Chapter 7! Yay!
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-o-
Chapter 7 – I'm Really Sorry for What I am About to Say
Loki had been there for a week, and she was actually rather happy about having him there. He was clever, brilliant, snarky – everything she adored in a person.
They had actually talked a lot during the past days. Not that the Norse god actually told her much, but she was getting rather good at reading between the lines. He had explained – although vaguely – about how the sceptre worked, what it could do, and how it affected the mind. He always spoke of it as if it was a hypothetical situation, and so she did as well. And with every conversation, Amber found another piece of the puzzle that was Loki, the God of Mischief.
It was quite the puzzle. Loki was quite the puzzle.
Amber liked puzzles.
-o-
She entered her flat after yet another day at the university, humming, like she always did.
The flat was...silent.
"Loki?" No reply. "Loki?"
She entered the living room, and that was when fear took her.
He wasn't there. In fact, the living room was in a chaos. They had taken him. The door was still locked, so it had to be someone from Asgard.
They had taken him.
And that meant... That meant he was probably already dead.
Amber sat down in the sofa, and she was not too surprised when she felt tears trickling down her cheeks.
-o-
She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, but eventually, her tears ran dry - leaving her feeling empty.
She didn't even think when she turned her eyes to the ceiling. "Heimdall, if you are listening – did you even give him a trial? Or did you just execute him right away? If you did – you bastards! Uh, no offense. Well, some offense. Anyway – uh – bad move."
There was no reply, of course.
-o-
She was sitting in the sofa that evening, feeling completely empty. And conflicted. She knew it had to happen at some point – that he would be gone again – she just hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly. She didn't even get to say goodbye.
She almost fell of the sofa when there was a flash of light in the middle of her living room. She let out an undignified squeak, and stared with wide eyes at the phenomenon. The phenomenon turned out to be a woman.
"I apologise for scaring you," the woman said, softly. "But this is…urgent."
A million thoughts went through Amber's mind. This was a visitor from Asgard, that much was certain. And that meant that there was still hope. There was a chance Loki still lived. Who was this woman, though?
"Frigga," she breathed when realisation hit her. "You are Frigga."
The woman gave her a soft smile. "I am. And you are Amber."
"Loki – is he…"
Frigga shook his head. "He lives. I am here to ask you to come with me."
She was about to agree right away, but then froze. "I – why?"
"To help my son," she said, and Frigga actually looked surprised when Amber nodded right away. "You are quick to respond. Are you…infatuated with him?"
Amber frowned. "What? No. But if I can help, I will."
Frigga gazed at her for a long moment. "They will ask you to speak in front of Odin," she said softly. "And there will be little possibility to speak anything but the truth. There is…magic in the air, and it will compel you to speak honestly."
Amber frowned. "First – wow, that is fascinating, and second – I had every intention of telling the truth."
"Good," Frigga said. "I am glad. Are you ready to leave?"
Amber froze. "Now? May I have five minutes?"
Frigga nodded, and Amber ran out of the living room.
She quickly changed her clothes, tried to fix the mess that was her face, and then stopped, looking at herself in the mirror.
She was going to Asgard. Wow. And she was going to speak in front of Odin. Double-wow.
And wow, she was terrified.
Loki, she thought as she tried to calm herself. It's for Loki.
Loki wasn't dead yet. And if Frigga was here, there was still a chance to save him, because she wouldn't have come otherwise, would she? Amber hoped this was the case.
Amber ran her fingers through her hair, smoothed down her clothes, and exhaled slowly to calm herself.
This will be fine, she thought as she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly again. You'll be fine.
She re-entered the living room, and took a deep breath as she nodded. "I am ready."
Frigga smiled, and put a hand on Amber's arm before looking at the ceiling. "We are ready, Heimdall."
There was a flash of light, and Amber was utterly unable to breathe for something that felt like an eternity – which in reality was probably no more than a few seconds – and then they 'landed'. If not for the fact that Frigga was still holding her arm in a firm grip, Amber would most definitely have landed in a less gracious fashion.
"Welcome to Asgard," Frigga said softly, and Amber couldn't do anything but stare at their surroundings.
-o-
Loki felt…empty. He couldn't muster up any feeling at all, so all he was left with was…empty.
He wondered why he wasn't dead yet. No one had told him anything, and he was getting restless from waiting. He wished they would just get this over with. It wasn't like he didn't deserve it.
He would get a trial, that much he had picked up on – but he knew that wouldn't change anything. No one would talk in his defense, and he would be sentenced to death. Why would they even bother with a trial?
He thought about Amber. He couldn't help thinking about Amber. She would come home to find her living room in shambles, and him gone. How would she react? Would she be relieved? Probably. She would be sad, he realised as much, but mostly she would be relieved. Because how could she not?
Desolate, Loki curled up in a corner of his filthy cell, and sighed.
"Get up!"
He wanted to rage at the guard, but knew it would change nothing, so he obliged, getting up, and following the guard out of the cell.
-o-
He was standing in front of Odin – shackled and defeated – knowing this would not end well, not matter what he said.
"Loki," the Allfather said. "My son."
Loki's heart ached from hearing the words, and he felt like raging. He just didn't have the energy.
"Odin," he simply said, and the one-eyed man actually looked slightly surprised.
"You are here to answer for your crimes, Loki," Odin said, and Loki could hear the weariness in the Allfather's voice. "Do you know what your crimes are?"
This was probably a test, Loki realised. To see whether or not he actually understood what he had done. Well, he had a very clear understanding of that.
"When Thor was banished from Asgard-" he began, but Odin interrupted.
"That is not why you are here today, Loki," the Allfather said, confusing Loki to no end. "Today, you are here to answer for your recent crimes. I believe you know what I speak of."
Loki suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "If you mean my failed attempt at ruling Midgard, then yes. I know what you speak of."
Odin's eye narrowed in disapproval. "Do not make this worse for yourself, Loki."
'How could I possibly make this worse? It is not as if it will change the outcome, no matter how I choose to speak of it' Loki wanted to say. He wanted to laugh, to scream, and he wanted to spit out poisonous words, to hurt the man he once called father.
Loki did, nor said any of these things. It would bring him no joy, and he was too tired to put up a fight.
"Yes, Allfather," he said instead, and Odin's one eye widened in surprise.
After a long moment, Odin spoke again. "Would you like to say something in your defence?"
Loki contemplated this for a bit. He could try to explain, to tell Odin what had really happened - that he had not been fully in control of his actions, that he was not in his right mind, but he doubted it would change anything. Loki was the Liesmith, the Silvertongue. No one would believe him, no matter what he did. There were ways to counteract the magic in the air, and Odin knew this. Loki knew this. He could not win, no matter what he said or did.
And in the end...he could not make himself plead. He could not make himself tell the truth – the truth of how pathetic he was, because he was too weak to resist. The truth of how desperate he had been, so desperate that he would do the same again, just to escape the madness of the empty void. He would have allowed himself to be made a puppet, because nothing – nothing – was worse than falling for eternity through the empty, black, maddening cosmos.
He could not make himself plead.
One thing he could say, however, even if it pained him to do so. But if he was to be executed, if this was the only chance he had… His eyes strayed for a moment, briefly meeting another pair of eyes. A pair of eyes filled with sorrow. Frigga.
Loki realised then, that even if she would never know the truth, at least she would know this.
"I am sorry," he said, knowing it would make up for nothing, but he needed to say it, even so.
The room was silent for a very long moment before Odin spoke again. "Do you have more to say, Loki?"
There was a tone in his voice, like he hoped Loki would say more, but Loki knew he could not make himself speak again. "No."
Odin sighed. "Very well. You may step aside, so someone else may speak."
Lovely, Loki thought. They have actually called on someone to speak against me. Why would they even bother?
"Call her forward."
Loki was pulled to the side, and watched as a familiar shape took his place in front of Odin.
Amber. It couldn't be. But it was. However had that happened? Why would they drag her to Asgard?
There was a truth serum in the air. She wouldn't be able to lie. That would either help him, or doom him.
"You are called here to speak up for my son. You are aware you cannot lie, and that you must answer any question for this to be legitimate. Do you accept?"
"Of course," the woman said, as if anything was 'of course' about this situation.
"Good. You have allowed my son shelter, that is correct?"
"Yes."
"Even though you knew his crimes."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't approve of the death penalty. And because his eyes are green."
He could see that she looked slightly surprised. She hadn't intended on actually saying that, then.
Odin looked puzzled. "Because his eyes are green? What do you mean by that? Why is that relevant?"
"Because the sceptre made his eyes blue."
This made Odin pause. "Did it?"
Amber nodded. "Yes." When Odin merely looked at her, she sighed. "Honestly, does no one pay attention around here? Am I the only one who has put the pieces of the puzzle together?"
Loki had to stifle a laugh, hearing the jaded tone in her voice.
"Oh, this truth thing really works, doesn't it? Sorry."
Odin, however, did not look angry. "Apology accepted. Now, tell me - what pieces of the puzzle are you talking about?"
"This is what I have gathered so far," she said before glancing at Loki. "Sorry, Loki, but apparently I can't help myself."
Loki couldn't help but give her a slightly amused look, and she sighed in relief.
"Something terrible happened before Loki went ahead and tried to take over the world - I don't know what, but it left him in scattered pieces. He hasn't told me this, but it is pretty obvious, if you look at him. He was pretty much broken." She winced. "Sorry, Loki. Anyway, he was a mess, and then someone went ahead and gave him that bloody sceptre - and that was his only way out of the terrible event that came before this."
Loki had to really look at the woman. He hadn't told her any of this - but she had somehow managed to figure it out.
"Did no one actually look at him when he roamed around with that bloody sceptre? His eyes were bright blue, except for the times where he fought it off - fought off the puppeteer in the other end. His eyes turned green then. I'm not saying he is innocent, but I think everyone should get a trial – a proper trial with all the facts available – and I do not think Loki deserves execution."
"Are you in love with Loki?"
Amber looked annoyed. "No."
Loki felt a twinge of pain at her short dismissal.
Odin studied the annoyed woman for a moment. "Could you be? In the future?"
"Yes," she replied instantly, and then closed her eyes for a moment. "Jesus. A+ truth serum."
Loki felt something flutter in his chest. Then he realised he would probably be dead within a day, and something in him just withered.
Odin, however, looked surprised. "You have seen what he has wrought, and yet you have such faith in him? Why?"
Amber slapped a hand over her mouth, and managed a strangled ' I'm really sorry for what I am about to say.'
She let her hand fall, and took a deep breath. "Because no one see him. Except for Frigga, perhaps. You do not see him – oh, god, sorry – and you have not exactly made the best decisions when it comes to Loki. I do not doubt for a second that you do see him as your son, and that you love him as such, but the way he has been treated his entire life… Are you truly surprised? You have wrought this just as much as he has."
"He has told you these things?"
She shook her head. "No. But I read. I listen. I observe."
"And this makes you think you understand everything?"
She shook her head again. "Not at all. But I do see a part of a much bigger picture."
"What do you mean 'you read?'"
"Northern mythology."
"Half-truths and fiction."
"Not all of it. I watched Loki read a book – a book about himself, in fact, and he looked utterly shocked all the way through. Not to mention he is taught that he is a monster."
-o-
Amber spoke for a long time, and Loki was taken aback when he heard how much she had gathered, how many pieces of the puzzle she had managed to piece together. She had it right – all of it – and he could see Odin realise the same.
"And what would you do, if you were in my stead?" Odin finally asked.
"I would give him a chance to repent," Amber replied without hesitation. "On earth."
"And how would you suggest he would do so?"
She paused for a moment. "I would make it his choice. Not without any say, of course. It would have to be something…meaningful. But the core of it – I would make it his choice."
Odin gazed at the tiny woman for a small eternity. "Would you still allow him shelter? Would you aid him? Guide him?"
"Yes," Amber replied without hesitation, and Loki just stared at her.
Odin gazed at her for yet another small eternity before nodding. "So be it," he said, and Loki sucked in a breath, resulting in Odin turning to him. "Unless you object? Would you rather have a different outcome? An outcome I cannot guarantee would be better?"
"No," Loki said, and inwardly cursed the truth serum. "I do not object."
"So be it," Odin said, and Loki couldn't believe it.
-o-
Amber couldn't believe it. She had just been utterly rude – severely so – and yet, Odin had not been angry. He had looked…sad.
Because she had been right, she realised.
And the result? Loki was coming back with her. She couldn't believe how relieved she was over this, but she was apprehensive as well. This was a rather big commitment. Not that she was going back on it.
A little apprehension was allowed, though, wasn't it?
-o-
She was standing outside that intimidating throne room when Frigga came over.
"Thank you," the woman said, and pulled Amber into her arms. "I do believe you just saved my son. And I thank you for it."
Amber couldn't help but smile at the woman. "Thank you for coming to get me."
Frigga stepped back, and gazed at Amber for a moment. "Shall you find yourself in need - call on me. Call to Heimdall, and I will come."
There was a hint of steel in the woman's eyes, and Amber just stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Thank you."
"No," Frigga said, shaking her head. "Thank you."
-o-
She was brought back to the rainbow bridge, and looked nervously at Heimdall. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. I was...upset."
"You are forgiven," the statue of a man said, and Amber let out a relieved breath.
She turned around, and saw a familiar shape walk toward her. Loki. She wanted to beam at him, hug him, and perhaps clap a bit, but she had no idea whether or not he was furious at her. Damn that truth serum. She'd had no choice but to answer the questions. Every single one of them. Lovely.
"Hello," she said as he reached her. "And...I'm sorry."
His eyes were wide, and there was a sense of wildness to him that Amber couldn't quite decipher. Relief? Anger? Shock? She didn't know.
"I can't believe you," he said, and she couldn't decipher the tone in his voice either.
Giving him a mournful look, she sighed. "Well, it wasn't like I had any choice in the matter."
He shook his head. "Not that. Why would you – how did this happen? What are you doing here?"
"Well, I may or may not have called Heimdall and everyone else a bastard, and then Frigga arrived. I almost fell off the sofa."
She was relieved to see a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I can imagine." He paused for a moment. "I am quite certain you are not aware of what you are getting yourself into."
She chuckled. "You think so? Really? Believe me, I have no idea. But I'm pretty decent at winging it. I'll manage."
"I hope so," Loki said quietly, and Amber had never been more certain that she would become an expert in 'winging it'.
-o-
Suddenly, he was back in her flat, as if nothing had happened. "I - I need a moment," he said, and she just nodded when he went into his room.
He sat down on the bed, and that was when he started to shiver.
He didn't want to die - but he had been very close today. If not for a human. He knew he would not convince Odin - no matter what. Amber, though? She had managed.
A+ parenting. Honestly. Amber had said, and winced at her own words. She had done so rather frequently.
It was a miracle Odin hadn't just locked her up as well.
Because she spoke the truth, he thought. Because - even if no one has told her, she knew. She had figured it out.
He just sat there for a while, contemplating...everything.
What unexpected turns life takes, he thought, and shook his head.
"Loki!" he heard Amber yell from somewhere in the flat. "I didn't burn down the kitchen again! Do you want lasagna?"
What unexpected turns, indeed.
Shaking his head in amusement, Loki went to figure out whatever lasagna was.