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

AN: I know you guys probably wondered where I'd gone off to, but I am back. I've just suffered through four weeks of exams. I simply had no time to write and I apologize. But that is over now and I have all the time in the world again to write! So I bring a new chapter and I made it extra-long for you guys.

I hope you'll enjoy it!

~ Fields of Blood ~

Chapter 16

Loki eyed Arta steadily as he stood again, but never before had he felt so tall and strong. He even felt strangely proud. He knew now what he had to do and even though his plan was dangerous and had little chance of succeeding, he knew he had to at least try.

Arta took a step back as Loki found his balance and stared back at the raven haired prince. Arta's expression was difficult to read, but so was Loki's at the moment. Loki knew he had to play his part just right if he did not want to get caught. He needed to remain that scared, pathetic boy in Arta's eyes. Otherwise Arta would become too vigilant to his every move.

"I'll do it," Loki said, making sure his voice wavered near the end of his sentence. He had always been good at manipulating people and it was time he used his talent on the man who would be king. He watched the corners of Arta's lips twist upwards and it despised him. "I'll open the vault for you."

"You are making a wise choice, Loki," Arta smiled. He appeared smug and victorious, but that would not last long. Not if it was up to Loki. "I knew there was a reason why I chose you. You are smart and you know what needs to be done to survive."

"Oh really?" Loki asked challenging. He immediately knew he had made a mistake. He needed to uphold an image after all and countering Arta like that would do nothing to aid that. "I thought you chose me because I am weak and submissive," he quickly added.

Arta chuckled softly. "That too. Aggi and Júti, give Loki some space to work his wonders."

Loki turned his back to Arta and walked towards the massive doors of the weapons' vault. These doors were made entirely out of metal which is why no ordinary man could open them. There were heavy and appeared impressive, but they were also admirably beautiful. The metal had been hand-painted with Asgard's finest gold and small protective runes were carved into it. That is what prevented Arta and his men from getting inside.

It was true. When the throne was under attack, these doors seal themselves immediately, protecting everything stored away inside. Only the king and his closest family could open these doors now. Loki was one of the four people who could do so – Odin, Frigga and Thor being the other three.

Yet this was all new for Loki as well since the throne had been usurped before. He didn't know what to expect so he felt a little nervous. Hesitantly, he extended his hand and took a step closer towards the grand doors. His ankle ached which caused him to limp, but he didn't care. It might even enhance his image as a weakling further.

Just before he touched the golden metal, Loki glanced to his right. He found the savage standing there looking bored. It was the same man who hadn't cared about Loki's sharp words before and Loki wished he knew his name. Either is was Aggi or Júti and he decided the man appeared fitting to wear the name Aggi.

Suddenly Loki wondered what he was doing. He should not be giving these men names. Didn't that make the whole processes more difficult?

Loki focused on what was really the point to all this. His eyes scanned Aggi's body, finding his clothes old and torn, and his beard wild and untended. A long sword lay firmly in his hand, the tip of it resting comfortably on the stone floor, and a dagger hung carelessly from his belt.

Casually, Loki switched his gaze to the other savage, the one he would now call Júti. He hated that man, thinking him arrogant and foul. He had a temper and he was strangely loyal to Arta. Loki couldn't wait to get his hands on him. Júti was shorter than Aggi, but he was broader and he appeared more muscled. His blond hair was short and he didn't carry a sword like Aggi, but instead carried at least two daggers. He probably had more hidden weapons on his body.

That was all Loki needed to know.

"I am waiting," Arta said impatiently.

Footsteps sounded which Loki did not recognize. Then again, that should not be a surprise. He turned around a bit to see who was approaching and he found a woman walking towards Arta. She had long brown hair which was tied together in a tight ponytail and her brown eyes stood dull. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she certainly wasn't ugly. Loki would call her…earthy.

She appeared hurried and slightly distressed.

"My Lord," the woman said in hushed tones, "I am sorry to interrupt, but I have news."

"What is it, Lína?" Arta asked. His impatience grew and he looking nothing short of annoyed. "As you can see I am rather busy."

Lína's brown eyes fell on Loki. For a moment Loki thought she would throw him a nasty look, but her expression didn't change. She simply returned her attention to Arta and said, "It is…sensitive news, my Lord."

Arta switched his gaze between Loki and Lína a few times and then nodded. "I see," he said before turning to face Loki, "I need a word with the lovely Lína here. When I return, I expect this vault to be open, Loki. Otherwise, I cannot be held responsible for what Aggi and Júti will do to you as punishment."

"What is in here you want so badly anyway?" Loki asked. He reprimanded himself. Challenging Arta this way would not end well for him. However, he wanted answers and this was the only way he would get them.

"My Lord," Lína urged, "I truly must speak with you."

Loki's mind raced to find answers until he came to the conclusion he already had the answer all alone. It honestly wasn't that hard in the first place. The answer had been right under his noise the entire time and for the first time, Loki felt honestly stupid. It has been staring him in the face for so long. Then again, his mind wasn't what it used to be. It felt clouded with pain and exhaustion.

As Arta turned his back to Loki – intending to follow Lína down the hall – Loki spoke again. "The Gauntlet," he said with his voice sharp and filled with confidence. For the moment, he cared little about playing the part of scared little prince. "You are still after the Infinity Gauntlet."

Arta came to an abrupt halt and tension slipped into his shoulder, which told Loki he was right.

"Only then you can truly seize power in this realm," Loki said, every piece of the puzzle falling into place, "you told me you needed my father and brother to suppress the people, to suppress any possible rebellion. Once you have the Gauntlet, you won't need my father and brother anymore. You can rule the people of Asgard as a tyrant. No one will dare to oppose you once you wield the Gauntlet."

"Open the vault, Loki," Arta said, not looking back, "because you are working on my nerves and that is not a good thing." He walked away, following Lína and stopped once more when they were about fifteen feet away. Loki could still see their lips move, but he could not hear them.

Loki turned towards the gigantic doors and without hesitating he placed the palm of his right hand on the cold metal. It felt strange and uncomfortable, like the metal clung onto his skin like glue the moment he touched it. It felt like a thousand tiny needles pricked his palm and Loki winced without wanting to.

The moment passed quickly and as soon as Loki could, he retracted his hand.

A ticking sound could be heard, coming from within the doors. It grew louder and louder and eventually, it seemed to hiss. Not a minute later, the doors emitted a strange form of electricity that rippled through the air, making the hairs in Loki's neck stand up.

He shivered.

What had he done?

"Are the doors open now?" Aggi – or at least the man Loki had decided to call Aggi - asked.

"Give me a hand with this," Loki said.

Júti arched one eyebrow. "Why?" He asked skeptically.

"Because these doors weigh a ton," Loki argued irritably, rolling his eyes, "that's why. I cannot open them myself so come here and help me."

"Fine, fine," Aggi sighed. He placed his sword in its scabbard and walked forward, not suspecting anything.

Loki knew now was the time.

Now or never.

~ 0 ~

Arta followed Lína until they were a good distance away from Loki and the two men. He would never admit it, but he felt curious and anxious at the same time when he gazed at Lína's face. He could see she had bad news for him and he already knew he would hate it. He simply hoped it was something he could fix.

"What is it, Lína?" Arta asked, keeping his voice low. It made him sound both stern and dangerous.

Lína grimaced and Arta wished she would just spit it out. He had no time for this, certainly not with the Infinity Gauntlet so close within his reach. He could already feel the power surging through his veins. No one would be able to oppose him. No one would be able to take the throne away from him and finally –finally! – he would be able to get rid of Odin once and for all.

"Intruders, my Lord," Lína said. She was one of the few people that were not frightened by Arta. Then again, she had known him his whole life. "We spotted about six, but there are bound to be more."

Arta gritted his teeth together. This news unsettled him. "Frigga," he hissed, "I should have known she wouldn't simply abandon her family. She actually loves them. Has she been seen in the palace?"

Lína shook her head. "No, my Lord," she replied respectfully. Her brown eyes betrayed irritation. It wasn't a secret that Arta loved Frigga, just like it wasn't a secret that Lína loved Arta. "We are tracking them for the moment and they appear to be heading into many different directions. It's very odd. What must we do?"

Suddenly, a strange sensation passed by Arta. It felt like electricity coursing through the air. He gazed at where Loki stood and saw that he was opening to vault. At least one thing was going according to plan. If there were indeed intruders, then he could easily annihilate them as soon as he had the Infinity Gauntlet.

Arta focused on Lína again. "They will try to open the main gates from the inside out," he said, easily figuring out Frigga's plan, "they will let their army inside and battle my men. They are no threat to us, however, for I'll easily kill them all once I have the Gauntlet."

"What are your orders, my Lord?" Lína asked.

"Don't bother with the gates," Arta said, "let Odin's army enter. They are walking to their deaths. I do not want the prisoners to escape, however. Make sure they remain in their cell at all costs. I will not allow Odin the chance to escape my grasp."

Lína appeared relieved when hearing Arta's order. "I will not fail you, my Lord," she said, "if I have to, I will stop the former king myself." She threw Arta a quick smile before hurrying from the hall, determined to make Arta proud.

Arta watched the young girl leave until she disappeared out of view. He kept thinking that if Frigga refused to become his queen, Lína would be a suitable replacement. She was a strong woman, fierce and intelligent. She was also desperately loyal to him which certainly was an advantage. He could make her his queen because he needed someone to keep his bed warm at night after all. Lína could easily fulfill that task.

He was ripped from his thoughts by sudden noises of battle. Arta spun around, but he did not found Loki opening the vault's doors. What he found both amazed and angered him.

~ 0 ~

Agility was the most important part to his plan. Loki knew this, but he also knew he wasn't in his best condition at the moment. His ankle hurt and his back was still not entirely healed. Had he needed to perform this plan but a few weeks ago, he would not even doubt himself. Now he feared his own body would abandon him.

Yet this plan was all he had and if he didn't undertake action, Arta would get the Infinity Gauntlet and all would be lost.

As soon as Júti stood close enough, Loki did not hesitate and with his right hand, he grabbed Júti's dagger. He easily pulled it out of his belt while he watched Júti's eyes widened. His short arms reached to grab Loki, but he failed. Loki was surprised by his own speed as he darted out of Júti's reach and planted the dagger deep into Júti's chest, hitting the exact spot where his heart was located.

The short man cried out in pain and his eyes watered instantly.

Loki pulled the dagger out of Júti's chest. He had no time to watch the man die because Aggi's arms embraced his body, squeezing painfully and making it difficult for Loki to breathe.

Aggi lifted Loki off the floor and threw him against the doors of the vault like he was nothing but a ragged doll. Loki's vision darkened when the back of his head smacked against the metal. For a moment he thought his plan had already failed, but Loki found that he was only overcome with dizziness. He shook his head, clearing all confusion from his mind. Aggi approached him, ready to hit his face with his fists when Loki raised his hand holding the dagger, intending to drive it into Aggi's chest.

He failed.

Aggi easily knocked the dagger from Loki's hand and the weapon slid out of Loki's reach. Before Loki could do anything, he was hoisted up onto his feet again. Aggi's face was only inches away from his.

"I liked Júti," Aggi said, "he was a blockhead and he definitely had a stick up his ass, but he was my friend and you killed him."

Loki – still firm within Aggi's grasp – let his gaze slide towards Júti who was indeed dead. Blood pooled underneath him and his eyes stood with, but they were void of life. Loki felt strangely relieved that he managed to stab Júti in the heart. His death had been quick ad merciful. It was more than the man deserved.

"Lord Arta will not be pleased," Aggi spat. It was the first time Loki saw any emotion in the man's eyes, but he couldn't trouble himself with it. He made sure to keep Aggi's eyes on him while he - very carefully - lowered his hand and allowed his fingers to wrap around the hilt of one of Aggi's dagger.

"You shouldn't worry about your friend," Loki said boldly while Aggi tightened his grip on Loki's shoulders. He watched Aggi frown just before he pulled the dagger out of his belt only to plant the sharp blade into Aggi's gut.

He would not die a quick, merciful death. On the contrary.

Aggi – shock clearly visible in his bleak eyes - released his grip on Loki as he fell to his knees. He simply had no strength left in his musles. He pressed his hands against the wound, his eyes never leaving Loki's face. Shock was replaced with the realization that he would die. His fate had been sealed.

Loki gazed down at the man while his fingers stilled clung on tightly to the weapon. He felt his breath hitch within his chest. Never before had he killed two men. He had gone hunting with his brother before and he had killed various animals, but never a man. Let alone two. Their blood stained his hands, literally.

"I'm sorry," he mouthed even though he did not know why. Was he sorry he had just condemned him to death? He wasn't. Was he sorry for the pain he'd caused the man? He didn't even know.

There wasn't time to contemplate more on this, however. Just as Loki lifted his gaze to find Arta, he felt a sharp, burning pain in his left shoulder. He gasped for breath and felt all his muscles tense as he tried to understand what had just happened.

Slowly, he dared to look down only to find a knife buried deep into his shoulder. Arta was many things and apparently, he was well practiced at throwing daggers as well.

Loki now understood what Aggi had gone through only seconds ago. He too lost all sensation in his legs and he allowed himself to drop to the floor, onto his knees. With wide, uncertain eyes he watched Aggi double over. The man no longer moved and Loki wondered if that was his fate now too.

Was he only seconds away from dying?

His plan was lost and yet… Loki suddenly saw his mother before him. She was smiling at him, reaching out to touch him. He had saved her, he had brought her to safety. Then he saw his father as he was forced to kneel before the bastard Arta. He could hear his voice so clearly in his mind. 'It's all right, son, you did nothing wrong.' That is what he had said.

Loki couldn't abandon his father, could he? He refused to disappoint him.

Thinking quickly, Loki turned his back to Arta and bowed forward. He made sure Arta heard him groan, but then again, he didn't even have to fake that. He quickly made the dagger he used to kill Aggi and Júti disappear, hiding it in the fold of his sleeve. He knew it was a long shot, but perhaps Arta would not have seen him hide it.

"Loki, Loki, Loki," Arta sighed, closing in on the prince, "look at the mess you made."

AN: CLIFFHANGER! I know I'm evil. I enjoy it. XD