Oooookaaaaaaay... I'm not dead... entirely... yet... (only on the inside)
Honestly, I never intended to make you wait so long (like over a year, I'm a horrible person... so sorry). I actually wanted to finish this fic before Thor Ragnarok came out... Yes, you read that right, freaking Ragnarok. HAHAHAHA, I know, hilarious! First there was a writer's block, then there was school, then there was more school and to top it of, a bit more writer's block... and more school...
But you're all not interested in that, because you just want to start reading! So by all means, I hope you ENJOY it... at least a little.
Chapter 71
In the throne room however, another very unpleasant surprise was awaiting the two men. Loki and Atlas came to an abrupt stop when the doors of the throne room came in sight where a group of eight Frost Giants was waiting. Behind them another group of Jötuns were guarding their captives: Odin, Thor, the Warriors Three, the three other Lords and Sif. Loki couldn't belief it. Never had an enemy made it this far. Whoever had showed them in, knew about the castle's infrastructure. For a split second Loki thought about pulling the same trick he'd done before, but since he'd already lost the element of surprise, he doubted he'd be fast enough. Besides, even if he managed to beat the eight Frost giants in front of him, the others would definitely attack.
"Surrender!" one of the Frost Giants barked. Lord Atlas turned towards Loki as if he was expecting a plan, but Loki only sighed and raised his hands in the air.
"You got us…," he said in a defeated voice. Lord Atlas' eyes widened in fear, but he quickly understood they stood no chance. Once the two men had joined the others, they were guided through the hallways, towards the dungeons.
The group was split in two. One cell for Thor, Odin, Sif, the Warriors Three and the Lords and one for Loki. Once the golden barrier had slit in place, one of the Frost Giants turned towards them. His ruby eyes shone with delight while a grin cut through is face. His eyes first pierced into Odin's. The Allfather didn't move a muscle.
"Asgard had fallen, old man!" he hissed. "After all this time, you'll finally pay for what you stole from our people!"
Afterwards he turned towards Loki, a murderous glare filling his ruby eyes.
"And you, little murdering misfit, you will burn into eternity until you scream for mercy!"
The Frost Giants laughed and slowly turned away, making their way back up. Loki's jaw clenched. "We'll see who screams for mercy, you filth!" he hissed back.
"We'll return, Asgardians!" the last Frost Giants said in an amused voice. "After we've decided what to do with you…"
A few moments later they were alone once more. Loki noticed that most of the cells were filled with Asgardians, inhabitants of the palace who had come down here looking for shelter. However the Frost Giants had made it first. They probably had already set a few criminals free. Freedom in return for service… A foolish bet. Yet, this was another sign that whoever was behind this had known exactly where to take his guest.
Loki turned towards the others in the cell next to his. "Where are Arya and Jane?" he asked.
"Hopefully not here…," Thor said sadly, his eyes scanning the cells around him. A deep silence had fallen when the people had watched their king being imprisoned. For many, all hope seemed lost.
Odin sighed and turned towards Loki. "I take it you have no part in this?" he asked without emotion.
"Does it look like I do?" Loki asked, not able to hide a touch of annoyance in his voice.
"You always look like you're up to something," Odin answered dryly, although Loki could have sworn he noticed some playfulness in the Allfather words. Odin's dark eyes scanned Loki's form. The two men remained silent for a while.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Loki…," Odin finally said. Loki smirked while a soft green shimmer covered his appearance. The others in the cell looked up in surprise.
"I always know what I'm doing!" Loki responded with a smile. Suddenly his eyes turned dim and Loki slowly moved to the wall in his cell where he sank down and closed his eyes.
Somewhere else in the castle a lonely figure sprinted through the hallways, carefully avoiding the patrolling Frost Giants. Luckily the Jötuns believed they'd managed to get the upper hand since the entire royal court had just been imprisoned. Or so they thought.
Loki honestly had no idea where he was going. Leaving an illusion of himself to be captured had been a bit of a leap of faith. Now all he needed was the rest of the plan, but that seemed rather difficult since every living soul in the hallways was out to kill him. Loki knew he'd have to keep the illusion in the cells alive in case some Jötun were to pass by his cell. However, he also needed a disguise. So Loki came to halt in a dark corner, took a deep breath and concentrated. When he opened his eyes again and looked down at himself he found his skin greyish blue. Loki smiled and quickly continued his search for anything that would give him the answers he was looking for. His first bet was to return to the throne room and see if he'd find information there. Luckily fate seemed to be on his side. When the doors of the throne room came back in sight, Loki's eyes immediately found the small form of Heimdall, kneeling in the middle of the room, surrounded by two dozen Jötuns. He'd obviously had put up quite the fight, but the Frost Giants had the upper hand.
Heimdall set quietly, breathing heavily, his golden eyes searching for his trusty sword which had been knocked out of his hands during the last attack.
"Asgard will not fall as long as I'm standing!" he roared through the room. "And I will never submit!" Just when the Guardian readied himself for one final fight, a loud voice cut through the air.
"Trouble in the dungeons! The prisoners are revolting!"
All eyes turned to the Frost Giant who had just entered. A low rumbling spread across the room.
"I told you we had to kill them when we got the chance!" one of the Jötuns said darkly. Loki assumed he had some kind of higher rank because the Frost Giants around him muttered in unison. The leader sniffed loudly and turned to Heimdall. His ruby eyes shone with a sadistic delight.
"The Guardian has fallen, no matter what he may say! And if he won't submit, we'll find ways to persuade him!" he said darkly before placing a well-placed kick in Heimdall's side, throwing him halfway across the room. The Jötuns laughed and slowly started to make their way out the throne room, following their leader towards the dungeons. Only a small group remained, including the newcomer. Heimdall slowly crawled on his feet, but was immediately forced on his knees once more by three Jötuns. But the Guardian paid no mind, his golden eyes locked on the newcomer, seeing straight through the illusion. Loki stared back and smirked.
"So, it seems I missed out on all the fun!" he said. The other three Jötuns in the room laughed and nodded.
"The Guardian was making trouble!" one of them said.
Loki smirked. "Did you expect anything less from a filthy Asgardian!" he spit back. The three Frost Giants grinned. Loki scanned the room until his eyes found Heimdall's golden sword, resting against the wall across from them. Heimdall followed his stare and scowled. Yet Loki grinned and pointed at the sword.
"You want this?" he asked innocently. Heimdall jaw clenched, his golden eyes pierced straight through Loki's soul. The God of Mischief knew Heimdall was still trying to figure out rather or not Loki was to be trusted. Slowly, Loki made his way over to the wall, his hands closing around the golden handle of the heavy sword.
"A nice weapon…," he said with a smirk. "For a dwarf like you!"
The other Jötuns laughed. Loki playfully tossed the weapon between his hands. Before letting it rest on his right shoulder. "I wonder…," he said mischievously. "If it even were to do decent job…"
Loki lowered the sword until the point was resting just beneath Heimdall's chin. "Shall we put it to the test?" Loki finished, his now ruby eyes, radiating with mischief. Loki stepped back. "Keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn't move! It be a shame if I were to accidentally kill him.
"They went too easy on you!" Loki said while tightening his grip on the handle. "Nothing is to scare a warrior more than to be killed by his own weapon!"
Loki raised the sword and smiled one more time. The Jötuns holding Heimdall down, grinned and lowered their eyes to keep an eye on their victim. Therefor they barely had the chance to react when the golden sword suddenly came down on them. No screams were heard, only the low thudding sound of three bodies hitting the floor cut through the silence that followed.
Loki slowly lowered the sword and waited until Heimdall had climbed back to his feet.
"It does have a nice swing to it," he said before handing the sword back to its rightful owner. "But I'd prefer my daggers any day!"
Heimdall smirked. Loki smiled shortly.
"What news do you have for me, Heimdall?" he asked.
"I belief I have located our traitor!" Heimdall answered. "Although right now, I belief he's cowering from his decisions. We might have to save his skin after all."
"Who is it?" Loki asked darkly.
Heimdall sighed. "Dale, Dale Gotarson…"
Even Loki's Jotun disguise couldn't hide the pain shooting across his features. What would Arya think now?
"Do you have a plan?" Heimdall asked after a short silence.
Loki smirked. "Let's just assume the plan is growing as we go…"
Heimdall shook his head and sighed. "I suggest we get back-up first! But since you just send all Frost Giants to the dungeons, our options are limited."
"Perhaps a small attack force will suit us best for now," Loki said with a smirk. Heimdall nodded in agreement. "Although, I suppose you'll better take on a disguise of your own, Heimdall!"
Loki let his eyes run over the Guardian in front of him. Heimdall looked down on himself, only to find his feet a lot further away from him than he was used to. His armour had disappeared, replaced by a grey blueish skin covered in dark markings. He looked up at Loki and locked his ruby eyes with his. "We better get going!" he said shortly. The two men ran out the throne room. The halls were dangerously empty. The Frost Giants Loki had tricked probably informed everyone else on their way to the dungeons. Loki could only hope Thor and the others could keep them busy for a while.
"Where to, Heimdall?" Loki asked. "Dale is hiding somewhere in the west wing of the palace, around the royal living quarters!"
Loki frowned. "Somewhere? You can't pin him down a bit more specificly?"
Heimdall shook his head. A look of worry spread over his features. "I sense his presence, but he has managed to disguise himself from my view, much like you did before…". Loki came to a halt. Of course… Dale must have been the one to read his research… Loki had studied hundreds of cloaking spells in the past in order to find one that would shield him from Heimdall's gaze. The Guardian himself had probably come to the same conclusion. They continued running.
"It seems our former Captain has some magic training, although it's far from complete… Either way, is there anything else he might have collected from your research?"
Loki had been thinking the same thing, but there wasn't much that worried him. His spells were mostly harmless by themselves, apart from the Valkyrie Stone… but that was far beyond anything Dale could have accomplished in such a short time. So he shook his head and said: "I belief not, but we should proceed with caution nonetheless. Spells like mine can be dangerous if they're performed by someone without the right knowledge or…"
An enormous blast cut Loki off. Heimdall instinctively pulled Loki aside and pushed him around the corner while a wave of dust was blasted through the hallway they were about to enter. Loki blinked confusedly, until a cold fear suddenly wrapped around his heart.
"We're near Thor's chambers!" he called out. Frigga and Jane could be here!"
"Shouldn't they've been moved to the dungeons with everyone else?"
"I don't know!" Loki bit back. "You tell me, Guardian!"
Heimdall frowned while his golden eyes turned foggy for a second. "I can't find them…," he said softly. "They're not in the dungeons, however, that's for certain…"
"Then Dale's raggedy spell is probably shielding them as well… they have to be nearby!"
Heimdall nodded while his hands tightened around the handle of his blade. Both men shared a look, quietly trying to decide their next move, when all of the sudden a new blast thundered through the hallways. A dark form came flying through the curtain of dust, soared past the two men and smacked on the floor, further down the hall. Loki and Heimdall tensed up, ready to attack whatever was waiting around the corner, but Loki quickly relaxed when a familiar sense of light magic washed over him. The God of Mischief smiled and softly put his hand on Heimdall's raised blade. "It's alright my friend," he spoke quietly. The Guardian frowned confusedly. The dust slowly settled and a small glowing form stepped into the clearing.
"I said: Don't touch my mommy!" the young princess shouted while raising her hands in front of her. Her blue eyes burned with anger while her golden locks moved around her head in a radiating light surrounding her. Loki could sense how the young girl collected enormous amounts of energy in her palms ready to unleash her fury on the lonely form in front of her. A low moaning arose from the hallway as her victim desperately tried to get back on his feet.
"Frigga… that's enough!" a sudden voice cut through the silence. The young girl quickly turned on her heels towards the source, holding her arms protectively in front of her. Loki carefully stepped into the light, allowing his disguise to disappear. His niece's eyes spread open in relief. A big smile cut through the anger on her young face as she threw herself towards her uncle.
"Loki!" she cheered. Loki smiled and answered her hug. A wave of power washed over him, but as usual, it only felt pleasant, like a soft warm tingling. Slowly the energy in the air died with Frigga's fading anger. In the meantime Heimdall had made his way over the moaning figure in the hallway. Dale Gotarson stared up in fear at the Frost Giant now towering above him.
Frigga shrieked and ducked behind her uncle for a second, but Loki quickly reassured her. "It's Heimdall, Frigga, no need to fear him!" In a blink of an eye, Heimdall's disguise faded as well, but the burning anger in his eyes remained as he lowered his blade towards the former Captain.
"Frigga!" another voice sounded.
Jane came running through the clouds of dust, waving her hand in front her face, coughing and blinking. When her eye fell on her daughter and Loki she sighed in relief and closed the little girl tightly in her arms while pressing a long kiss on the girl's golden locks.
"I'm sorry, mommy…," a muffled voice sounded. When her mother let go, Frigga's eyes scanned the devastation behind them. The walls and the ceiling were cracked and tons of stone lay spread across the hall.
"It's alright Frigga!" the young mother whispered while pulling her daughter in another hug. Her eyes glided from the cowering form of the former Captain to Loki. "Where's Thor?" she asked, not able to hide a touch of fear in her voice. Loki smiled softly.
"He and the others should be alright. They've been captured and were brought to the dungeons, where I suspected you and Frigga to be as well…"
Jane smiled shortly. "We were on our way when the attack started, but Frigga suddenly ran back because she'd forgotten your book of spells… When we were on our way back, the Frost Giants had already entered the palace, so we returned to our chambers and tried to hide."
Jane's eyes slowly focused on Dale once more. "It seemed that Dale had the same plan, but when he ran into us, he figured he could use us as hostages to guarantee his safety if Asgard were ever to come after him, I suppose…"
A dark look filled Jane's eyes.
"Not ever!" Frigga shouted, while joining her mother in angry stares. Jane smiled softly.
"So it's just us then?" she asked nodding to Heimdall.
"I'm afraid so…," Loki answered. "Were there many Frost Giants in this wing?" he asked. Jane shook her head.
"I think they belief everybody to be in the dungeons…"
Loki nodded. "Then we'll stay here for now while we come up with a plan!"
Jane nodded. "What do we do with him? He's got something to do with all this doesn't he? An innocent man wouldn't act like this."
"You're right!" Loki answered darkly. "I belief he's behind the Frost Giant attack, but things have fallen out of his control… He stole my research on portals, that's how they got in unnoticed."
"I see…," Jane said.
"Let's move!" Loki said. "We'll stay in Thor's chambers for now…,"
Heimdall nodded and dragged Dale to his feet. Loki slowly made his way over to the traitor. Dale's eyes shone with bright fear and confusion of a man who's plan had backfired.
"I'm sorry, Loki!" he said. "I don't know what I was thinking!"
"Oh I think you know very well what you were thinking, Dale Gotarson!" Loki hissed in his face. "You couldn't bare the fact that no one listened, that no one accepted you as king! You've been plotting against me since the moment Odin set you free… All this only to frame me?"
Dale grimaced. "You were no king!" he spat back. "And you have no place on Asgard! You think I haven't seen you with my daughter? My Arya! She deserves better than a low life, betraying monster like you!"
Loki needed all his willpower not to smack the man in front of him to the other side of the universe.
"You used my research to set up an agreement with the Jötuns!" he hissed full of hatred. "You promised them the casket, didn't you? And in return, you'd get me framed since Odin knows only I have the knowledge to surpass Heimdall's gaze! But once they got here… the casket wasn't enough, now was it? And you don't want that burden on your pathetic shoulders, do you!"
Dale's eyes turned dark. "The Jötuns want you dead, Loki! Perhaps my plan failed, but you're not escaping your fate! In the end, I'll get what I want!"
"Enough talking!" Heimdall suddenly roared. "We need to move!"
With a lot of effort Loki managed to subtract his gaze from Dale. He turned around and with large steps he guided the way towards the Thor's chambers. Loki was angry, but he knew Dale had a point. If he wanted to make it out of this alive, they needed a plan.
Once the door of Thor's family chambers had finally closed behind him, Loki relaxed a bit. At least they would be safe for now. He quietly watched as Heimdall dragged Dale to the middle of the room and dumped him on the couch. Loki walked closer. With a gesture of his hand, a soft green shimmer covered The ex-Captain's body, making him unable to move. Heimdall nodded and walked over to Loki.
"So what so we do next?" he asked with a serious expression colouring his golden eyes. Loki frowned while he slowly started pacing the room.
"There's nothing you can do, Loki!" Dale suddenly called out, his voice dripping with a mixture of desperation and hatred. "You cannot possibly face the entire Jötun force! Especially not when they want nothing more than your head on a plate!"
Loki scowled, but kept his calm. "I do not intend to face the entire army myself, you oaf!"
Heimdall frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest while his eyes followed the pacing form of Loki. "You have a plan?" he asked.
The God of Mischief remained quiet for a couple of seconds. "Our priority is the people, they need to get out safe. Right now they are at the mercy of the Jötuns, so we need to get them away from the palace."
Loki came to a halt and locked his eyes on the Guardian. "The dungeons are the people's last retreat because I belief there is a secret passage leading to the mountains, am I right?"
Heimdall slowly nodded, but a sad look covered his face. "Indeed, but only the king or myself can open it. Right now the king is imprisoned and even if I were to reach the door, all of Asgard is imprisoned as well. It would do no good."
Loki sighed and rubbed his eyes, his mind already racing in the hopes of finding another plan, but Heimdall suddenly continued.
"There might be another way…," he said in a low voice. Loki looked up and frowned. The golden Guardian seemed deep in thought as if he was afraid to speak his next words.
"Heimdall!" Loki shouted impatiently. "If you have a plan, then speak up! We are running out of time!"
The Guardian sighed. "There is a way to open the secret passage and unlock all the cells in the dungeon at the same time."
Loki's eyes grew big. Was there some hidden mechanism he was not aware of? Heimdall let his golden eyes wonder over everyone present, an almost pained expression covering his features.
"All of Asgard's power comes from a single source," he continued. "The realm's ancient core if you will. It powers the dungeons, the Bifrost and much more. The same counts for the gate. In fact, the gate is closed, only to be opened by a certain key being the king's sceptre or my sword. But if the power that is keeping it closed is lifted, the door will open."
With eyes filled with utter surprise, Loki stared back at the Guardian. "How come I never heard nor read anything about an ancient core?" he asked, slightly annoyed. "I always assumed that Asgard used magic to power itself…"
Heimdall tilted his head a bit to the side and smiled. "The ancient core, much like the cores of the other realms, exist of many things of which magic is only one. Only I know of its existence and whereabouts. Only I can find it. Not even the king, nor any king before the Allfather has knowledge of it."
Loki seemed ready to fire another set of questions at the Guardian, but Jane quickly interfered. "So you're saying that there is a way to shut it down? That way we can free everyone and open the gate?"
With a soft, yet kind smile playing on his lips, Heimdall turned to the scientist. "Even if I wanted to, I would not be able to shut down the core of the realm, but I can disrupt the energy. We won't have long, but the people should be able to escape and the door will be open."
Loki blinked in awe while he tried to comprehend this new info. For a moment a hundred possible uses for this core sprang to mind, but it seemed Heimdall could read his thoughts.
"I cannot tell you where exactly the core is within the palace, but I know that once I go looking for it, it will somehow find me…," he said with a meaningful stare towards Loki. The God of Mischief could not suppress a look of slight disappointment, but he knew bigger things were at stake.
"Fair enough!" he said resolutely. "Then you shall disrupt the core while we make our way down to the dungeons."
Heimdall nodded, but a serious frown covered his face. "I'll only will be able to disrupt the energy flow for a maximum of a few seconds, maybe minute at most. Never in the history of Asgard has anyone tempered with the core, so I do not know what the consequences will be. There might even be some gravity shifts. The Bifrost will be down as well and I cannot say for certain that it will immediately function once the power is back on. That means that we might have to keep the Jötuns on Asgard for a while."
Loki nodded. He understood that Heimdall wasn't a fan of this plan since so much could go wrong, but they were running out of time, so their options were limited.
"The palace is equipped with a total lockdown, once the people are out we can lock down the palace to keep the Jötuns here. Assuming it'll still function after the core's been disrupted." Loki added, a touch of doubt colouring his words.
"But don't they have a portal somewhere within the palace?" Jane suddenly asked. "That's how they got in right?"
Loki sighed and rubbed his temples. "For as far as I know, there are no portals within the palace walls, but there are a few nearby…," he said while slowly turning towards Dale. "Am I correct?" he asked poisonously.
For a moment it seemed Dale wasn't going to answer, but he slowly decided that things wouldn't turn out his way. His captors had actually managed to come up with a plan that might work. If he wanted even the slightest chance to come out of everything alive, he could only work along. So the former Captain sighed and lowered his eyes.
"If I help you," he started heavily, "will you allow me to see my daughter?"
Loki was taken back for moment and suspiciously scanned the man in front of him for a hidden agenda, but he seemed genuine. "I don't think you're in a positions to make demands!" he threw back.
Dale scowled, his dark eyes digging into Loki's light ones. "I can help you! Whether you like it or not, you're outmanned and you can use all the help you can get! You want to know what portal they used? Swear to me that I'll get to see Arya once all this is over!"
Loki took a step forward, ready to start arguing. He knew he was wasting precious time, but for some reason Dale's words got a rise out of him. Luckily, Heimdall came to the rescue.
"I does not matter!" he said clearly, catching the two men's attention. "I'm quite certain that all portals on Asgard will disintegrate or be altered once I disrupt the core. Portals, as I'm certain you are aware, need a certain flow of magic to remain stable. The core supplies at least one portion of that."
"What!" Loki and Dale shouted in unison, their voices filled with a mixture of despair and horror, like two little children hearing that their favourite ride at Disney World was about to be demolished. In a flash, Loki saw years and years of research disappear and another few decades filled with more research to map out whatever new portals would appear over time. He suddenly disliked the plan even more.
Dale on the other hand felt his ticket to see Arya slip through his fingers and panicked. "But I can still help you!" he shouted, not able to hide the despair in his voice. Loki's light green eyes fixed on the man in front of him, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists, ready to unleash hell on him, but once more Heimdall intervened.
"Perhaps he's right!"
Loki looked up in surprise. "And why would we need his help?" he asked harshly.
"We'll still need a distraction to get as much Jötuns away from the dungeons as possible!" Heimdall explained. If we don't and the cells open, many of the citizens will be slain on sight! We can use him!"
Loki grimaced but kept quiet. Dale's eyes shifted from the God of Mischief to the golden Guardian.
"The Jötuns have a weakness!" Heimdall continued. "They are practically leaderless and only out for revenge. There is an heir, but I've watched Prince Visi for years now. He is young, inexperienced and rash. More than once he's gotten into disputes with both his parents and the higher ups. I imagine every Jötun who possesses any kind of power is currently eyeing the throne. Today's battle forms the perfect opportunity for them to show off their superiority. I say we use it against them!"
Loki frowned, but nodded. He understood and turned back to the man in front of him. "You've spend a considerable amount of time with them…," he spoke harshly. "Are you aware of any power struggles within the ranks?"
Dale swallowed, fully aware that he had finally become useful to his captors. If he wanted to save his skin, now was his chance.
"There're definitely a few we could use against them!" he said, carefully choosing each and every word. "I'd say Lord Skati is our best bet today though. He's an older noble, a general who served under both Laufey and Farbauti, but he never intended to go as far as to lay siege to Asgard entirely. He is definitely not a fan of the Prince's actions, but for now, he's not in charge. Prince Visi led most of the Jötun forces here in search for the casket and with the promise to get revenge on you…"
Loki nodded. "I left an illusion of myself in the dungeons. If we assume they haven't figured it out yet, we might stand a chance…," Loki said without much emotion. It was risky to "assume" anything at the moment, but they didn't have much else to go on. Also, Loki believed that if the Jötuns had figured out it was a mere illusion in the cells, the first place they'd come looking would be the royal wing and since it had been quiet so far….
"If it were to come to light that the magnificent Prince Visi can't keep his promises…," he finally continued with a sinister sneer playing on his lips.
For a moment everything remained quiet, all eyes were focused on Loki.
"Right!" he finally said. "We'll give them exactly what they want!"
Heimdall frowned. "Do you mean to turn yourself over to them?" he asked. Loki grinned while a spark of mischief darkened his eyes for a moment.
"No! You can't!" a voice sounded. Loki looked down at his niece who angrily stared up at him. He chuckled softly and gently placed a reassuring hand on the young girl's golden locks.
"Don't worry, Frigga. It'll be mere distraction! Once we've set them up against each other, I'll slip away!"
Jane frowned, but made sure her daughter didn't notice. She didn't feel like it would be this simple….
"What do you propose we do?" Heimdall asked the God of Mischief. Loki smiled.
"Like I said, my good lord Heimdall, we'll give them what they desire. Once they realise Prince Visi didn't manage to catch me, they'll have enough reason to revolt. This Lord Skati can use me to rally the other Jötuns against their prince. If all goes to plan, most Jötuns will leave the dungeons in order to fight at either side or choose their own. Then, when you disable the core and the cells open, the Asgardians can escape. Most of the army is down there as well, so even if there's trouble, they might be able to defend themselves to some extend. I should be able to get a message to the other's down there through my illusion so they'll be ready."
"You just want to walk up to them and turn yourself in? Why don't you use another illusion?" Jane asked.
"If I tell them that I'm the real deal and there's a fake in the dungeons, what do you think will be the first thing they'll do?" Loki asked with a meaningful glance.
Jane sighed and nodded. "They'll check rather or not you're an illusion…," she answered.
Loki smiled. "And besides, correct me if I'm wrong, Heimdall, but I presume that once the core is disrupted, I myself will have some difficulty using magic?"
Heimdall nodded slowly. "Most likely…"
"In other words," Loki concluded. "I cannot rely on magic today…"
"So what's the plan then?" Jane asked. Immediately she noticed Loki's eyes getting darker while a scowl spread over his face.
"I doubt they would expect me to turn myself in…," he said noticeably irritated, while he slowly turned back to Dale. "The Jötun's trust you enough…," he said after a few seconds of murderous stares. "If you walk up to this general and prove you've caught the real me, they might not be too suspicious…"
Dale's eyes lit up, but before he could say a word, Loki continued. "However, I suggest you keep to the plan. One misstep and I promise you'll never see Arya again!"
The ex-Captain set in silence while he weighed Loki's words. He was very aware that this entire plan was extraordinary risky, but if he refused to cooperate, he'd be kept away from his daughter forever. After a few minutes, he sighed.
"Fair enough…," he said with difficulty. "What do you need me to do?"
So, that by far not what you deserved to get after so much time, but I hope it'll do for now!
I'm going to be honest with you guys, I'm currently very busy with school and I, most likely, will be for the rest of the year, since I have to do tons and tons of research. In other words, I don't know how much time I'll have to write, but I hope you belief me when I promise you I haven't forgotten about you guys and I will continue writing this fic!
I hope you've all been doing great! I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you want to read my fanfic!
Please let me know what you think!
UPDATE: I just heard the terrible news that the AMAZING Stan Lee has passed away... I cannot express how sad this makes me :( Thank you for the amazing stories! R.I.P.
I will do my best to upload as soon as possible. Next Chapter will be in honour of Stan Lee...
Rumple x