Of Madness and Mayhem
Chapter 25
It was the feeling of being lifted that finally awoke Barbara from slumber. Opening her eyes, she was met with Thor's concerned gaze. His arm cradled her head, and by his kneeling position she realized she lay on the floor. With his aid, she sat up and ran a hand over her forehead, her senses finally awakening.
"How long?" she asked.
"It is near dark"
"Arik?" she inquired.
"Your son is well. He currently rests within his chambers"
She nodded. Strangely, she felt inadequate in front of Thor. There was a sense of awkwardness that caused her to feel anger rising within her. Then the memories of all that had happened within the past two days came rushing back. She looked up to the altar and saw Loki's lifeless body. Reaching up, she touched him, her hand caressing his arm.
"It wasn't him" she spoke, her voice breaking as tears poured unrestrained from her eyes "it was never him. He never betrayed me. I did this to him. If only I had waited as he instructed, if only I had waited..."
Thor looked at Loki's lifeless form. He should have known. It was Loki's unique gift of creating illusions, making things appear as he wanted them to seem that had brought about all these unfortunate series of events. He had fooled the Norn queen, he had pretended to abandon and betray Barbara in order to lull Karnilla into a false sense of security. He had kept Barbara away to ensure his plans were successful. And yet, he had still used her to try to rid him of the one threat to his dominion. Him. He had covered all angles. His brother, the master strategist.
"He was going to kill her the moment she set foot in Asgard" Barbara continued, struggling to speak through her sobs "I saw it. I saw everything. He knew she planned to destroy Asgard and that she was in allegiance with Thanos. His schemes hid his true purpose to save us all. He kept me on Earth, veiled me from everyone's view to keep me safe. He was protecting me, not abandoning me!"
"And yet he sent you to kill me" Thor said, almost to himself.
Barbara's dry chuckle gathered his attention. "What else could you expect from your brother?"
Suddenly, she gasped and grabbed her head as if hit with a sharp pain. She struggled to breathe, and her eyes were wrung shut as the crushing ache slowly ebbed. Then, it was over. She exhaled and placed her hands on the ground. Her jaw was set and her gaze had hardened.
Thor immediately reached for her, placing a hand on her shoulder. There was no amount of healing magic that could aid her. There was no cure for her affliction. Only the one who lived within her could ease her suffering.
"I suppose I must now kneel before you, brother" she said sarcastically though the tone in her voice was not her own "long live the king!"
"There is no need for sarcasm, Loki" Thor replied calmly, realizing that he no longer spoke to Barbara. The blond god was now past feeling astonishment and bewilderment. He was now simply confused and exhausted. And still he knew it was not over yet. "I know what happened. You did what I would have done had I been in your place"
"Why are you here?" Loki spoke through Barbara "did you return only to mock me?" he said as he stood and faced his own body that lay cold before him. "Have you not gotten your full share of satisfaction at the sight of my fate?"
"Loki, desist. You will drive her insane"
At the mention of Barbara, Loki went silent. He looked down at his hands. Her hands. What had occurred was unthinkable. Shameful. He inhabited the body of a woman. His woman. Others would be appalled at the result of his most selfless act. Appalled and revolted.
"You laid down your life so that she could live. There is no shame in what you've done" Thor said as if reading his thoughts "I know you will fix this"
Loki smiled. Thor may be a fool, but not as big the fool he took him for. Thor took him by the shoulders and looked straight into Barbara's brown eyes, but he knew the gaze that looked back was Loki.
"We are soon to face an enemy greater than we estimated. He plans vengeance upon Earth for his army's defeat under your command"
"What interest is Earth to me?" Loki replied, turning away. Both remained silent for a few moments, the air thick with unanswered questions and unspoken explanations. Finally, it was Loki who broke the silence.
"Guard the borders and look for threats that lurk in the dark. The danger is not over"
"The Titan, he has found a way to reach Earth, and a path back into Asgard" Thor said, understanding Loki's hidden message.
"He returns to destroy the Nine Realms. Now leave us"
Thor reached out, instinctively putting his arm out to touch him. He pulled his hand back upon realizing he would place his hand upon the shoulder of a body that was not Loki's own. He looked down at his real form that lay lifeless upon the altar. With a sigh, he turned to the doors and stopped before he exited.
"Together, we can still restore balance to the universe. When you return brother, I will be waiting"
He turned again, and left the chamber. Little did the God of Thunder know that time was not on their side. War was already at the door.
Loki sensed this. He knew that with Karnilla dead, the real enemy would descend. But this time, the battlefield would be on a distant world. There was not a moment to lose.
The stones.
Suddenly, he fell to his knees as pain exploded in his skull. Though he inhabited her body, it still belonged to her. He was merely trapped inside, unable to move freely and make use of its full range of motion for a prolonged period of time. Instinctively, her own consciousness fought against his, struggling desperately to block him out and reclaim the space he had taken. It was a battle that neither of them could win. Two could simply not live in one vessel. If they were both going to survive this, he would need her to do what only he could. She would have to be the one to free them from this torture.
If they were not separated and restored soon, they were both going to die.
Breathing heavily, Barbara rose from her knees and stood. She placed a hand to her middle and struggled not to gasp, the mere action causing her agony. The ache in the back of her head was excruciating. She fought against it, closing her eyes and forcing her lungs to take shallow breaths. She needed to act, and to act now.
"Tell me, Loki. Tell me what to do"
The stones. Look for the stones.
Loki's faint voice deep in her subconscious sprang her into action. She knew where to look. Before Loki had retreated back into the back of her mind he was moving towards his body. Whatever each saw, the other could see. Whatever one felt, the other would feel. Their thoughts, memories and emotions were now shared. She reached the altar and looked down at his lifeless body. For a moment, she allowed herself to marvel at the magnificent creature he truly was. Frost giants were a marvel to behold. Creatures of the ice, their physical appearance was daunting, but she saw the beauty behind it. Distinct markings adorned his skin, and its blue hue was deep azure. Almost cautiously, she reached out to touch him. She had heard tales that a single touch was enough to cause severe frost bite. Her fingertips danced over his hand, when a gentle feminine voice stopped her.
"Runes from the house of Laufey" Frigga spoke as she made her way over to Barbara. In her arms she carried Arik. The sight of her son caused Barbara's heart to leap in her chest and a pang of sadness to stab it in that part of her heart that was not hers, but Loki's.
Frigga approached and stood in front of Barbara, looking at her in amazement. She stared deep into her eyes as if looking for something, or someone. Arik reached for his mother, and Barbara took him in her arms.
"Every Jotun bears the mark of his or her father. Loki bears the runes of the king, thus distinguishing him as a prince of Jotunheim. As a frost giant, his body will remain this way, frozen. Had he perished in his own world, he would have been placed in the frigid waters of the River of Remembrance, his body once again becoming one with his world. They come from the ice, and they return to it. He's beautiful, isn't he? You can touch him. Their touch only hurts those they wish to injure"
Barbara looked at Frigga then turned once again to Loki. Holding her son with one arm, she reached out again and touched his cheek. She instantly felt the chill of ice, the cold temperature of his skin; but her hand did not turn black, nor did her limb go numb and useless. Frigga bent down and placed a gentle kiss upon Loki's frigid forehead.
What happened next left both women astonished.
"Fa...dah" Arik said softly, looking down at Loki's body. He too reached out and placed a small hand upon Loki's hands that were folded over his middle. Immediately, his own began to turn the same cobalt blue as his father's. The color crept upwards, and in a moment, his eyes had turned crimson and the same runes on Loki's skin formed on his own.
Frigga and Barbara stood speechless, watching the transformation. Barbara wept openly, witnessing her son become the exact image of his father. In her mind, Loki screamed.
Remove him! My son cannot be a monster!
"No my love... you're not a monster" Barbara whispered, burying her face in Arik's neck. She also registered the cold chill that emanated from his small being as he stood in Jotun form. Arik removed his hand and his skin reverted back to rosy, his eyes back to blue/green.
"Are you really in there, Loki?" Frigga spoke, placing a hand on Barbara's cheek "let me see you. Just once"
Barbara looked at Frigga, then wiped her tears and closed her eyes. She let her mind go blank, let nothingness engulf her consciousness. She fought against the pain that instantly exploded in the back of her skull. Thanks to her own amazing gift, she was able to reach into parts of her being that none other could. Then, to her own surprise, she was able to let Loki emerge while she retreated to the background. And it filled her with hope.
"I'm so sorry mother" Loki spoke through her "I'm so sorry for everything"
Barbara opened her eyes and Loki's fiery gaze looked back at his mother. Frigga's breath caught in her throat. Loki reached out and touched her side where a demon's weapon had injured her. She was well now, but he knew that it was through his own doing that he had brought injury upon his mother. He had placed in danger all those he loved.
Suddenly, Arik looked up and turned towards Barbara. He touched her face and looked into her eyes.
"Fadah" he whispered, his own infantile voice recognizing who really stood in front of him. Father and son looked into each other's eyes, and even though Barbara's brown irises locked with his, the child knew into whose gaze he was looking into. The two shared a unique bond that not even Barbara could ever understand. They were linked not only by blood, but by the mystical connection that was unique to their race.
"Loki" Frigga spoke "I know you will come back to us. I know you will find your way back home and you will set things right"
She wrapped her arms around him, and smiled at the irony of embracing Barbara instead. Many things that were inexplicable had happened since Barbara's return, yet this was the biggest enigma of all. Loki returned the embrace, placing his head on her shoulder and feeling her warmth. They stood like this for a long time, and he allowed himself to become lost in the embrace of both his son and his mother. Inside, he also felt the well of Barbara's love swell at the sight.
"Please hurry back" Frigga said when she disengaged from their embrace. She took Arik back from Barbara's arms and looked at Loki's lifeless body with wonder. "Now you're truly one with the one you love. You gave her your own life. Can a love stronger than this ever be found?"
Loki and Barbara watched her go. They looked at Arik who was cradled in her arms. Their offspring, the product of their love, their reason for fighting, for living, even under the unique circumstance in which they now found themselves. It had all been for him. And it would always be.
With a newfound urgency, Barbara turned back to the altar and lifted the left side of Loki's coat. Inside the green velvet that lined the interior of his inner vest was a secret pocket. She reached inside and retrieved the small black pouch she knew was in it. It was the object he had bargained for, the small yet powerful item he had sought. She pulled on the string and looked inside. A powerful brightness shone from within, almost blinding her.
The famous Norn Stones.
Clutching the pouch, she bent down and kissed Loki's icy cold temple. "I will bring you back, I promise" she whispered into his unhearing ears, though she knew he had heard her.
Then she ran out of the chamber. She no longer felt the weight of hopelessness, the hollow ache of anguish, the maddening surge of desperation. This time she would not let Loki down. It was now all up to her, and she knew where to begin. The Norn Stones were a source of magic, and now that she and Loki were one entity, his magic was also within her. She could feel the gentle flow of it running through her veins, the warm rush that could go unnoticed had she not been aware of it. All she needed to do was tap into it, and let Loki guide her hand as she brought it forth.
She reached his chambers and burst through the doors. She made a beeline for the large bookshelves that lined the walls of the antechamber.
"Alright, Loki" she said, eyeing the countless tomes that lined the shelves "time for you to teach me"
She understood. She understood it all. With unfathomable speed she flipped through book after book. Letting Loki guide her to the tomes that may contain the information they sought, she read about foreign sources of power, concoctions and spells to summon magical abilities found only in faraway realms. She knew it was Loki reading through her, but she also drank in the vast amounts of information. Yet when it came to the Norn Stones, they all said the same thing: Knowledge of them was limited, as they always remained with the ones into whose care they were entrusted. None could write about them because none had yet to possess them. Some believed them to be a mere legend, one of many that came from the magical realm of Nornheim. The sorceress queen guarded her powerful treasures, and access to the well of Urd was forbidden to all. It was also believed that the Three Norns had perished during the great battle when the province became independent from Asgardian rule, and that the Stones had been cast into the well of Urd to save them from being taken by Odin. The well was sealed and shut, and the Stones were never heard from again.
She had read all night. Books lay scattered on the floor, furniture was turned upside down while some items lay broken after she had repeatedly tried to tap into Loki's magic. Barbara sighed with exhaustion as she pulled another book, written by one of the greatest masters of magic in Asgard. He had been one of Loki's teachers when he was a young boy mastering his skills at the temple. She read the title: "Dark and Obscure Powers of the Asgardian Nether Regions"
Flipping through it, she finally reached a chapter in which he wrote about the sources of power that were unique to the province of Nornheim. She scanned through the pages and drank in the information: Queen Karnilla's powers, the might of her demons, the strength of the giants that guarded her palace, the well of Urd. Upon reaching that part, she stopped and read slowly.
The source for the River Urd is at the heart of Nornheim. It had once been a garden, a crystalline spring where Idunn and her maidens lived, leisurely spending their days in the apple orchards that surrounded the well. When the war with Asgard began, Idunn made her allegiance with the Allfather in exchange for her life and the safety of her powerful fruit. Odin needed her, and agreed to build her a temple in the heart of Asgard, as long as her life-prolonging fruits were made available to his subjects. She agreed and went on to become Asgard's most revered entity, a goddess among gods. Her three most beloved and trusted handmaidens, the Three Norns, refused to betray their queen and relinquish their powerful gifts. As punishment, their eyes were plucked out and their beauty taken from them. The oracles then became old, decrepit women that were not allowed to die, but left to wander around the well for all eternity. It is not known what became of them, but it was believed that Karnilla sealed off the well, and kept the Norns hidden along with the source of their power: The Magical Norn Stones.
Barbara looked at the pouch that contained the very objects she read about. If the Stones were real, then the Three Norns must still live.
Barbara, Loki's voice whispered, you must go to the source...
"To Nornheim" she finished.
Yes.
The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted their reverie. The doors to Loki's chambers opened and in walked a distraught Thor. She saw the fear and dread in his eyes and knew.
Time had run out.
"Earth has been attacked" he spoke gravely "the gatekeeper did not see it coming. They were veiled when they descended upon Earth without warning, but it is not over. Only a small fraction of Thanos' armies attacked, the rest currently make their way"
"A taste of things to come" Barbara said.
The blond god approached and knelt in front of her. "I need your help. Only Loki knows this enemy. Only he can help us defeat him"
"Loki yet remains trapped within me... I cannot control my own powers while I'm like this and we don't know what may happen if I make use of his. We can't help you" she replied with desperation.
"If Earth falls, Asgard will fall. There will be no stopping them and we are not in the position to withstand an attack. You must help us"
"How...?"
The scepter.
"The scepter?" she asked, hearing Loki's voice whisper in her mind once again.
Wield the scepter. Let their own creation cause their downfall...
Barbara looked at Thor. She continued to listen, her eyes widening at Loki's words. Then she stood.
"Take me to the weapons vault. If you wish to save Earth you'll need what I offer"
The clicking sound of heels resounded in the massive hall that led to the stables. The echo of approaching footsteps gathered the attention of the three individuals that were already mounted on their horses. Thor, Sif and Volstagg turned just in time as Barbara exited the palace and crossed the corridor towards them.
"Odin's ravens" Volstagg whispered. The other two could only stare.
Barbara emerged. As she walked, her green gown shimmered and dissipated. Instead, she was now covered in silk, leather and metal: Loki's armor, but one fitted for her body. A sleeveless, cleavage-enhancing ensemble, the pleats, straps and armor plates hugged her feminine frame perfectly. On her shoulders rested two gold armor plates that secured the long, luxurious emerald green robe that trailed behind her. Her wrists were protected with shiny gold armguards lined with green silk. In her right hand she held Loki's scepter, the very same one that had installed fear into the hearts of the Avengers and had been Loki's source of power on Earth.
"Barbara..." Thor could only whisper.
"No horns?" Sif quipped, admiring her garb.
"Don't tempt me to go full regalia" Barbara retorted.
She mounted Twilight and set off through the gates of the palace. The other three followed. Thor and his two warrior friends were on a quest to save an endangered world and subsequently, their home. Barbara however, was not of the same mind. She went to rid her husband of his biggest enemy, to right the wrongs they had both committed, and to clear Loki's name once and for all.
She was on a quest for redemption.
End of Chapter 25
Responses to guest reviews:
RisDOLL: Oh my god that would be awesome! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I went to the movies this past Friday to see Insidious 2 but unfortunately my local theatre has yet to have a Thor 2 standee on display. They only have a huge poster of Thor with his hammer. Hopefully the standee will come soon. I really want to take a picture of me kneeling in front of Loki. Ahem... yeah, I know. I'm a nerd lol. I know how you feel about letting your emotions getting in the way before. It also happened to me, and I was the one who was writing it. Some part of me wished for Loki to be truly betraying Barbara so I could write some really sinister and bloody scenes when Barbara went out on a roaring rampage of revenge ala Kill Bill. But the muses would not allow me to make Loki that heartless. He really does love her, and even though he went the wrong path in securing their future, he never even contemplated cheating on the woman he loved. Ah,got to love him! But yet, he did fuck Karnilla once, for real. Bad boy! Glad you enjoyed the history of the last chapter! And who knows, maybe the end will hint at things that might come later, so there will be some sort of cliffhanger. We will see! ;-) Luv ya!
LisaF: Hello Lisa! Glad the history I wrote for Loki was to your liking. Hope you like my version of Lady Loki! Thanks hun!
Vermillion: HA HA! Muy cierto! Loki trato de conquistarnos de la manera equivocada. Como decimos en ingles: He went about it the wrong way. Lo que el debio haber hecho es mostrarse como el hermoso extraterrestre que es y asi mostrarle al mundo que los aliens no son las criaturas raras y extrañas del sci fi. Todas las mujeres del mundo se hubieran desmayado o muerto de un infarto al ver tan bello speciman y el mundo hubiera caido en sus manos. Las mujeres le habrian dado el mundo a Loki en una bandeja de plata. Con una sola sonrisa y hubiera sido el rey de la Tierra jejejejeje Hasta la proxima! Te quiero mucho! Me encanta que hays gozado de este capitulo-safari! ;-)
Theo98xoxo: There you are darling! I know how hectic school can get. I recently started teaching as well, and it's been very busy adjusting to a new group of children and letting them become accustomed to their new classroom and their new teacher. Oh no, don't cry! Actually, do cry. You have my permission ;-) Thank you hun! Hope you're doing great and give my greetings to your little bro! :-)