Chapter 10
"Thor, what are you doing?" Volstagg grabbed his friend's arms.
"Let him go for Valhalla's sake, he is not at fault for this." Fandral pulled at his shoulder.
"If he had not told us to wait..." Thor snarled.
"Then we would still be facing a field of corpses. The site of the portal's end is too far from here to have been the same Jötnar, and the bodies are already cold." Loki interjected.
"Just because he saved your life Loki." Thor turned, still enraged to look at his brother.
"That has nothing to do with this Thor and well you know. The Jötnar we trapped here could not have closed such a distance in such a time, therefore, the advice given to us was sound, accept that and stop transferring your anger." Loki spoke calmly but firmly trying to reach his brother.
As the arguing continued, you could hardly remain conscious as breath still failed to fill your lungs. Finally, Thor decided to release your throat from his grasp and you fell to the floor, gulping in what little air you could, coughing harshly. Fandral and Hogun tried to help you to your feet. "Are you alright?" Hogun inquired.
Shaking your head, you attempted to speak between shallow, rasping breaths. "Can't…breathe…" You croaked.
"The armour is dented into his chest, it may have been broken his sternum." Volstagg noted.
"Get the medic." Hogun ordered, removing your pauldrons before unbuckling the leather straps of the breastplate.
Terror filled you as you realised what was about to happen, but as much as you wanted to fight what the warrior was doing, your mind overruled your body with its need for air and did not permit your arms to stop him, so instead you turned to Loki pleading. The prince seemed conflicted. As the breastplate was removed finally you felt air reach every part of your lungs.
"That seems to have done the trick, give him a few minutes to catch his breath then we shall assess him further. I think it more paramount that we collect who we can to send home for a funeral, especially father." Loki suggested quickly. On hearing of the Allfather, the surrounding soldiers immediately forgot about the Crowned Prince's outburst and dispersed without question to do as Loki had suggested.
Loki looked at you for a moment. "Thank you." You mouthed silently, but he did not acknowledge the gesture in anyway and turned instead to deal with the surrounding carnage.
Mounds of bodies were collected, including those of the king and his highest generals. Thor walked up to you, holding his father's helmet in his hand, staring at it as he did so. "I owe you an apology Bjórrson." He spoke quietly, still looking at the tarnished metal. "Since before I ever met your acquaintance, you have been looking out for all those in your regimen, and since I have met you, you unfailingly extended your watch to include what remains of my men too. I just…"
"You just lost your father and had to process what all of us witnessed not just as a son, but as a Prince and commander. I understand." You acknowledged.
"Is yours still alive, your father I mean. If I am not mistaken, my father owed his life to him on Jötunheim a millennia ago, he never forgot your father's sacrifice and told us of it more than once, his arm was it not?"
"Aye, that is him, and yes, he lives. He wished to be the one to serve from our home, but I could not allow it, he has given enough for Asgard. My caring and respect of him is why I understand your grief at what has happened here."
"Not many would be so forgiving."
"There is little harm done, the breastplate took the greatest part of the damage, though to say it took a strike from Mjolnir is a testament to its craftsmanship. As for me, bruises heal." You shrugged. "I may be forced to talk less for a few days, but I have no doubt if you were to talk to your brother, he would more than likely tell you it is probably not a bad thing."
Thor huffed a small laugh. "I better put this with my father." He lifted his hand holding the helmet. "I always thought of him as invincible." He added sadly, turning to leave.
"The realm mourns a great king, but you and Loki mourn your father. I am sorry for your loss Your Highness." He nodded silently, and walked off.
It took another few minutes before the light-headedness from the lack of oxygen subsided and you rose to your feet. Staggering slightly, you looked at the cracked and severely dented armour that had protected your body from the terrifyingly powerful hammer; it was beyond any normal repair. Picking it up, you looked around before walking over to Loki to see if he could use his seidr to help repair it. When you approached, he almost seemed to be looking through you. "I am sorry about your father." You said quietly.
"Why, you did not kill him, you have no reason to apologise." He stated in a monotone voice.
"And thank you got talking sense to your brother." You croaked; your throat raw.
"It would have been unwise to let him kill you; you are too great a use to the army." He dismissed, going to walk off. "And you have made a new friend from it all it would seem." He spat.
"What have I done since the incident in the cavern to have offended you so?" You demanded. "Ever since then you have had nothing but blatant distain for me."
"Know your place and give me the respect I deserve." He snapped. "What did you come over here for anyway." He queried.
"Well I was going to inquire if you could help repair my armour, but I rather get speared by an ice blade than ask your help." You spat, turning away from him.
"How dare you, you insolent…"
You turned to face him again. "Finish that sentence, I dare you." You growled in a low voice. "Before you truly were the greatest of company, now you are simply infantile and acting as though you are a spoiled child in the midst of a tantrum."
"Brother, what is going on over here?" Thor asked looking between you both.
"We are merely having a discussion." Loki replied calmly.
"This is no time for a debate. Ragnar, can you ride?" You nodded. "Excellent. Loki take Ragnar and collect any of the horses that are still around." He ordered, satisfied you had both heard him, he turned and walked off.
"Is he honestly that gullible to believe that what we were just having was a normal conversation?" Loki nodded. "The realm is doomed." You sighed dejectedly. Loki chuckled. "What?" You asked in exasperation, tired of his mood changes.
"It is comforting to know that the most able minded and clear thinking person in all of Asgard shares my opinion on the matter." He explained, turning to walk to where some slightly jumpy looking horses had gathered not to far off.
"Why are you so temperamental?" you asked, running to keep up with his gait.
"I am no such thing." He replied indignantly.
"Yes, you are."
"Stop being so irritating."
"I will if you will."
"Now it is you that is being infantile."
"I was getting bored being the only adult in the conversation; so I thought I would join you on the floor, kicking and screaming as I break my toys."
"You are insufferable."
"That makes two of us."
Loki turned around to look at you. "I am seriously El, do not push me any further."
"You mean Ragnar." You corrected.
"What?"
"You called me El, not Ragnar. Though El is not my name either."
"Your full name is too much of a mouthful for constant use."
"Why, because it exceeds two syllables and what makes you think it alright to decide such a pet name for me anyway?" You probed.
"Does it irritate you that greatly?" he smiled mischievously.
"There is no right answer for that."
He laughed, watching as you slowly walked forward, speaking calmly as you approached one of the horses. It looked as though it would jolt, but decided you were of little threat, and instead walked a step or two forward, sniffing your hand before allowing you to talk its head collar.
"That's one; we only have…" he looked around for a moment. "All eleven more of these and Valhalla knows how many more others to find."
"Do you think you can magic up some ropes for us to tie them up with? Otherwise we are really pissing into the wind." You asked.
"What a lovely expression, you really are the pinnacle of femininity." Loki mocked. "I dare say you are the envy of most."
"You should see me at tea parties, I go down a storm."
"I can but only imagine you in the company of your fellow maidens." Loki commented as he tied the other horses to the one you were holding.
Clenching your jaw you walked off, trying to think of where the other horses could be, and not about the prince and his hurtful words. There were a few horses lying dead on the ground, but not enough to be the entirety of what the legion would have had with them. Heading to a small mound as a vantage point, you surveyed the surrounding land. In the distance you could see the grey outline of one drinking at a stream, walking back to Loki you take hold of one of the calmer horses. "Untie it." You growled. He obeyed silently, watching you mount and canter off.
When you got to the horse you took a minute to stare at the animal. It stood at least twenty-two hands, though it was not that made you look at it in awe, but the fact it had eight legs. "Sleipnir." You whispered. You had heard of the magnificent beast that the Allfather called his steed, a horse like none other, loyal to its master.
"Don't even bother, he will kill you." Loki had somehow come to your side. "He isn't exactly friendly."
"I can well imagine, but what do we do with him, we can hardly leave him here?" you replied flatly.
"I am not risking my life for that thing."
Walking a few steps closer you watched the horse's reaction to you. "Hey beautiful boy." You cooed. His ears came forward as he watched you with interest. "Hey you." He whickered in response, taking a coy step forward. You raised your hand in front of you, offering it to him, he came another foot or so forward. It was difficult to keep an eye on his legs, more often than not, four legs were a lot of work, but eight was damn near impossible.
You could sense Loki stiffening next to you. "El, please, get back."
"What concern of it is yours if he kills me? You'll be rid of me then. And stop calling me El, you don't have the right to call me such." You snapped looking back toward him. At the aggressive tone the horse turned and galloped off. "Great, look what you did." You sighed in exasperation.
"Me?"
"I had him calmly coming towards me and you went and got me mad."
"Maybe you should learn to control your temper." He suggested, shrugging and grinning as he did so.
"Will you ever just find a cliff and jump off it?" you snapped, jumping up onto the horse's back again and cantering toward where Sleipnir had gone to.
When you saw him again, you pulled on the rope tied to the horse you were riding like reins and dismounted again. Before you could take a step, Loki was next to you again. "Why are you here?" you snarled, not even looking at him.
"Because it is too dangerous to leave you alone."
"I can take care of myself."
"And what if you get ambushed?"
"I would be able to finally not have to deal with your childish tantrums and acid tongue."
"Acid…Ah I see."
You sighed. "See what?"
"I hurt you feelings."
"I don't have feelings." You retorted.
"If it is any consolation, you have hurt mine too, so we are fairly even. What exactly was it that I said that hurt you so? Usually my words are like water off a ducks back with you, they never seem to insult you."
"Just leave me be." You cursed your eyes as they became blurred with water.
"Wait, you are close to tears." Loki realised. "What was it I said?"
"I am just so irritated, nothing more. Do not flatter yourself."
"I do not flatter myself; I just cannot recall what I could have said to have caused such offense. As far as our war of words is concerned, nothing of any real note has been uttered."
"Just leave me. Go irritate someone else."
"I will, as soon as you tell me what has annoyed you so." You grit your teeth together so hard it hurt, stomping forward. "El, please."
"My name is not El; it is not El, Nora, or any other way of butchering the name Eleonora. I hate my name, but it is the one I have, so stop thinking you have right to call me what you please. I am not yours to name like a pet." You had your finger prodding his chest, but he still stood just under a foot taller than you, so as vicious as you sounded, it was not as intimidating as you would have wished it to have been.
"My apologies, I meant no malice, Eleonora."
"Just call me Ragnar, you are going to slip up, and I will lose my head, and you will surely be disciplined for your hiding of my identity." You started forward again.
"So what was it I said that was so upsetting?"
"Will you let it rest Loki?"
"No, I want to know what I said that hurt you."
You turned to face him. "Why? Why do you care so much what you said? Is it so you can use it against me again?"
"No, quite the opposite. So I did say something to hurt you."
"Why, why does it matter?"
"I want to know."
"Well I do not want you to."
"How can I apologise if I know not for what I am apologising?"
"I accept your apology, there, now we are fine. Leave it rest."
"But I have yet to apologise, I refuse to apologise when I have no idea why I am apologising."
"Just leave it be."
"Eleon…"
"Fine you want to know why? It's because you jested of me being envied, when we both know I would be anything but. And how you think you can make comments of my being a maiden, when it is of no concern of yours. And how you think you can be however you want just because your were born in the palace with a little crown on your bulbous head." You snapped, leaving the raven haired prince open mouthed in shock. Ceasing the opportunity, you turned and walked away.
A few moments later you heard his boots coming up beside you. His longer legs caused his strides to be far longer than yours, so he did not even need to run. "El...eonra, I'm sorry. You are right; I have no right to make comments on your virtue. As for you being envied, I would not have thought it a jest, most women seem to wish to be able to be quick witted, you are incredibly so, it would only stand to reason that they would covet such a mind also. As for your last comment, I am just going to assume that is you simply venting, feel better?" he asked.
Pausing for a moment, your shoulders began to shake. It took another moment for Loki to realising you were laughing. "How is it I am unable to despise you as much as I wish to?" you asked.
"My incredible wit, charm and looks I would imagine."
You ceased laughing. "I can put my hand on my heart and declare to the world, that you, Loki, Prince of Asgard, second son of the great King Odin, are the most egotistical and overconfident man I have ever had the misfortune to acquaint."
"And you would not alter me for all the gold in Asgard. Admit it, you adore me."
"What gave it away?" you asked, playing along.
"The fact you only spend twenty hours a day wishing to kill me."
"I have to sleep, so you'll have to excuse the other four."
"I have no doubt I will occupy them too in the near future." He winked. You merely sighed and rolled your eyes, trying and failing not to smile. "You're smiling."
"Shut up. You are insufferable."
"I am sorry though."
"So you said."
"Am I forgiven?"
"I suppose so."
"So easily?"
"Quit while you are ahead."
"But it is fun."
"Stop."
"But…"
"No, I am serious Loki, stop." You pulled Loki down as low as you could behind a large rock.
"What?"
"Ahead, there are a couple of Dark Elves and Jötnar, just standing there, what do you think they could be doing?"
"Stay hidden." Loki stated, before he disappeared. You waited, keeping as low as possible, praying to all the gods that you would not be seen, and that Loki would safely find out what was going on. Thinking of the conversation between you both moments before and his teasing of you liking him, you noticed an odd sensation in your stomach at the thought. It was like nothing you had experienced before, it was like nervousness, but not as though when you were at risk of being in trouble, but also excited, but also different. There was nothing you knew of that you could compare it to.
Moments later Loki returned, appearing to your side. "Thank goodness…what's wrong?" You asked looking at his ashen face.
"They are guarding…"
"Guarding, okay, guarding what?"
"Another portal."
"To where?" you asked, not yet seeing the reason for his terror.
"Asgard." He murmured. "Right next to the city."