Loki stood ahead of Jane. They stood still, making awkward eye contact between them.
Jane watched him slide off towards the door, chucking furniture in its way. He walked towards a beautifully engraved chest with red, white and golden leaf patterns on it, and scraped it across the floor in front of the door. He stood back up and stared at Jane in frustration. "Help me!"
Jane walked over, and they both pushed a table across the room. She looked him up and down in caution, avoiding contact or interaction.
Once they moved the table, Jane walked to the far side of the hall towards the windows. She looked back at Loki midway, but he was busy pushing more beautiful pieces of furniture in front of the door. Strangely, he didn't seem aggressive or threatening towards her.
She continued towards the windows, locking and barricading them. By the time she finished, the hall was dark. A buzzing sound was heard overhead, and the chandeliers started to light up and glow. A surge of energy passed through the ceiling, lighting up the entire hall.
Jane looked up and smiled. She heard a thud across the hall that echoed. She jumped, then saw Loki sat down in the corner of the hall with another chair by his side. Reluctantly, Jane walked over to him. She took hold of the chair and pulled it further away from him before sitting down.
Her dress flared across the chair as she sunk into it. She sighed deeply, then looked ahead at Loki.
His expression was dull and emotionless. "You want something?" She continued staring at him. "Are you purposefully going to look at me like that for the duration of our confinement here?"
"Sorry." Jane lowered her eyes. She heard a huff in his direction. Jane pulled her legs up on the chair and hugged them, her eyes still looking down.
For a while they stayed in silence, ignoring each other's presence, until Jane saw Loki stand up and walk towards a barricaded window. He grabbed hold of the seal and forced it open, his muscles clenching and pulling against the wall. Eventually it came apart and a beam of light shone through the window.
Jane watched him as he stuck his head out of the window. "What are you looking for?"
Loki brought his head back into the hall. "Just seeing if it is over yet." He patted the windowsill, then went over to sit back down. His feet started to tap against the floor. Jane glared at him. Loki met her gaze, then stopped.
"So what's up with you?" Jane dropped her legs and sat comfortably, waiting for a response.
"What?"
"Why are you so..." Jane waved her arms around gesturing to all of him. "evil?"
Loki looked at her confused. He raised his eyebrows then leaned back in his chair, ignoring the question.
"Thor said you never answer questions you don't know the answer to." She sat back, her arms crossed, waiting for the slightest reaction from him. His jawbone clenched as he looked away. Jane smiled, then continued. "He also said that you could have become something greater."
"The only way I could be greater is by sitting on the throne of Asgard!"
Jane smiled.
"What are you smiling at!" His voice crude.
"Being on that throne is all you care about, while Thor wants nothing of it."
Loki looked at her, staring into her eyes. "Your point?" Stubbornly he crossed his arms and stared at her.
"My point is, never allow yourself to be so desperate that you end up settling for something far less than what you deserve."
"What do I deserve then?"
"Faith, trust, loyalty...respect." Jane felt her body settling as she continued talking to him.
"A King is better..." His voice trailed off, noticing that he had none of those aspects on his side. He cleared his throat and sat up.
"Being a real King comes with those qualities. If you don't have them, then you're not a true King."
Loki leaned forward, bringing his chair closer. "You sound like mother." Jane saw his eyes scan her up and down in interest, a slight smile on his face.
"Frigga's taught me a lot." She smiled as she saw Loki still look at her in fascination.
"Thor is lucky to have you!" He smiled and leaned back in his chair.
Jane observed him, surprised by the sudden compliment. She was uncertain if he was fooling her, but she liked seeing a new side to Thor's evil brother. She felt comforted and relaxed around him, understanding that he was overcrowded by his ambitions — that it had become a part of him. For the first time, Jane started to feel like one of the family.
She smiled at his compliment, and hunched into her chair. Her eyes pondered around the room, then continued towards the open window. She pulled herself up and walked towards it, feeling Loki's eyes on her. Ahead of her outside, smoke and destruction had covered most of the land. However, there was no sign of anyone around. She leaned out and looked round the side of the window.
"Maybe it's over!"
A sudden thud hit against the hall door. Jane jumped, almost falling out of the window. She pulled herself in and looked towards the direction of the noise.
Loki shot up and edged closer to the door. Another aggressive thud was heard, pieces of furniture starting to fall down and break apart once crashing to the floor.
Jane gradually started walking, but halted when Loki held his hand out for her to stop. They stood in silence as the thuds started to repeat themselves, the chandelier lights flickering, and furniture flying across the room at every bump. Jane saw Loki draw two knives. The light cast a reflection on them. They shone so bright that Jane could see how immaculately clean they were. There was no stain. She could also make out how smooth and precise the blade was, seeing that it was recently sharpened.
Jane gulped and looked at Loki in fear. The thuds continued against the doors. She walked back, keeping her distance. She kept walking till she hit the open window. She jumped and looked through it. Nothing was outside. Silence. The banging on the door stopped.
Loki gradually walked towards the door, gripping onto his knives. He stood right in front of the entrance. He sheathed one of his knives and put his hand and ear against the door. He listened intently, not making a move or sound.
Jane saw him edge away from the door. His expression changed dramatically as he started running. It burst open, the remaining pieces of furniture flew across the room, almost hitting Jane on the other side.
She saw five figures run through. Thor and his friends charged into the room, they looked at Loki, then welcomed him. Jane smiled at the sight of Thor, his head turned her way and he walked towards her. She ran up to him and jumped into his arms. She felt him wrap himself around her and lifted her feet above the ground. He gently placed her down and looked into her eyes. She saw relief across his face as he stared into hers.
Jane looked away from Thor towards the door. She heard screams and shouting: footsteps thundering their way, louder by the second. She saw Volstagg shout dramatically and run through the entrance.
He threw his axe into a Frost Giant's face that had popped around the corner. Volstagg lost his balance and fell to the floor, the axe stuck in his enemies eyes. He jumped up and yanked it out with great difficulty, hearing a squelching noise.
Thor looked towards Jane. "Stay here, away from the fight!" He started running towards new signs of enemies, and threw his hammer in that direction. She saw him charging towards a Frost Giant, jumping in the air and punching him in the face. The Frost Giant plummeted to the floor, knocking his head against the hard ground. She saw how strong and powerful Thor was, and admired him for it. However, his strength grew when he was beside Loki.
Jane saw both of them fight alongside each other. She saw how unstoppable they were side by side. They protected one another and stormed their way through innumerable enemies. She saw Loki's swift and agile movements; his grace sliced through anything in his way. He would turn round and look at his brother in joy. Jane noticed that their strength was built on their relationship. She knew that they must understand how great they would be if they trusted each other.
Jane felt protected and reassured seeing Thor and Loki fight alongside each other for the first time, seeing them conquer what they both believe in. She felt protected, knowing that she had both family and friends who would fight for her and be with her through troublesome times.
Knowing that she was safe where she was, Jane still kept her distance away from the fight, just as Thor had said. However, she couldn't keep her eyes off the war ahead of her. She didn't know how to feel. Excited, or worried? Excited that she was in the eye of a war which she knew Asgard would win. But worry was brought by the many lives of soldiers to be sacrificed just to ensure Asgard would survive another day.
Intently, Jane stared at the fight. She saw Loki turn towards her. She smiled genuinely at him, seeing the good inside him for the first time. He smiled back, panting and out of breath. Jane suddenly saw his smile drop as she saw him charge towards her in panic.
In Jane's eyes, everything had slowed down. She saw Loki's alert and angered expression run towards her, his cloak trailing behind his sudden actions. Everything was silent, everything was slowing down. She saw swords and hammers fly across the room in midair, waiting to pierce into someone's flesh. She saw Thor gleam in glory, blood and sweat dripping off his skin. She saw Loki lunging closer and closer towards her. Things started to quicken and reality kicked in.
"Look out!"
Jane lurched forward, catching her breath. She stood frozen in place for a few seconds, uncertain as to why she couldn't move. Her mouth started to fill with blood. A red stain dripped from her mouth. She looked down where the pain hurt most and saw a frozen spike stuck through her. She tightly grabbed hold of it and forced herself to continue breathing. Another shot of pain surged through her as the spike was yanked out from behind. She heard a deep growl behind her. A Frost Giant.
Ignoring the nearby presence, Jane placed her hand on her stomach, feeling a hole through her. Her eyes started to water and she screamed in pain, but the collection of blood building up in her throat prevented her from doing so. She tightly closed her eyes, hiding away from her fate. Her body started to shake. She opened her eyes and heard a snap behind her.
Loki had run past and broken the Frost Giants neck, screaming in anger as he did so.
She saw him stand ahead of her, looking at Jane in utter shock, not knowing what to do.
She felt weak and unsteady. Her body flopped to the ground. She felt blood pour out of her, her hands tainted in red. She then felt a hand hold her head up.
"Th-Th-Thor." Jane's voice weak and lost. She reached her hand out, Thor grabbing it and holding it up against his lips. He repetitively kissed them, her blood infused with his. She felt herself being lifted up into his arms. He leaned in close and rocked back and forth steadily.
Her body felt cold and shivered with every breath she took.
"Jane, do not leave me." Thor muttered under his crying breath. "Not now, please."
"It was inevitable, Thor. I knew this would happen." She felt a tear fall from her cheek. "You are strong, and will be a great King."
"No! Not without you!" Thor's angered voice scared Jane as she jumped. She coughed, her mouth trickling with blood. He leaned back away from her, Jane saw his cold, lonely eyes. She hushed him and held tight to his hand.
"Thyra. I thought our child could be called that." Thor's voice settled her slightly, making her smile.
"You think our baby will be a girl?" She felt a pain in her side making her smile vanish. Jane tightened her grip onto his hand and nodded. "I like that name." She looked into his eyes, seeing them briefly smile. "It's ok..." She said as Thor leaned in to subtly touch lips. "It's alright." She leaned her head back to see Loki, he kneeled down and took her other hand. "You- you both need to understand how much you need each other." Loki was about to interrupt, but Jane tightened her grip, scrunching up in pain. "You need to start trusting each other." She took a deep breath, and relaxed.
"Jane!" Thor gripped her tightly, shaking her. She turned her head towards the ceiling.
"You're both Kings to me, but only together will you accomplish the impossible." Her head flopped towards Thor. Her eyes blurred. Her eyelids were heavy.
"Jane..."
"Promise me, Thor, that you will do this for me." Jane whispered.
"I promise, over and over again, I promise." He leaned back in towards her, and kissed her cheek and lips. Jane slowly lifted her head to touch the tip of his ear, whispering.
"I love you with all my heart. I will always be with you." Her sight started to blur, and her body tensed for one last time until her grip loosened and her body grew limp. She felt a cool breeze pass through her hair, and closed her eyes in peace.
Through the window beside them, a gentle breeze floated through the room — autumn leaves drifting in and lying on top of Jane's pale, empty body. Thor screamed in anger, the walls shaking around him. He held tight onto Jane, rocking her body back and forth. He closed his eyes, ignoring the signs of people around him.
Slowly he sat up and looked down at Jane. Her face was painted with blood. He saw how peaceful she looked, and then leaned in to kiss her on the forehead.
"I love you too."
