Hi everyone! So University started and I'm really busy, but I like writing, so...

Here you go!

ENJOY

Chapter 53

An strange pounding drifted with the strong wind to Loki's senses. The young king frowned, but his tired mind wasn't capable of identifying the noise. He just lay on the icy plain, eyes closed, while the snow carelessly covered his frozen and limp body. There it was again… it almost seemed to come from beneath him… from the ground. Soft, low thuds in an irregular order.

A rustle… rocks being moved…

Perhaps the storm is carrying pebbles… Loki thought, yet another voice, pushed away to the deepest and darkest areas of his conscience tried warning him to investigate further.

Why? Loki though with a sigh. It's not like it will matter… when I'm dead!

More pounding, another rustle, this time closer… A new sound filled the air like a whisper in the wind.

Loki wanted to open his eyes, but his body didn't obey, so he gave up.

Another thud, loud and clear… Snow was being scraped off the plain… The sound of metal… the sound of breath…

The young king's mind barely had the time to draw the logical conclusion.

No more thuds, no more scraping… The cold sunbeams lost track of his frozen form when three enormous shadows cast their darkness over the young king.

A low chuckle… a loud sniff…

Damn… Loki thought while he finally managed to open his eyes. Staring down on him, were three towering Frost Giants.

Loki wanted to sigh. I prefer dying… he thought desperately. What were the chances of finding him while he was still alive! Five more minutes and he would have been dead!

One of the Frost Giants twitched his lips in what Loki presumed was an evil grin.

"Look who decided to give us the honour of a visit…" he sneered.

The second Frost Giant, who turned out to be female, sniggered. "And how thoughtful of his highness to dress up in the right colours…"

The third and longest of the lot rolled his dark red eyes and hit both of his companions hard on the head. The two stepped back, growling hatefully, but the look they got from their leader shut them up.

"Enough playing around!" the longest bit back. "We'll take him with us before he freezes to death!"

The leader stepped over Loki's almost covered body and started walking in the direction of the Frost Giants' stronghold. The two others kneeled down and both grabbed one of Loki's arms to drag him to his feet. No matter how hard Loki tried, his body wouldn't obey his orders. He couldn't do anything but let the three Frost Giants draw him towards a fate worse than death.

Please die… please die… Loki thought on the rhythm of the Giants' steps. Nevertheless, the young king couldn't help but smile. After all, with a little bit of luck, the Jötuns would just kill him anyway, but Loki doubted that it would be that easy. The Frost Giants weren't known as the most "humane" creatures, even when it came to prosecution. Ironically, Asgard was partly responsible for that. Since the Jötuns had been defeated and the source of their power was taken, they were left isolated and as good as powerless. No wonder they got bored. According to the agreement Odin and Laufey had signed, every being, but Odin himself of course, setting foot on Jotenheim without their permission belonged to them and was their prisoner. Of course in the past, Odin had always been there to save Loki and his friends… now the young king didn't have that luxury. Right now, Loki was experiencing the worst scenario possible. He officially belonged to the Jötuns and they were free to do with him whatever they desired. Yet, besides that, the Frost Giants had a big price on his head. Loki was quite sure that they had some exceptionally entertaining plans for the killer of their king.

A dark shadow suddenly fell of the four lonely figures on the icy plain. Loki forced himself to look up when they passed the stately form of Laufey's palace. It almost looked like a hungry horned animal, looking over Jotenheim for lost souls.

And just like that, Loki found himself in the remains of the Jötun stronghold. Everywhere he looked, dark figures appeared from the shadows, their red eyes glistening with revenge. The young king had never felt more embarrassed. He was the king of Asgard! And now these savages all watched him in his weakest form.

The leader turned and followed the only remains of what once had been the road leading towards the palace. Loki closed his eyes. There was nothing he could do. His body was weak and fragile, he had no magic, he was defenceless.

His two captures came to a brisk halt and dropped Loki on the ground. The young king slumped into a pile on the cold floor. Soft voices, evil snarls and laughter sounded around him.

Loki bit his lip. No! he shouted to himself, infuriated by his own surrender. I won't lose myself! I will die standing!

With a lot of effort Loki managed to push himself onto his feet. His frozen body ached and cried for mercy, but Loki refused to give in. His thoughts lingered back to Asgard. To Frigga and her beautiful smile. He thought about her eternal faith in him. Standing tall was the least he could do for her. Thus Loki smiled challengingly and refused to show any kind of fear. He would welcome his fate with open arms. Nothing could be worse than what he'd already been through.

The sounds faded and all the Frost Giants present bowed their heads. High above him, on a small podium, in between two enormous pillars, stood a vast throne, completely made out of blue ice. From behind it, appeared another Frost Giant.

The leader of the group that had brought Loki to the palace turned around to face Loki. His ruby eyes glistened with rage. He clenched his right fist. With a cracking sound, a thick column of ice grew down his arm.

"Bow to the Queen, Asgardian!" he spit furiously. Before Loki could do anything, the Jotun smacked his icy fist across the young king's stomach. Loki cried out when his mortal body collapsed on the ground.

Queen? he thought, until it struck him. The young king rubbed his stomach and chuckled. This was almost too good to be true… Of course…

With a smug grin playing on his lips, the young king rose back on his feet and locked his eyes on the Frost Giant currently standing in front of the throne. He had to find out how much the Jötuns knew.

"Your Highness…" he greeted sarcastically.

The female Jötun squeezed her ruby eyes to a minimum.

"Loki! Son of Odin!" she called out. "Word has come to me that your father banned you to my world!"

Loki scowled. How could she know this so soon? Probably Odin's doing…

The young king placed his most charming smile on his lips. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, Your Highness…"

"Silence!" the Queen shouted. "I know who you are, trickster! Your lies will not deceive me! You are a murderer! With or without a misunderstanding! You belong to us!"

Loki frowned in fake confusion. "A murderer, My Leach?" he asked innocently. "Such harsh words for a beautiful lady like yourself!"

The Queen didn't seem too impressed by Loki's flattering. A sudden grin appeared on her grey face.

"A murderer indeed!" she responded while an exciting twinkle lit up her ruby eyes. "And not just any murderer! You slaughtered King Laufey! You misled him, killed him in cold blooded murder and attempted to destroy our realm!"

The whole room went silent and Loki got the uncomfortable feeling that the Queen knew something. Something precious, yet unspoken. Loki swallowed, but refused to break his determined smile. He would have the last laugh!

"I have to admit…" Loki answered wickedly while taking a step closer. "That sure sounds like me… A criminal of promises. A criminal of lies. But you know about all that…" Loki smiled shortly. For an instant his red Jotun eyes seemed to light up until his face hardened into a smug yet serious smirk. He locked his gaze once more with the Queen's.

"Don't you… Mother…"

-xxx-

Arya blinked away her tears for the millionth time that day while she carefully stuffed her beautiful gown, only meant for special occasions, into the big bag resting on her bed. The young warrior let her eyes slowly glide over the green fabric of her dress. She'd worn it that night… on Frigga's birthday party. That one moment she'd completely blew her chances – if she'd ever had any – with Loki. She'd always found that this dress suited her like non other and it perfectly matched her green eyes. A simple long gown, with no fabric to cover her shoulders. Not to flashy, not to dark… Just perfect. Would Loki have noticed her wearing it? Did he like it? Did he think her… beautiful?

New tears formed in Arya's emerald eyes. Again that same cold stab that had tortured her ever since she'd left Jotenheim, cut through her heart. Warm salty drops fell from her closed eyelids onto the back of her clenched fists, her fingers buried deep in the fabric of the dress.

Stop being so pathetic! she thought to herself while turning around to fetch the next pair of clothes. Yet she allowed her tears to flow and blur her view. Why deny her heartache?

Since Odin had fired her as Captain, Arya was no longer allowed to remain in her chambers in the palace. By the end of the day she needed to leave. The servants of the palace had offered to do the packing for her, but Arya preferred to do it herself. If only to keep busy…

The front door of Arya's chambers bust open and a silver shadow rushed in. Before Arya got a chance to be surprised, she stumbled backwards by the impact of someone running into her and two arms closing around her back. High pitched sobs sounded through the room. The young warrior looked down and found the trembling form of Frigga in a desperate search for comfort. Her golden locks seemed to float a few inches from her body as if someone had just rubbed a balloon over her head.

"F… Frigga?" Arya stumbled in a broken voice. The young princess only tightened her grip in response. Arya carefully closed her arms around her, wondering what the weird prickling sensation was she felt all over her body like electricity, until she noticed the soft silver glow surrounding Frigga's features.

Magic… Arya thought with both admiration and sadness at the memory of Loki. She never imagined magic energy would feel this pleasant.

The young warrior quickly stroke her fingers over her face to clean off her own tears before focusing on the little girl in front of her.

"Frigga?" she asked. "What's the matter girl?"

The young princess looked up. Her face was covered in tears.

"L… Lo… Loki!" she cried out. "He took Loki away!"

Arya felt the broken pieces of her heart crush under Frigga's words. So she knew already…

The young warrior swallowed. "I know… " she said while fighting off her grief.

"I want him back!" Frigga added while burying her face in Arya's clothes.

Arya softly nodded while stroking Frigga's hair. "Me too…" she whispered before she could stop herself. The two stayed silent for a couple of seconds until Frigga's almost hysterical sobs slowed down and her shoulders stopped trembling. The young princess looked up. "Why didn't you stop him?" she asked in a broken whisper. Arya looked down and opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. She'd been asking herself the same question all day.

Frigga curled her fingers in the back of Arya's black shirt, knowing it was unfair of her to ask this. Suddenly her eye fell on the bag on the bed.

"Arya you leaving?" she asked in horror. The little girl looked up, her bright blue eyes showing nothing but pure terror. Arya couldn't be leaving her as well!

Arya looked around her room. After some hesitation she led Frigga to the bed, set down and took the little girl on her lap. With a careful hand she dried the girl's tears.

"I won't be the Captain any longer, Frigga…" she explained, while trying to keep her voice steady. "I have to leave the palace, but that doesn't mean I won't see you again. We can still play every day!"

Frigga locked her bright blue eyes on Arya's emerald ones. "But… but… who will be the Captain then?" she asked.

Arya smiled softly. "Odin appointed your father as Captain again…"

Frigga shook her head. "But daddy doesn't want to be Captain!" she shouted angrily.

"Perhaps The Allfather will change his mind in time. We'll have to wait…"

"But why can't you be the Captain anymore?" Frigga asked.

Arya bid her lip. "It's complicated, Frigga…" she finally admitted.

Frigga looked down while an angry scowl covered her wet face. "It's always complicated!" she muttered.

Arya closed her arms around the little girl and hugged her tightly. For a couple of seconds she remained in that position, allowing a few lonely tears to drip on Frigga's head.

"Things will turn out fine in the end, Frigga…" Arya whispered, although she seriously doubted her own optimism.

The young princess looked up while fresh tears welled up in her bright eyes like diamonds against the blue sky. "I… I… I just… I just want Loki back…" she stammered while the soft silver glow around her body dimmed until it had disappeared in the air. Her hair fell back on her trembling shoulders and the blissful tingling of the magic faded. Suddenly the room felt a lot colder and darker than it had done before.

Arya drew a shaky breath while she desperately searched for an answer that would bring back that gorgeous smile on the young princess's face.

"You think we'll ever see Loki again?" Frigga asked in a broken whisper.

Deep within her broken heart, Arya felt a warm sparkle of hope burning in the darkness. There was nothing in the nine worlds she wanted more right now. And although every logical sense proved her wrong, Arya smiled.

"Of course we will…" she said, blasting every last bit of love and hope she held into her words. "You'll see…"

-xxx-

A deep, heavy silence fell over the throne room. Loki, never losing his cool, stared up while a smirk played on his lips. The Queen, Farbauti, wife of Laufey, didn't move a muscle. Emotionless she stared down on the young king. Loki waited, his impatience growing with the second. Why didn't she respond? Did she already know? Or had he managed to surprise her… If he had, he could have a chance to talk his way out of this! The rest of the room had grown in a startled silence, all looking at OR Loki, OR their queen, waiting for an answer. After what seemed ages, a small grin formed on the lips of Farbauti, yet still Loki couldn't derive her potential knowledge. This woman was good… perhaps he'd inherited his master skills from her. The young king waited… His body felt frozen to the core, his blood was running cold. A fear he'd never felt before crept through his fast beating heart. Was this how he made people feel when he skilfully hid his carts, only allowing people enough information to keep them happy, but not enough to please them?

Rule number one of a professional trickster: always be the smartest guy in the room!

Failed… Loki thought in cold despair while Farbauti's ruby eyes pierced into his very soul. Drastically… he added in thought.

"So you know…" Farbauti finally said. Her cold voice cut like a blade through the silence and almost made Loki spontaneously take a step back. The young king felt his heart stop. For a second he couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, he couldn't speak. His last spark of hope had been demolished in front of his eyes. She knew!

Farbauti slowly arose from her throne, clearly enjoying the silent surrender Loki broadcasted through the look of terror on his face. Her face sunk into a hateful scowl.

"Rakki, I called you! Rakki, son of Laufey! A disgrace!"

Loki swallowed and quickly forced his serious scowl back on his face. He wouldn't just let her win like this, although he couldn't help but grimace in irritation when he heard his true name. Rakki was old Norse for "dog". Clearly he hadn't been a blessing to her…

"Small… weak… " Farbauti continued, spitting out every word as if they were poisonous.

The room turned to their Queen, obviously hearing this information for the first time, but Loki did not enjoy their surprise. He had to think, and quick!

Farbauti smirked and gestured towards Loki. "My friends!" she called out. "Your prince has come home!"

The Jotun Queen let her words echo through the room, before letting out a short snigger. As if commanded, all the Frost Giants in the throne room started laughing hysterically. Evil, cold sounds, cutting through Loki's senses like the loud barks of a dog, or the frightening howls of wolfs in the dark of the night.

Farbauti grinned and slowly started descending from her throne. There were no stairs leading up, so with every step she took into mid-air, a plate of ice would appear to support her weight and disappear the moment her foot had left the smooth surface. The room went silent once more.

"Laufey never knew…" she said in a loud whisper. "Born in the rage of war… I couldn't hand him a weak and puny successor like you!"

For some reason Loki felt a stab of pain cutting through his frozen heart. The knowledge that even Laufey hadn't known of his very existence… Not that he really cared, but now he officially didn't belong anywhere.

Filled with hatred, Loki stared up to the towering woman in front of him. His ruby eyes had turned dark red and were filled with pure rage.

"You and Odin should get more acquainted…" he hissed.

"The Allfather should have left you on that rock to die!" Farbauti shouted. "You have grown into an even bigger disgrace than I thought possible! A traitor of your own blood! A traitor of two worlds! A murderer of your own father!"

For an instant Loki could see a crack in that serious, cold façade of his true mother. Deep hatred melted through. The hatred of a widow, having the murderer of her husband at her mercy.

Before Loki got a chance to defend himself, Farbauti reached down and closed her long, grey fingers around the young king's bare throat. Loki felt his feet lose touch on the ground. He wanted to struggle, to kick, to scream, but a sudden, deeper and darker coldness spread from his neck through his whole body. He lost focus on the room. His surroundings changed into a mix of tall, dark masses and harsh sounds. In front of him arose the black silhouette of Farbauti. She easily lifted his limp, aching body, penetrating her long filthy nails in the back of his neck. Loki heard his own voice, screaming in agony, while his whole body got tortured in a burning fire of ice. And then, just like that, he felt the cold ground all around him. Loki drew a shaky breath while he blinked away his tears, desperately trying to focus and orientate. His limb shook frantically in spastic movements, while the last stabs of Farbauti's frozen fire ran through his muscles. Two strong hands painfully closed around his upper arms and drew the young king to his feet. Loki blinked and winced. Farbauti towered above him once more. A low chuckle left her lips while she almost lovingly placed one finger under Loki's chin, forcing him to look up at her.

"How thoughtful…" she sniggered while Loki felt another blast of frost infiltrate his body. He was sure his skin was covered in ice by now. "You are mortal…"

Farbauti laughed and removed her finger. The two other Jötuns dropped Loki back on the floor. The young king whimpered. He looked up at the Queen in front of him. He'd lost and he knew it. There was no way he would come out of this alive.

"Just kill me, already…" he sighed. To his surprise, Farbauti laughed and shook her head.

"Oh no…" she said while carefully lowering herself to Loki's eye level. "Royals like you deserve special treatment…"

Loki winced. He doubted she was talking about a warm bath and a fine meal.

"A man came to us, not so long ago…" Farbauti continued, now in a silent whisper so only Loki could understand her. "An old friend of yours…"

Loki's eyes grew big with horror. The Other had been here as well!

"He offered us a good price for your head, but I think I'll keep you to myself for now…"

Loki looked up in his true mother's ruby eyes. For some reason he suddenly had the great desire to see Thanos instead of her. Farbauti scowled wickedly and Loki felt his heart shrink to a minimum.

"You killed my husband! And you will pay! You will burn on this realm of ice! We are going to have so much fun together, my son!"

I know this fic has been very depressing lately... I'm sorry to inform you that it's not done yet... I'm sorry! But I promise some wonderful chapters in the future to make up or it!

Please let me know what you think! I'll try writing when I can...

Rumple x