigyn's eyes, but she did as he asked and turned to retreat down the hall.

Loki watched her go, the feel of her lips haunting him.

When she was gone, Ikol came out of nowhere and landed on his shoulder, reminding him of what he had to do.

Free the Hel wolf.