Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Marvel-characters!

AN: My apologies for the late update. I had to study for an exam (I really hate statistics) so I didn't have time to write. But I am back and I bring the fifth chapter. Thanks to everyone who left me an awesome review! I love you guys. Enjoy the next chapter.

~ Fields of Blood ~

Chapter 5

"My Lord, it is time."

Arta looked up to meet the gaze of one of his followers. He knew them all by name and he knew this one was called Drengr. He was a young, skinny lad and he had joined his cause only a few months. He was a good man and Arta had high hopes for him.

"Then we better move out," he said, gathering his belongings. It only cost him a minute. "When will he be here?"

"He is approaching the fort as we speak," Drengr explained, "we received word from Vestarr only moments ago. Everything is going according to plan."

"Good," Arta smiled, "there is no time to lose. Warn the others. Make sure everyone acts according to the plan."

"Yes, my Lord."

~ 0 ~

Thor stormed forward, not caring that his friends told him to calm down. He also didn't heed their warnings. Yes, there could be a small army of savage men inside that fort, but Thor knew he could beat them all. He had to. Nothing would stop him from finding Loki at this point.

Kicking in an old, almost rotten wooden door, he hurried inside. In one hand he held the long, thin sword he had once gotten from Loki as a present. In his other hand, he held Mjolnir. He felt invincible. His grip tightened on the weapons when he entered the dusty fort. Light barely made it inside, but Thor could see just enough to notice three savage men.

They instantly charged at him, but Thor reacted swiftly. He knocked the first savage aside with his hammer and pierced the second with his sword. When he swirled around to face the third one, he found him already dead. Fandral's sword was dripping with blood.

"We have your back," the dashing warrior said with nothing but sincerity in his voice.

Thor could only offer his friend a grateful smile. He spun around on his heels and headed down the narrow hallway. Surely there would be more obstacles in their way? Three savage men was nothing. They arrived in a small room which appeared to have functioned as the weapon's chamber. All that was left now was a crossbow, a few swords and a couple of daggers.

"Look at this," Sif said as she picked up one of the daggers. After examining it closely, she handed it over to Thor. At the base of the hilt, the letters L.O. could be read.

"Loki Odinson," Thor breathed, "this is my brother's dagger."

"And so is this one," Volstagg said while he picked up a second dagger.

"That means he is here," Thor said with hope in his voice. He put both daggers in his belt.

"Or he has been here," Fandral replied, looking regretful, "this place seems rather abandoned. And clearly they left in a hurry since they didn't even take all the weapons with them."

"Not everyone has gone," Volstagg countered, referring to the three savages they had encountered only moments ago.

"My brother is still here," Thor said stubbornly, "I can feel it."

They left the weapon's chamber and crossed another hall. Thor didn't like how empty this fort appeared to be. Clearly there had been a lot of men present at one point – the trampled grass was proof of that – but where had they all gone? And why did only three men stay behind? It made no sense. None of this made sense.

When they made a left turn, Thor was proven wrong about one thing. There were more than three men present. He now found himself facing ten more enemies, but he did not feel threatened or intimidated. A growl escaped his throat. Without hesitating, he stormed forward.

He planted his sword deep inside the first man's stomach. In the corner of his eye, he saw his friends attacking the savages as well while another five enemies appeared from the other side of the hallway.

Good, Thor thought, I'll kill those as well.

He cut the back of one's knees, he sliced another's side and he pierced someone's heart. In a matter of minutes, Thor found himself covered in blood. He decided to use Mjolnir now. The hammer held much more power and it required less precision. Any blow could be lethal and so Thor worked his way through the group of savages. In the end, he couldn't tell how many he killed.

Only one was left alive now. He was kneeling down, shaking and trembling like a lost little child. The blood of his friends covered his face and arms while bruises were already forming on his body. Thor could tell this savage had put up a good fight, but the battle was lost and now he feared for his life.

"Where is my brother?" Thor demanded to know with a scowl on his face. With all the blood covering him, he was certain he looked nothing but terrifying.

"He's here," the savage answered with a small voice. His eyes switched frantically between Thor and his dead friends. "He is locked inside a cell in the south wing."

Thor let out a satisfied breath.

"Will you let me live?" The savage asked hopefully.

Thor narrowed his eyes. "I've got to send a message to the world."

The savage whimpered pathetically. "A message?"

"No one harms my brother."

With one swift movement, Thor brought down Mjolnir on the man's head. It produced a loud, filthy crack. Thor felt relief flood his body. He had won the battle and soon he would find Loki. Everything was going wonderfully.

He turned to look at his friends and found them staring at him. They looked terrified and partially worried. Thor cared not.

"Let's free my brother," he said. Then he starting to walk to the south wing of this damned fort.

~ 0 ~

At one point, the noise had been deafening. At least that was Loki's opinion. Since his head felt twice its original size, anything and everything around him sounded deafening. He wasn't in so much pain anymore though due to Arta's ointment. It might as well have been a magical cure.

Not that he was cured. If only, Loki though. When he moved his arms, he could still feel his back protest. When he moved, his skin - and therefor his wounds - stretched out. That did hurt. A lot!

The noise grew closer and louder and Loki anxiously stared at the door. He could only guess what was happening outside, but he doubted it was anything positive. He heard man shout and yell and he heard metal on metal. There was definitely a fight going on.

Had Thor come for him? Was he now fighting his way through the savages?

Loki's mind was racing. The idea of his brother hurt or dead made him shiver. Or perhaps he was completely wrong and Thor wasn't here at all. Perhaps Arta had lied and perhaps he was imagining it all. Maybe that food had been poisoned.

His heart now started to race. What if it was all a lie?

Something banged against the door. Loki was definitely not imagining that. He quickly sat up and felt his entire body tense. If those three savages would return, he would lose his mind. He couldn't stand any more torture and he certainly had enough of their games.

The door opened and Loki found himself staring at Thor. Last time that had been the case, he had been assaulted only to come to the realization that none of it had been real to begin with. That had been the worst torture of all. Loki knew he had to protect himself against it now.

He told himself to stay strong, to not break down like last time.

"Brother!" Thor said cheerfully. His smile reached his eyes, making them shine brilliantly.

As Thor entered, Loki shrank away. He expected an attack to happen any moment now.

"Brother, it's me," Thor said with a booming voice as he was clearly confused by Loki's strange behavior, "my goodness, what have they done to you?"

Loki swallowed heavily. He wasn't sure of he should answer or not.

"It is all right now," Thor continued. He sounded proud and almost carefree. "I am here to free you."

Thor took a dagger from his belt and Loki flinched. This was it, he thought, Thor would attack him now and then he'll disappear just like last time. Loki truly hated this sick and twisted game.

He pushed himself away from his so-called brother and covered his face with his bound hands. He no longer cared that his back felt like it was on fire. Through his fingers, he watched Sif place a hand on Thor's arm. She forced him to lower the dagger.

"Look at him, Thor," she said in hushed tones, "he is clearly frightened."

Thor's blue eyes widened when he looked at his brother again. Loki stared back at him, wondering what it all meant. Could it be true? Could this be real?

"I won't hurt you, Loki," Thor said softly, "I only want to cut those ropes from your wrists."

Loki couldn't help but glance down at his tied hands. The tips of his fingers were turning slightly blue due to bad blood circulation.

"Are you real?" He asked quietly.

"Of course we are real," Thor answered, still looking confused and extremely worried.

"You're real," Loki repeated. When he looked up to meet his brother' gaze, he dared to smile. He hadn't smiled in a long time. At least, that is how it felt. "You are real."

Thor stepped forward and cut the ropes. "There," he said, "that should feel better."

It did indeed feel better. For the first time in days, Loki could move his arms separately. Not that he wanted to move them around a lot at this point. His back hurt too much for that.

"Thank you," he said, not knowing what else he could say.

"Come on," Thor replied cheerfully, "let's get you home."

AN: So, any thoughts? Theories? I would love to hear them!