Hi everyone! So this is it! I've been working towards this chapter for quite some time! *Excited me*
I just hope I didn't f*** up! ;p
ENJOY!
Chapter 51
Everyone gathered behind Loki. No one dared to say a word. Jane decided to watch from the side, so she softly kissed Thor on the cheek before taking a few steps back to the fire. She shivered in the cold night air and watched the others nervously await orders.
Loki stood in front, in his trembling hands he was still holding the Valkyrja Stone. Slowly, the young king turned around to face his friends.
"All right…" he started while trying to hide his shaking voice. "I'm going to lift the invisibility charm now. Please, try to remember what you promised me…"
Sif shared a look with Arya. The young warrior tried to smile, but that didn't really work out.
Loki locked his eyes one more time with everyone present as if he was trying to somehow apologize for what they would witness tonight. Suddenly he turned to Arya and did the same. The young Captain froze, although her body seemed to be on fire. But just as fast as his attention had come, it disappeared again. Arya watched Loki turn to the dark crack in the wall again. The young king raised one hand and opened his palm. For a second nothing happened, until a sudden green flash lit up the dark night and revealed an icy cell, hidden inside the crack. Slowly everyone adjusted their eyes in the new darkness while they cautiously took a step closer. There, tucked away in the darkest corner, lay a limp and lifeless body. Thor stepped closer until he stood next to his brother and stared through the rocky bars inside the cell. For a couple of seconds, no one said anything, but patiently awaited Thor's judgement. The God of Thunder was speechless. His eyes scanned the body in search for something familiar.
The once so mighty Allfather lay motionless on the cold ground, his back resting against the grey wall, his head had fallen on his right shoulder. He looked exactly like the last day that Thor had seen his father, yet his golden armour had grown dull, his white beard had grown wild and covered most of his now grey and old face. The normal sparkle in his one eye seemed to have vanished. Odin stared into oblivion, no emotion colouring his face.
Thor felt his anger boil inside him, his blood rushed through his veins. All he could see was the limp body of his father, the man who had taught him everything he knew. Thor couldn't think. There was no reason, no pity left. His fingers closed around the handle of the Mighty Mjölnir. With a loud roar Thor lifted his hammer and smashed it hard on Loki's chest. The young king flew backwards until his back hit the wall of the crack. Loki sank to the ground, but Thor was quick to pull him back up and pin him against the wall. With one swift move Thor had dropped Mjölnir and snatched one of Loki's daggers from his brother's belt. The God of Thunder pushed Loki harder against the wall and placed the blade on his throat.
"Thor, stop!" a voice sounded. Jane rushed towards her husband and carefully put a hand on his shaking shoulders. Thor's hand trembled. The silver blade cut though Loki's upper skin, allowing a small stream of blood to flood his neck. The God of Mischief groaned. He could have foreseen Thor's moves and in fact he had, but Loki knew Thor was just letting off steam. He'd counted on the others to stop him in time.
Loki stared back into his brother's watery bright blue eyes while a small grin played on his lips. Thor needed him, and he knew that.
The God of Thunder was trembling with rage. His face was only inches apart from his brother's, but no matter how hard he wanted to kill Loki, he just couldn't.
"How!" he hissed while suppressing his tears. "How could you do… this…"
Loki didn't answer, but only grinned wickedly while he slowly, and not without effort, lifted his right hand which was still holding the Valkyrja Stone.
Thor slowly let go of his brother, but not once he broke the eye contact.
Loki cracked his neck and wiped off the blood on his throat. The wound was almost healed by now. "It was easy, really…" he answered silently. "Just as easy as it would be for you, to just kill me now!"
Thor clenched his teeth and closed his fingers around Mjölnir while he angrily threw Loki's in blood covered dagger in the snow. Loki smirked, knowing that Thor couldn't hurt him as long as Odin wasn't back.
Jane softly pulled her husband's shoulder and lead him back to the others. Once the couple had turned their backs on the young king, Loki's smile dropped. The fear in his heart was building up to pure terror. He could smile all he wanted. Thor was just the beginning.
The young king made his way back to the cage and faced the old man inside. A look of absolute disgust spread over his face. It seemed like yesterday he'd dumped Odin's useless body in this godforsaken cell. He couldn't believe that now, only six years later he was about to bring his greatest threat back to life. The young king looked up, to the few stars he could see. It was almost midnight. It was now or never…
Loki took a step back, his friends automatically did the same.
"Whatever happens," Loki said in a strong voice, concealing his fear, "you don't break my concentration!"
Loki didn't wait for an answer, he took a deep breath and threw the stone, through the bars into the cell, towards the lifeless body of the Allfather. Just before it would touch his grey skin, the Valkyrja stone stopped falling and kept floating right next to Odin's arm. Immediately a cold breeze blew through the valley and put out the campfire, leaving the fellowship in complete darkness. Only the stars, which were barely visible above the narrow walls of the valley, shone a dull light on the icy plain.
And then, when the wind suddenly dropped, the Valkyrja stone lit up bright in the dark cell, throwing a warm light over the eight people outside and the limp body against the wall.
Loki slowly sank down on the ground, his legs crossed, his eyes not once leaving the glowing stone in the cell.
The others watched in amazement while the air around them grew colder and colder.
"Am I the only one hearing voices?" Fandral suddenly whispered. A loud hushing followed.
"I think they are the voices of the death…" Arya whispered back after a short silence.
"Right… that's comforting…" Fandral said in a high pitched voice, again with a loud hush as an answer.
Everyone stared at the young king who almost seemed to be in trance. Just when they thought nothing would happen anymore, the temperature dropped critically. A big black whole appeared in the cell. The voices grew louder.
"Odin Allfather, I demand you to return to these realms!" Loki's voice suddenly sounded loud and clear, making everyone jump a foot in the air. For a couple of seconds nothing happened.
"Odin Allfather, I command you to return to these realms!" Loki called out once more, more insisting this time.
The cold breeze returned, making the snow whirl up from the ground into the others' faces. The wind grew in strength while more voices came loud and clear from the dark portal in the cell. Arya covered her face from the sharp snow which cut into her skin like sand in a desert. She was finding it hard to remain standing and the wind only increased in speed.
"Eer..my lord!" she called out while her feet slowly lost grip on the icy ground.
Sif, who was experiencing the same difficulty, called out as well. "Loki!" she screamed, but her voice drowned in a loud cracking noise. She looked up and witnessed how the crack in the cliff started to grow.
"Loki!" Fandral shouted anxiously. "The cliff!"
The wind grew colder and stronger. The voices echoed through the valley.
"Odin Allfather! I command you to return to these realms!" Loki shouted once last time over the roaring of the wind. Suddenly a white spark escaped from the dark portal and dived towards Odin's lifeless body before disappearing in his chest. Loki sprang to his feet and stretched out his hand towards the stone. The wind turned direction and rushed through the bars inside the cell, making the snow fly about the portal in one big white whirl.
And then, just like that, a blinding flash of silver light lit up the valley before the Valkyrja Stone shot back into Loki's outstretched hand. The wind dropped and darkness fell once more. Only the sound of Loki's heavy breathing and the relieved sighs of his friends filled the valley.
A flickering green ball of light appeared and lit up the dark crack in the wall. Loki looked up. The crack had made its way up and almost reached the top. He sighed in relief. They would have had a serious problem if the cliff had decided to cave in on them. The young king looked down on the Valkyrja stone. It looked just as it had before.
Fandral sighed and laughed. "Well… I thought you said that this would be a piece of cake!" he exclaimed. His blond hairs were filled with white snowflakes, just as his coat, but his eternal smile had returned to his face. The golden warrior looked up at the stars.
"It's past midnight… The first of November…" he announced. Fandral looked down again and licked his curved lips. There was only one question everyone wanted an answer on. "Did… did it work?" he finally asked.
Loki turned to the dark cell in front of him. The others followed his stare.
A low groan, followed by a desperate draw for breath sounded through the night.
Loki swallowed and subconsciously took a step back. Thor on the other hand stepped towards the bars.
"Father…" he said silently. A low moan sounded through the valley. In the little light, a dark silhouette slowly crawled to its knees.
"Thor?" a hoarse voice sounded. The God of Thunder stared back, completely speechless and watched his father slowly get on his shaking legs and step into the little light.
In the meantime Loki had decided to not give Odin the pleasure of seeing him scared and cowering, so he took a deep breath and moved his fingers, allowing his golden sceptre to appear in his palm. The young king forced a serious, slightly challenging expression on his face. Arya came to stand right behind him, a little bit to his right. Sif did the same, but on Loki's left. The Worriers Three followed her example. Jane decided to go stand next to Arya. The young Captain threw her an encouraging smile. Every single one of them had something to fear.
"Thor?" it sounded again, this time a lot stronger.
"Father…" The God of Thunder said in relief. "I cannot say how relieved I am to see alive an… eer.. almost well."
Odin took the last steps to the bars. He seemed confused and rubbed his forehead until he suddenly remembered.
"Thor!" he shouted. "There was a guard, but it wasn't a guard in the end… It was Loki! He tricked me! He tricked us all! You have to stop him!"
Thor bid his lip. Although he still felt a strong anger towards his brother, he couldn't deny the fact that Loki had kept his promise. He'd brought Odin back, even though he'd held all the power needed to trick them once more.
"Father… There are things you need to know. Loki…"
"No, no!" Odin cried out. "I realise what you are thinking, my son! But Loki is not dead! He made us believe so!"
"Father…" Thor tried, but Odin kept going.
"He caged me! He took the throne! He is a traitor! He must be stopped! Loki shall pay for his treachery! He…"
Odin's voice died when his eye suddenly fell on the young king, standing a bit further with a smug smile playing on his lips.
The Allfather raised his finger and pointed towards his stepson.
"You!" he spit hatefully. "You… you… traitor! You… serpent!"
Loki sniggered while he felt his old hatred boil to the surface.
"Why father…" he responded sarcastically and cold. "your language! Is that your thanks for being set free?"
Odin turned back to his oldest son. "Thor, whatever he told you, it is a lie! Seize him, seize that traitor!"
"Father…" Thor tried again. "Loki is the king!"
Odin turned quiet. "Don't you see, Thor! He tricked you!"
Thor smirked. "Yes he did… He tricked us all, father. Yet Loki has been king for six years now. A good king…"
"He is no king! Not as long as I do not crown him!" Odin bit back. He turned back to Loki. "You shall never be a king!" he shouted. "You! Are! No! Son of mine!"
Loki's eyes turned dark. "I'm glad we agree on one thing after all…" he sneered.
"Please, father…" Thor interrupted, but Odin shut him up.
"No! Let Loki speak! Let me hear what he has to say! Open this cell or are you afraid, son of Laufey!"
Loki's jaw tightened. He heard his friends freeze beside him, but no one asked any questions. His eyes locked on Odin's one furious eye.
"What is it now, Loki?" Odin asked wrathfully. "Nothing to say? Don't you dare to face this old man?"
Loki took a step forward and lifted his sceptre before planting it deep into the snow. A powerful shockwave spread over the ground. The bars, separating Odin from Loki crumbled down like sand. Once the dust had disappeared, Odin stepped further into the light, past his oldest son. His face was scarred by hatred and anger.
The Allfather stretched out his hand and Loki felt a strong pull around his waist. Before he could stop it, the Valkyrja Stone was ripped from the small pocket at his belt and shot through the air into Odin's palm. The old man inspected the stone. A wrathful frown appeared under his wild beard.
"The Valkyrja Stone!" he whispered before fixing his attention on his stepson once more. "Only a coward uses this!" he spit. "Too scared to take a life! Too weak!"
Loki's eyes darkened a couple of shades.
"Father!" Thor said while rushing to Odin's side. "Look at it! The Dark Elf Magic is gone! That's Loki's doing!"
Odin sniggered. "Is that what he made you believe, my son!"
The stone fell to the ground and Odin fixed his eye back on Loki. "How dare you…" he hissed. "How dare you take the throne as your own! You are no king! You never will be! You used and manipulated your friends, your family! You are not worthy of your title! You were not worthy of your mother's love!"
Odin stretched out his hand and magically pulled the golden sceptre from Loki's grasp. Once the steel touched his flesh, the Allfather regained his royal aspect. His bent back straightened up, his golden armour shone brighter than ever before and his usual aura of power returned.
"I won't make the same mistake as last time!" he roared. Loki smirked and opened his arms invitingly.
"Go ahead, papa…" he sneered.
"I, Odin Allfather, sentence you to death!" the Allfather shouted infuriated. "And I shall take the liberty of killing you myself!" he added in a creepy whisper. He lowered his sceptre and wanted to strike, but Loki was quick to act and created a powerful blast of Energy which pushed the Allfather back. Odin stumbled back and blindly attacked the circle of illusion Loki had put around him. After the last one had dissolved in the cold night air he turned to the real Loki and, by using his sceptre, fired a blinding flash of energy on the young king. Loki created a shield, but the blast was too strong. His shield burst into pieces and Loki was thrown back. His back painfully hit the wall, but the young king didn't have the time to recover for he immediately felt a strong grip close around his whole body. The magical grip tightened until he could barely breath. Loki desperately tried to free himself but it was in vain. He groaned, knowing the worst still had to come. He didn't need to wait long. Odin lifted his arm and moved Loki's body through the air before letting it smash hard on the ground again. Loki cried in agony when he felt a sharp rock bust through his armour and cut in his side.
"Stop!" a voice sounded. Arya jumped in between Odin and his stepson, but neither the old man, nor the young king was prepared to listen.
In a rage, Loki sucked an enormous portion of Energy from the air before blasting it in a fierce blast around his body. Odin's grip loosened and Loki managed to get on his feet again.
The young king didn't hesitate. He produced a flashing ball of Energy in between his palms and threw it in Odin's direction. The Allfather attacked at the same moment. The shockwave created by the collision of their magic threw Arya aside and the battle continued.
Loki fought harder and fiercer than ever before, throwing one blast of Energy after the other, but Odin cast them aside as if it was child's play. Every single one of his attacks pushed Loki further back. The young king felt his magic fail. He was losing and there was no way he could fight back. He'd known that from the start, but that didn't mean he wasn't any less scared. With every step he took backwards he felt the wall close in and his heart grow cold. He didn't want to die! Not here! Not now! And certainly not at the hand of Odin!
Loki readied another Energy wave, until his concentration was broken by a sudden rock behind him. The young king tripped and fell back. It would be his last mistake because Odin saw his chance and rushed forward. With the back of his sceptre he hit Loki hard on the head, which left the young king dazed and dizzy on the frozen ground.
Loki looked up through the tears that had formed in his eyes, thanks to the blow to his head. As through a haze he saw Odin tower above him, turning his sceptre with the blade down, ready to strike his stepson in the chest. Loki didn't want to... he didn't want that senile fool to enjoy this, but in his fear he closed his eyes and awaited the last attack.
"No!" a voice roared above him. A gust of wind and the sound of one metal hitting the other. Loki opened his eyes. Thor was standing beside him, holding Mjölnir above Loki's chest. Odin stared at his oldest son in disbelief.
"He has tricked your mind, Thor! Can't you see!"
"Father, please! Listen!" Thor shouted back. "I won't let you hurt Loki! I too have hated him for his crimes and I too shall not forgive him for everything that he has done, but that does not change the fact that he has been a good and right king!"
"I sentenced Loki to spend his life in prison! That you set him free without my approval is already a serious step over the line, but that he defiled your trust and betrayed me is unforgivable! Loki has had his chances! Now he has to pay! He should have done so a long time ago!" Odin raised his sceptre again and wanted to strike but another blade stopped him. Odin looked up and met the fierce emerald eyes of Arya.
The young Captain had never looked more hateful. "With all due respect, sire," she said darkly, "but you'll have to kill me first!"
Odin stared at the girl in front of him. "And who might you be?" he asked.
Arya, who never lowered her blade, stared back without fear. "Captain Arya, my lord!"
Odin smirked. "Did he give you that title?" he asked rudely. "What happened to my Captain?"
A flash of hurt darkened Arya's bright emerald eyes. "I serve king Loki, my lord. My father was the former Captain. He neglected his duties and claimed the throne as his own. It was Loki who stopped him. If it weren't for Loki, we would still be under the rule of my father."
Odin turned his sceptre to Arya now. "That is a lie!" he roared. "The Captain served me for many years!"
Arya stumbled backwards now that Odin's blade was turned on her. Although the fear started building up again, Arya refused to give in. "My father was a great man indeed, until he received a power he could not handle! That is something Loki understands!"
"Young girl…" Odin said silently while lowering his sceptre. "You are serving a liar! You think you know him? You think you can trust him?"
Arya nodded fiercely. "I do!" she said without hesitation.
Thor panicked and shared a quick glance with Loki who was starting to crawl back on his feet now that Odin's attention wasn't fixed on him any longer. Both he and his brother knew where this was going.
"There is a spell!" Loki shouted in an attempt to change the subject. "A spell that can only be done by the king of Asgard!"
Odin turned back to Loki. "What dark magic are you referring to?! I will not let you!"
Loki ignored him and continued. "It is an ancient spell. It dates from the very Beginning!"
Thor decided to take over while Jane slowly came closer. When Odin noticed her, he frowned.
"What is she doing here!" he asked, but Thor didn't answer. Instead he continued Loki's explanation.
"This spell contains the power to gain immortality. Father, the reason we… the reason Loki freed you today is that you could crown him king. The rightful king… If not, than we hoped you would cast the spell yourself."
Odin sniffed. "On who?" he barked. "On her? On the human?"
Thor had to do his very best to ignore Odin's rudeness. "And on my daughter…" he cautiously added.
Odin froze, but quickly recovered. He turned back to Loki.
"Spell or no spell! You still remain unpunished!" he roared while raising his sceptre once more. "Did you honestly think that I would crown you king!"
"Father, please! Give Loki a chance to prove himself!" Thor interrupted.
"The Asgardians respect him!" Jane suddenly joined in. "As do we all…"
But Odin was too angry to pay any attention. "No! It ends here!" he roared. Slowly he made his way back to Loki. The young king grinned widely.
"You can't blame me, father…" Loki sneered. "I only did what you taught me…"
"I took a leap of fate when I took you in!" Odin bit back. "I went against every basic instinct I had and brought you to Asgard."
Sif, the Warriors Three and Arya shared a confused glance. Odin continued.
"Frigga immediately loved you, so did I and so did Thor… Is this your gratitude? Is this what you do to the people who raised you, who saved you…"
"It was your own decision to take me in!" Loki shouted back. He didn't care anymore that there were people around who didn't know who and what he really was. Odin would tell them nonetheless. "It was your decision to lie!"
Odin was now standing right in front of Loki, his sceptre held dangerously close to the young king's throat. Yet Loki didn't move.
"And it was your decision to turn against us!" The Allfather responded in an angry whisper. Loki grinned wickedly.
"I wonder if you could…" he whispered back. "Go on then… Kill your adopted son!"
Odin's eyes turned dark.
"Father, stop!" Thor shouted. The God of Thunder pulled Loki away from his father. "You gave me a second chance when I strayed! Loki deserves a second chance as well…"
Odin seemed to consider his son's words. Everyone on the scene stared at the three men.
"Very well…" Odin finally said. He took a few steps back.
"Thor!" he said before gesturing that the blond prince had to step aside. After some hesitation, the God of Thunder left his spot in between his brother and his father and joined Jane at the side.
"What are you doing?" she asked him in a whisper. "He could kill him!"
Thor nodded almost invisibly. In the corner of his eye he could see Arya, Sif and The Warriors Three ready their weapons in case they had to intervene.
"I don't think he will…" Thor answered silently.
Odin turned to Loki and planted his sceptre next to him in the ground.
"For your crimes against Asgard and the nine realms, Midgard in particular, you shall be banished!"
"No!" Arya shouted, but Sif stopped her by putting a hand on the young Captain's shoulder. Jane frowned sadly. This was probably an even worse scenario for the young warrior.
Odin continued. Loki didn't move a muscle or showed any kind of emotion.
"I take from you…" the Allfather said while stretching out his hand, "your title and your power!"
Loki felt a sickening pull in his chest when his immortality was sucked from his body. Although the young king tried everything in his power to remain standing, the sudden loss of strength forced him to sink on his knees.
"In the name of my father, and his father before, I Odin Allfather cast you out to the frozen wasteland of Jotunheim."
Loki looked up in surprise.
Jotunheim? he thought in fear.
Thor seemed to be thinking the same.
"Father, you can't!" he shouted, but the Allfather ignored him and slowly made his way to the kneeling form of Loki.
Against his will, Loki felt how his head was forced to look up into the cold eye of Odin. The Allfather placed his thumbs, index and middle finger on the young king's forehead. Loki had never felt more embarrassed, but an invisible power held him down and kept him from escaping.
"Now you can have what you so greatly desired: your birth right! Now you can rule your own world!"
Loki felt an ice cold shiver run from his forehead to rest of his body. The young king pulled away in fear. Odin took a step back and looked down on his stepson. No mercy was reflected in his eye.
A dangerously familiar feeling spread through the young king's limbs. Loki looked at his hands in panic and watched a cold blue creep over his skin.
"What…" he managed to say. "What did you…"
Thor watched his father in disbelief, yet his surprise was nothing compared to what the others were feeling. Sif and The Warriors Three all took a step back, their weapons instinctively raised in front of them.
Arya stood as stiff as a statue and stared with big green eyes to her king who slowly changed into his Frost Giant form.
Odin looked up from his stepson and turned to her. "Now you see, girl! He is not to be trusted!"
Thor looked around. His friends were clearly out of service. "Father! You cannot leave him here!" he shouted. "The Frost Giants have a price on his head! And he'll never survive!"
"You cannot… cannot do this!" Jane joined in with a shaking voice.
Loki looked up from his blue arms and tried to get to his feet, but this mortal body seemed to be a lot weaker than he was used too. With a lot of effort, the young king got to his feet.
"You shall pay for this!" he spit at Odin. Loki stretched out his arms in order to blast Odin to the other end of the universe, but nothing happened. Loki stared at his blue fingertips. He tried again and again and again.
Confused and terrified he stumbled backwards. The young king stared at his hands.
"No… no…" he whispered in fear and disbelief. "No… you… you took away…. You took away my magic!"
Odin didn't show any emotion. Loki started to panic. This couldn't be happening! He couldn't live without his magic! Not here! Not anywhere! He needed his magic! It was the only thing that gave him any strength at all, the last thing that connected him to his mother, the very thing that made him who he was: the God of Mischief.
"No… No…" he stuttered while his legs barely supported his weight. Loki's insides seemed to crumble down. He stared at his hands, his blue hands! Everything started turning. Loki's legs failed and the young king sank to the ground again, but he didn't care. He needed his magic! He needed his magic!
Voices started shouting around him, but the young king couldn't place them. The only thing he saw was his own cold blue skin while the frozen air slowly infiltrated his mortal, weak body. He needed his magic! He was nothing without it! He was nobody without it!
"P…Please.." he suddenly heard himself say. A voice in his head warned him not to plead, not to beg! He was Loki, the God of Mischief, the king of Asgard! He didn't beg! And especially not to Odin! But Loki ignored it. All he couldn't think about was that he needed his magic back.
"Please…" he begged again.
-xxx-
Thor couldn't believe his eyes. Loki was begging on his knees! The others seemed to think the same thing.
"Father, you can't leave him here!" Thor shouted one more time, but his father ignored him.
"Please… I'll do whatever you want… please…" Loki pleaded again. The young king had tears in his eyes. His voice sounded hoarse and broken.
Arya, who slowly broke free from her trance felt her heart break. Loki seemed so lost…
"My lord!" she started with a trembling voice while she stepped closer to Odin. "As Captain I cannot agree with this! I demand you undo your punishment right now!"
Odin turned to Arya. His eye was filled with power, but above all anger. "Your services are no longer required, my lady! I hereby relief you of your duties as Captain!"
Arya's heart skipped a beat. Had he just said what he thought he'd said?
"Arya…" Sif's voice sounded. The lady warrior seemed pale and scared, but she put her hand on the young Captain's shoulder and tried to smile. "Leave it… Don't make it worse…"
Arya looked down on Loki, her eyes full of pity. Her heart broke into a million pieces when she realised what this meant. She wouldn't see Loki again. Not ever.
Tears welled up in the young Captain's emerald eyes.
"No… No…" she stumbled, but Sif pulled her back.
Odin turned to the others. "Anyone who tries to help Loki will be considered a traitor!" he roared wrathfully. "Heimdall! Open the Bifröst"
With that said he waved his sceptre backwards. Loki was thrown back. The shockwave crashed onto the cliff. The dark crack cracked further open to the top.
The last thing Arya saw before the Bifröst sucked her back to Asgard was how the cliff crushed down on the man she'd only just learned to love.
If you experience a slight hate toward Odin, than that is completely normal. Just try to remember that I am just the writer... I am a person... Killing me will get you in jail... I'm really not worth it!
Please leave a comment, or anything else (except death threads... I don't like those...) ;p
Thanks!
Rumple x