The small group shivered as they came to Jotunheim. In the short amount of time that they had, Loki had managed to pull together a guard consisting of four men and a female warrior who had trained under Sif. He would have been comforted if he could have found another magic user but few who practiced magic were as willing to go into combat.
"You sure we couldn't have taken the bifrost?" Fandral asked as they trudged forwards, leaving the secret path, carved by the great roots of Yggdradsil.
"Heimdall is in no condition to open up a bridge." Loki answered, scanning the horizon for any sign of Thor or the Frost Giants.
"What do you mean?" Sif asked, it was a guard who answered her.
"We had just received news that the gate keeper was injured."
"But how, he is one of our finest warriors!" She protested.
"Maybe I shouldn't have given Thor all those drinks," Volstagg muttered.
"I did not believe our prince would be good enough to take on such a mighty warrior - while drunk!" The lady replied and Loki gave a soft hiss, asking for silence.
"Does it matter how or why? He has taken Mjollnir and is now no doubt lost in this realm while you gossip at the top of your voices while having claimed fear of the very creatures that live in this realm. Keep your voice down and look for Thor." The trickster whispered, creeping forwards. It was hard to remain hidden in this empty, frozen wastelands and Loki was doing his best to shield them from sight with his magic. But their words still might be heard.
"What if we don't find him?" Hogun asked, keeping his voice as soft as Loki's and voicing the concern that they all felt.
"Then we will seek greater help and this matter will become much larger." Loki told the warrior and a silent wave of agreement rippled through the group. His steps were light against the snow as he moved forwards, still desperately searching for Thor. How could be have been this stupid. Damn the mead that Thor had consumed with Volstagg.
The ground shook underneath them as thunder sounded across the skies and lightening rained upon the earth.
"We've found him," Loki said, all thought of stealth gone as the cries of battle sprung to life around them. The nine other Asgardians that he had brought along moved too, taking a formation as they charged into battle. Unladen by metal armour, Loki easily took the lead, sprinting over the snow and appearing to take to the air as the snow clouded around his feet.
It was quick reactions that saved his life.
They were above Thor and the battle by several metres and he clung out his arms as a sign for the others to stop. Fixing his sight on Thor, Loki noticed that his brother's arm was in the grasp of a frost giant and it did not escape his keen gaze that the bare skin shed the black burn in favour for the blue of the Frost Giants. Turning his head, Loki saw that his companions were nearly upon him and he summoned green magic into the form of a dagger, throwing it at the monster that held his confused brother.
As the beast fell, Thor looked up to see the black figure of his brother, joined by a small force of warriors. Blue eyes fell to his arm, now faded back to pink. Something was wrong and the great man was scared. He didn't know the answer - he was not one for complicated games and although he could not place his finger on it, he felt like the blueness of his arm was not meant to be a part of him - although he had yet to have a inkling of what the change of colour meant.
But there was no time to dwell on such feelings and he turned from the sight, raising the mighty hammer to smash the jaw of a giant, swinging it around to knock another two away. The hammer felt right in his hand, skilled as he was with the sword, there was some deeper connection to this item that the red clad prince felt.
"What do we do?" Asked one of the guards and Loki turned to him.
"There's a path down right there. We need to make a clear path to Thor. Then I can veil us and we should be able to make our escape." He instructed.
"And what of you?" Sif asked, some hostility in her voice. Some things can never change. Loki thought, although he felt that there was a much deeper reason to it.
"I will meet you down there." With that, he did actually take off, his form becoming that of a falcon as he glided down to his brother. Since borrowing the feather cloak from Freyja, Loki had worked on the ability to shapeshift into a bird and for the first time he got to put the skill into use.
Returning to his Aesir form, Loki brought knives to his hand, searching for any sign of the king. Maybe he would have a chance to try and talk this out and repair the damage that his brother had done.
"Loki!" Thor cried out and Loki turned in time to stab a Frost Giants who had raised a iced hand to bring down a killing blow.
"Thor, you idiot, why are you here?" Loki shouted, over the din of battle as he gave up trying to find the king to negotiate. "And take that stupid grin off your face," He added, noticing Thor's delight at having company.
"But brother, you are here with me. To destroy the Frost Giants!" He declared happily and Loki suspected that some of it was the alcohol talking.
"I am not here to destroy them! I am here to bring you home, with as little death as possible." Loki replied, ducking under a blow and the air whistled above his head. Thor threw his hammer and it sang through the air, breaking the giant who had tried to harm Loki.
"But..." Thor started, catching the hammer and Loki had only a second to marvel and despair at several details. He marveled at Thor's mastery of the weapon that he could have only been using for a few minutes. He despaired as he saw one of the guards fall to the frozen ground, blood pouring out of a fatal wound. He was gladdened at finally finding the giant king, who had risen from his throne to hold out a hand at hearing Loki's words. And he could have wept for the fact that the Frost Giants would not notice their leader's silent order, now deep in the blood lust as the first drops of Asgardian blood in centuries was taken.
"Thor, we must leave!" Loki shouted, trying to approach his brother but worried that his own brother was too far into the battle frenzy to notice the difference between friend and foe.
"Then go!" Thor demanded, not looking up from his slaughter and Loki looked back at the king, desperation threatening to soil his eyes. Laufey had returned to his throne, waiting to see what the newly named king would do now.
"Last time you told me that you were late," Loki said, trying to get closer to his brother. "And now you would be lost. Come with me."
Blue eyes met green and then there was the smallest of nods.
Loki breathed out a sigh of relief and his breath clouded the air, expanding into a fog.
"Loki?" Thor asked.
"Trust me." Loki replied, sending the fog out with a gesture of his hands but spreading it thin along the path that they had to tread.
"Quickly," Loki ordered, running along the path as a scream echoes in the mist and faltered as if the passage of the throat was running out of air. He breathed in, closing his eyes. It was easy to imagine what had caused that.
"Loki!" Sif said, appearing out of the mist, supporting Fandral. Volstagg carried two limp forms, one on each shoulder. Hogun and the female guard dealt with a Frost Giant in the path while the two other guards kept a look out.
"Back to the passage, quick!" He ordered, only briefly slowing down, Thor following on heels.
"You heard him, move!" Sif demanded and Loki frowned at the fact that she had repeated his order. It hadn't been necessary. Summoning magic to his hands once more, Loki created an illusion of himself and Thor but that was all he could manage. Despite how he liked to appear, he did have a limit. The magic had to come from within him and leaving the illusions as distractions had taken the last of that energy. He stumbled slightly, but continued on.
Thor was the only one to see the small sign of weakness and he placed a hand on Loki's shoulder.
"It'll be all right, brother." He promised and Loki returned the smile.
"Just keep running." He advised, forcing his pace to become a sprint and Thor thankfully managed to keep up with.
"Which way is it?" Called Sif and Loki cursed as her loud voice caught the attention of the Frost Giants trying to attack the illusions he had left. The ground trembled under the falls of many footsteps that headed now in their direction.
"Follow me," He practically growled, increasing his speed to take the lead. Retracting the forgotten illusions, Loki felt a small amount of power return to him and he used this to thicken the fog behind them, slowing the monsters behind them.
Despite the burden of two dead and one injured, they made it back to the passage and Loki watched as his companions dived in before following them and closing the entrance. They emerged in Asgard, battle worn, weary and saddened by their losses.
"Get Fandral to the healers," Loki ordered and a guard hurried to obey.
Both princes felt that there was something wrong with the dead bodies and they stared at the fallen men numbly. This had not been their first battle, nor was it the first time they had lost comrades but this time it felt unneeded. Sobered by the loss, Thor fell to his knees and stared at the ground. Loki walked over to the bodies and carefully closed their eyes.
"They were noble men and their lives will not be forgotten." He said and all heads were bowed. No one spoke for a minute when a messenger interrupted them.
"Loki Odinson, your father requires your presence at the bifrost." He said and Thor looked up at his brother.
"Why there?" He asked, looking between the two. Already Loki believed he knew the answer and he looked at the hidden passage and then back at Thor.
"Don't worry, brother," He said and understanding crept into Thor's eyes.
"No Loki," He said, voice graveled with emotion. Sif and Hogun exchanged glances.
"It'll be fine, Thor. Just remember that you will always be my brother. No matter what." He placed a hand on Thor's arm. The one that had turned blue. With that he turned and strode towards the bifrost where their father waited.
Arriving at the edge of the bifrost, Loki looked up at the impressive gold structure and gave a sigh. He prayed the Norns would be kind and allow his brother to cope. Entering, Loki stripped himself of his armour.
"You know?" Odin asked, faint surprise in his voice as Loki removed the final piece of Asgardian metal.
"It wasn't a hard guess." He replied, keeping his voice even. "I am sorry for their deaths."
"I know," Odin said softly. "But your actions have resulted in two deaths and likely as not, war." Loki bowed his head. "However, your actions were noble, to save your brother. Although you will be banished, you shall be permitted to keep your power in light of this." His green eyes looked up with some hope and he gave a nod of understanding.
"Thank you father," He said, giving a bow. "My king." With that Loki walked over to stand by the opening and watched Odin's movements with a calm gaze. Light engulfed him and Loki was silent as he was forced away from his home and sent hurling towards one of the other realms that sheltered in the World Tree.