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

AN: Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm glad you're still enjoying the ride. To answer a few questions: at the beginning of the story, Loki had wanted to spend time with Thor even though that meant they were going hunting (which Loki hates). It just so happens that the hunting trip became boring and Loki began to hate it even more XD To Kion: no, I don't know that gif! You must try and send me the link. I'm dying to see it! Also, I am so glad everyone loved Frigga.

Enough chatter from me. Here is the next chapter. It was actually 8 pages long so I split it in half. Technically, this is part one of chapter 8. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on this one. I'll try and post the next part as soon as possible (after I proof-read it).

~ Fields of Blood ~

Chapter 8

Loki had slept wonderfully in his own bed. He had only woken once during the night when he had accidentally rolled onto his back, but the pain had quickly eased away. Finally, he was starting to find ways to cope with the pain. Forcing himself to breathe steadily helped. Keeping his mind occupied with silly thoughts also aided him. It was so that he had fallen asleep again within thirty minutes.

After such a night, he felt much better.

His day had started with a healthy breakfast which he had shared with his mother. It wasn't easy to always ignore her stares, but he was getting used to them. Frigga would never stop worrying about him after all. He had been glad though that only Frigga had been present during the morning. His father had been occupied with Peace Councils and Thor had been absent due to a hangover. Loki silently hoped his brother felt absolutely miserable. He deserved it after making such a fool out of himself and out of Loki last night.

The hangover also meant Loki wouldn't be bothered by his brother today. Thor always went sparring with the Warriors Three to help him forget about his lingering headache.

So Loki planned on spending his day quietly. As he walked through the halls of the palace after breakfast, he thought about all the things he could do. He mostly looked forward to spending time in the library. He hadn't been there in days and he missed that place. He decided he would read about magic and even though he couldn't try any of the spells, he could still expand his knowledge. He wished he had stronger magic. He knew for a fact he could have been able to defend himself better if he'd had been more adept at magic. Just a few silly tricks would have been enough.

He turned into another corridor when he heard heavy footsteps behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know who was approaching. He grunted silently and closed his eyes for a moment. He truly wasn't in the mood for a pleasant conversation with his brother. He doubted it could be pleasant in the first place.

"Brother," Thor said with a booming voice, "I have been looking all over for you."

Loki spun around on his heels to face Thor and found that he looked surprisingly healthy considering the amount of wine and ale he consumed yesterday evening. He looked dashing as ever, with his blonde hair hanging loose around his face and his armor shining brilliantly. Loki looked like a beggar compared to him. Then again, he was only wearing black linen pants and a loose emerald shirt. His raven hair didn't shine and his skin looked ashen grey. Considering everything he lived through the past couple of days, he looked rather well.

"Is there something you want?" Loki asked briskly. He wanted to head to the library as soon as possible since he craved solitude again. He certainly didn't enjoy spending time with Thor at this moment. He also didn't know why he felt so annoyed with his brother. Clearly something was bothering him, yet he couldn't put his finger to it.

"There is nothing I want," Thor replied with a smile on his face. He was completely oblivious to Loki's mood. "I only wanted to ask you how you are doing."

Loki smiled icily. "How considerate," he said. "I am fine, Thor."

"Good." Thor grew cautious and his smile faltered now that he noticed Loki's strange and almost hostile behavior. "I am heading to the training grounds to meet our friends," he said, "why don't you join me?"

Loki eyed his brother steadily and when the silence grew too heavy, he plainly answered, "No."

"Why not?" Thor almost whined. He looked saddened that his brother turned down his offer. "It is a beautiful day, Loki, and spending some time outside might do you good. I think you could use some fresh air."

After Thor had said something so ridiculous, Loki decided he would not even honor it with a response. Just as he was about to turn away from his brother, Thor said something that made his blood run cold within his veins.

"Or are you afraid I will beat you in battle?"

Loki truly didn't know why he reacted so panicked to his brother's words. His hands trembled slightly and his throat turned dry. He felt as if his mind was instantly pulled back into that little cell inside the fort. One moment he was looking at Thor and the next he found himself staring at the three savages just before they kicked him half to death.

Loki forced himself to think of reality. He was no longer inside that cell. He was home. He was safe.

For now.

"I am so sorry, Loki," Thor breathed when he realized his mistake. He looked mortified, guilty and extremely concerned at that moment. "I didn't mean… I just wanted to say… I am-"

"How dare you?" Loki heard himself say. He wasn't exactly in control of himself anymore at that point. He didn't know what he was thinking or doing. He only felt something dark awaken inside of him, something he had never experienced before. It felt strong and powerful. Loki truly enjoyed the feeling and he welcomed it.

He was done being victimized by those around him.

"I never meant-" Thor tried again.

Loki didn't allow him to finish his sentence. "If it wasn't for you," he hissed, "if it wasn't for your reckless behavior, I wouldn't be in this mess!"

Anger took control of Loki and he let it. "I asked you not to leave me," he continued in a low, menacing voice, "I begged you, but you wouldn't listen. You didn't care."

The darkness inside of him – his anger and pain mixed with something else – grew wilder and uncontrolled until the point that Loki could no longer keep a grip on it. It searched for a way out and so he let it free. It felt like pure energy radiated from his body. It was painful and pleasant at the same time.

Thor stumbled back as if someone had pushed him hard.

"You are so desperate to prove yourself," Loki spat, "you want to show the entire realm that you are worthy to be Odin's son, but you cannot see the truth!"

He directed all of that anger, pain and darkness at his brother. Thor reached for his throat, clawing at it as if he was trying to free himself from a pair of invisible hands that was currently choking him. Loki didn't care, not even when Thor's lips turned blue since he clearly could not breathe. Loki was faintly aware that he was strangling his brother with the use of magic, but he couldn't find the willpower to care. He could only think of the burden on his shoulders weighing him down.

He needed to release some of his bottled up emotions.

"Loki," Thor managed to choke out, "stop."

He ignored Thor's plea. "You are nothing but an arrogant, ignorant and spoiled child trying to prove himself a man. You are not a hero, Thor, and you are certainly not my savior!"

Thor closed his eyes as he was on the verge of falling unconscious.

"Enough, Loki," a new voice said.

Loki instantly released all of his magic and turned to his left. He was met with the sight of the utterly terrified figure of his mother. He had never seen Frigga so distressed before in his life and he was appalled that he had made her feel so frightened.

"I am sorry," he breathed, not sure what exactly he had done. He quickly spun around, not daring to look at his brother. Without looking back, he walked away. He fled while not yet experiencing the torturous pain of his back.

~ 0 ~

Frigga stood frozen as she watched her youngest son flee from the scene. She had never before seen him so angry and heartbroken at the same time. Watching him choke the life out of Thor had shaken her, however, and for a moment she couldn't tell what was up or down. Only after a few seconds she realized she was holding her breath.

Her heart beat ferociously inside her chest.

Thor leaned against the golden wall of the hallway, his lips slowly turning pink again while he massaged his throat with his right hand. Frigga finally snapped out of her shock and rushed to her son's side.

"Are you all right?" She asked, placing a hand on Thor's cheek. When his blue eyes met hers, she was startled to find them hot with fury and frustration.

"I am fine," he answered heatedly, his eyes falling to the spot where only a moment ago Loki had stood, "but what in the gods names has gotten into Loki?"

Frigga wished she could give her son the answer he was looking for. "I do not know," she answered cheerlessly, "but I never knew Loki possessed such magical powers."

Thor's hand continued to massage his neck even though no one had actually laid a hand on him. "Neither did I," he said, "but I want to know what has gotten into him."

"Your brother is going through a difficult time," Frigga replied instantly. She knew that Loki was best left alone for the time being. She also knew Thor was acting on impulses at the moment which would not lead to anything good either. "We need to give him time and space."

"And that gives him the right to almost strangle me to death?" Thor snapped. He instantly regretted it when he noticed Frigga pained expression. She never enjoyed it when her sons fought as children. She'd always demanded they'd make it up to each other. Now that they were adults, she still hated it.

"Thor, please leave Loki be," she asked of her son.

She could see the stubbornness in Thor's eyes. "I am sorry, mother," he said, I cannot let this pass."

Frigga could only watch her oldest son set after her youngest one.

~ 0 ~

Loki hissed as his servant boy Mýr removed the bandages from his back. He didn't even need to see his wounds to know that they looked bad.

"The cuts are bleeding, my Lord," Mýr said as he threw the bloodied bandages aside. He quickly pressed a clean white towel against his master's injured back.

Loki hissed in pain and screwed his eyes shut. A nauseating feeling overwhelmed him, but he swallowed down the sickness. He was certain he could taste blood in his mouth and only then did he realize he was biting down on his lower lip. He was trying to bite away the pain, but clearly he was unsuccessful.

He desperately held onto the edge of the table and pressed his nails into the wood until that hurt too. At least he had made it to his bedchamber without encountering any of his friends. He truly didn't want to explain why he appeared so pale and sick. He didn't want any unnecessary attention.

"I should have known better," he sighed to himself. What had he been thinking after all? He had been warned about this.

"I stopped the bleeding," Mýr said. He placed the bloodied towel on the table and rushed into the adjourning bath chamber to fetch new, clean bandages.

Loki swallowed heavily when he saw that the once white towel was now dark red. He felt sick in his stomach when he realized that that was his blood. Truly, he should have known better! He had been warned that any use of magic would worsen his back.

With a loud bang, the door to his bedchamber flew open and Thor stormed inside. Loki quickly turned around to face his brother only to regret that action instantly. His head swirled in darkness and he grabbed hold of the table again to steady himself.

"Loki, I demand to know-"

The blunt and insensitive oldest brother stopped dead in his tracks when he witnessed the horrid cuts on his little brother's back. He paled and all the words seemed to leave him and as Thor opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out.