Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Marvel-characters!
AN: Thank you so much, GreenLoki, for all the help. Here it is; the final chapter. I know it has taken me extremely long, but writing this hasn't been easy. Thanks, guys, for sticking with me to the end. You are all awesome!
~ Fields of Blood ~
Chapter 18
Everything was finally settling down. Three days had passed since Frigga stormed the palace with their men. Three days had passed since Arta had been killed. Thor's only regret was that he had not been there to witness it, though he felt proud that it had been Loki to murder that bastard. Thinking of his brother made him sigh.
Thor had finally gotten away from the assembly with the Allfather and the most important and powerful men and women in Asgard. There had only been one person absent: the Queen herself. For the last three days, she refused to leave her youngest son's bedside and Thor couldn't blame her. He would sit with Loki as well, but he had duties to honor. Asgard was in disarray and the people needed to know that Odin had seized power again, they needed to know that everything was slowly returning to normal.
Making his way through the golden halls, nodding to every guard he passed, Thor couldn't help but think of the difficult times that still lay ahead. The hardest part might be over, but there was still the case of Arta's followers. Most had fled or had been killed, but there were about sixty who had remained. Odin never made it a secret what he wanted to do with them, but Thor felt torn about it.
He reached the healing chambers and entered the first one without knocking. The entire room cast in a soft orange glow from the fading sun. In the middle stood a large bed covered with rich furs. Loki laid there, his face pale and his thin arms lying motionless next to his fragile body.
Frigga's worried brown eyes instantly landed on her eldest son.
"Mother, how is he?" Thor asked. He came here as often as he could, but he still felt it wasn't often enough. He knew his brother wasn't in any danger anymore, but he was taking a long time recovering from his shoulder wound. He lost a lot of blood and his body had been weak when he'd been injured.
Still, it was only a matter of time before he would wake.
"Nothing has changed," Frigga replied. Thor had heard that sentence a dozen times already these past three days. "He sleeps, but the healers think he might wake tonight."
Thor took his usual seat at the other side of Loki's bed. Without hesitating, he took Loki's hand into his own, feeling that it was still icily cold. The healers haven't been able to explain why his body temperature stayed so low the entire time, but he was finally warming up again. It should give them hope, but Thor was too afraid to hope.
When he found Loki lying in his own blood – a dead Arta not too far away from him – he had felt his heart skip a beat. All air had left his lungs and all that he could think was that he'd lost his brother. The idea of Loki having died frightened him. He had always imagined that they would rule Asgard together. They were brothers after all, close brothers. They did everything together.
"How was the meeting?" Frigga asked after a moment of silence. "I hear Odin is being quite…harsh when it comes to the remaining savages."
Thor couldn't blame his father. They attacked his land, threatened everything he had built in the past few centuries – millennia even! – and they nearly killed his youngest son. Odin was indeed being harsh in their punishment, but Thor wondered if he wasn't being cruel either. "I've tried talking to him, Mother," he answered solemnly, not knowing what Frigga's opinion was exactly, "but he won't listen."
"I would say that I do not agree with him," Frigga sighed, "but then I would be lying."
"So you approve?"
There was a heavy silence while Frigga turned to gaze at Loki's pale face.
"Sixty people," Thor continued, knowing that his mother wasn't about to answer his question, "I know they are all…criminals, but surely there are other punishments. Father could banish them or toss them into a pit for a few years for all I care! But execution? All of them? That sounds like mass murder."
When Frigga gazed into Thor's clear blue eyes, her gaze stood hard. "Since when do you care about their lives?" She asked, her tone harsh. "Had you met them in battle, you would have slayed them all."
That was true and it made Thor wonder whether or not he was being a hypocrite. "You are right," he acknowledged, "I would have killed them, especially after I learned what happened to Loki. But there are men and woman in our cells that do not wish to die. Yes, they all fought against their own King – which is treason – but some of those people are barely eighteen years old. Arta brainwashed them, forced them to do his bidding."
Frigga raised one eyebrow. "So you would pardon Lína?"
Thor should have known Lína would be mentioned sooner or later. That woman had been Arta's right hand and after the interrogation of a few of those savages, it had become clear she was likely to have become his queen had Arta become king. It had been a ridiculous idea because Arta would have never succeeded in his plans, but Lína remained loyal to him anyway. She fought until the bitter end until she had finally been defeated.
"She killed Mýr," Frigga added quietly.
"Mýr?"
"Loki's servant."
Thor had never met Loki's servant nor had he ever had any interest in that man, but now that he heard his mother speak of that man, he grew curious. He could hear that he had been important to Frigga and he didn't even question his importance to Loki. Thor had a servant himself – a man named Stefán – and he couldn't stand the idea of losing him. He'd known the man for almost three decades after all. He wondered how long Loki and Frigga knew Mýr, but he did not have to voice his question for Frigga began to speak again.
"Mýr was a good man – boy. He was only just a boy. I made him Loki's servant when they were both still children," she said sadly, "Loki sent him with me just before the attack so that he could keep both of us safe. I told him to stay away from the palace, but Mýr was stubborn and he refused to leave my side. He promised Loki he would protect me and he refused to break that promise. I shouldn't have allowed him to come. It wasn't until the battle ended that I learned of his death. Lína killed him. Sif tried to stop her, but she was too late. At least she took that woman down, but I wish she had killed her."
Thor couldn't believe what he was hearing. This did not sound like his mother at all. No, Frigga kind and loving. She was sweet and forgiving. Now she sounded like a vengeful person, but only then did Thor realize that she was merely a pained mother. She had never made it a secret that she would defend her sons at any cost and Loki lying here was proof that she had failed. At least, that was what she thought.
"I am sorry to hear about Mýr," Thor said, "I wish I had known him because he sounds like a brave young man."
Frigga inhaled sharply. "The King has ordered the execution of those in our cells," she said, "he will make them an example and he will start with Lína. It is only just."
"You're angry," Thor replied, trying his best to understand her, "which is understandable, but Mother, you did not fail. If anything, you saved us. You freed Father and me. Without you, Asgard would have fallen to Arta. I know you were once a warrior - it is why Father fell in love with you in the first place – but you became kind and compassionate over the years. You became the Queen Asgard needed."
"What are you saying?"
"Be that Queen again," Thor explained, "I don't care about Lína. She is lost and she will forever be loyal to Arta, but there are others… Mother, there are boys and girls down in our cells that can still be saved. People like Mýr. They were only misguided and you can save them."
There was another heavy silence. "You are right," Frigga finally said, "Thor, of course you are right. I will what I can. But tell me first, why are standing up for them? Why are you saving their lives?"
"I know I can be arrogant and reckless," Thor admitted with half a smile, "and it is you who always calls me out on it – you or Loki. I know I inherited those characteristics from Father and when I saw him today, condemning all those people to death, I saw myself and I didn't like what I saw. Normally, you and Loki would have been there to object, but today no one spoke against Father. Today, I found myself alone. That is why I am defending some of these people. Someone has to do it."
"You won't be able to save everyone," Frigga said.
"I don't intend to save everyone," Thor replied, "just a few. Just those I think who can still turn their ways around." Frigga threw him a warm smile and Thor recognized his mother again. "You should go for a walk, Mother," he told her, "you need some fresh air. I will stay here and watch over Loki."
Frigga nodded. "You are right again," she laughed softy, "but I will not be gone for long."
"I didn't think you would."
~ 0 ~
Two days later.
~ 0 ~
As soon as Thor heard that his brother had awoken, he'd dropped the papers he was supposed to read and quickly headed for the healer's room. He hoped Loki would be all right and he couldn't wait to hear his voice. With everything that had happened, Thor felt extremely grateful that Loki would be fine in the end.
For the last two days, Thor had been trying not to blame himself, but it was hard. He couldn't help but think back to the hunt he had organized with the Warriors Three. He had harassed his brother until he'd finally given in and agreed to join him. At the time, Thor had merely wanted to spend time with his brother and he could never have known what would happen during the hunt.
He simply knew he should have listened to Loki back then. He should have stayed with him and then he wouldn't have been kidnapped. None of this madness would have happened. Sif kept telling him it wasn't his fault, but how could she believe that? Thor sighed and swore to himself that from now on, he would heed his brother's advice.
A small voice in the back of his head laughed. He was much too proud to listen to his little brother. He always wanted to prove himself after all. He always wanted to show Asgard that he was the better brother, that he was fit for the throne one day. Could he ever change his ways? He vowed to try.
He arrived at the healer's room and entered quickly. A grin broke free across his face when he spotted Loki sitting up straight in the bed. His skin still looked pale and his eyes were sunken, but at least he was awake and he smiled when he saw Thor enter.
"Finally, brother," Loki said, "I was wondering where you were."
Frigga stood from the place she had been sitting for the past few days. For the first time since this mess had started, she looked happy again. "I'll give you two a moment of privacy," she said warmly. She was clearly happy that her two sons were both alive and well again.
For a moment Thor considered to ask his mother to stay, but he was actually grateful for the moment of privacy. He wanted to talk to Loki after all. When Frigga walked by him on her way out, she halted and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Don't tire him," she warned her eldest.
Thor chuckled. "I won't, Mother," he replied.
Frigga left and Thor went to sit in her seat. He could feel Loki's eyes were trained on him and he wondered what he was thinking right now. A part of him was certain Loki blamed him for everything that had happened, but when he gazed into his brother's green eyes, he only found that they stood sharp and alert. He had never been good at reading Loki's thoughts.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, keeping a close eye on Loki's expression.
"I have felt better," Loki said slyly, "getting tortured and then stabbed in the shoulder isn't very good for your health."
Thor snorted, unable to believe that Loki was cracking jokes. Loki didn't crack jokes. He was a serious man who hated it when someone used humor to lighten a situation. It was why he so often hated Thor.
"I'm fine, Thor," Loki added when Thor remained silent.
"Are you sure?" Thor asked. "If there is anything I can do for you, you would tell me, right? I have a lot to make up for and-"
"What are you on about?" Loki appeared confused. "What do you have to make up for?"
"Don't pretend this isn't my fault," Thor said slight angrily.
"The truth is that I did blame you," Loki admitted. He leaned back against the pillows of the bed and sighed heavily. His gaze fell away from Thor as he spoke. "I kept thinking that if you had just listened to me, I would never have lived through…all this, but then I realized I shouldn't be angry with you, but with Arta."
Thor didn't say anything. He listened to his brother, something he should do more often.
"Anger is what kept me alive," Loki concluded, "my desire to kill Arta drove me onwards. I'm just pleased that I succeeded."
"Me, too," Thor said.
"I heard about the executions," Loki continued. His tone had become light and Thor knew he didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer. Then again, Loki was never one to reveal any of his emotions. He hid his true feelings away, thinking they only made him vulnerable. Loki was a collected and withdrawn man while Thor never bothered to conceal his thoughts. They were opposites on that territory.
"At least not all of the prisoners were executed," Thor sighed. Yesterday had been a dark day and he didn't want to think too much about it. "Father banished fifteen men and women. Ten remain in the cells. Their fates are still uncertain. They are still young and we believe Arta brainwashed them. There is still hope for them. The other thirty five died yesterday."
Loki nodded solemnly and Thor was reminded that Loki's suffering wasn't yet over. His physical pain might have ended, but not his emotional pain.
"I am sorry about Mýr," he said, seeing his little brother swallow heavily at the mention of his servant's name, "I heard he fought bravely. He was a good man."
"You didn't know him," Loki said quietly, "and he definitely isn't the only casualty in this war."
"But he was your friend."
"He was an idiot," Loki said curtly. Thor frowned, not understanding where that anger came from. Then again, he had never been confronted with such a loss before. He didn't know what it was like to lose someone he cared about. "I sent him away with Mother to keep them both safe," Loki explained when he saw Thor's confused gaze, "I knew of Arta's…obsession with Mother. I went to her before I opened the gates and told her of a secret passage. I sent Mýr with her to protect him as well, but the first chance he got, he came right back. He was an idiot."
"He was being brave," Thor said. He didn't know why he was defending a boy he didn't even know.
"Perhaps," Loki sighed, "but he still got killed. I heard his killer, that woman Lína, was the first to be executed yesterday."
Thor nodded. "Things are finally settling down," he said, "though everyone is still talking about the battle. They are all praising you for killing Arta in the end. They're a bit confused why you didn't fight him sooner, but they don't know the complete truth. They don't have to either. They don't need to know about the torture."
Loki stayed quiet.
"Has your magic returned yet?" Thor asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.
"Not yet," Loki answered, "but at least they got that damned anklet off." He stretched out his leg and exposed his ankle. The skin was still pink and raw, but it was healing nicely. "The healers say I am lucky that I won't have a scar in the end since the metal was burned into my flesh. I wouldn't have minded the scar."
Thor refrained himself from telling Loki he was being silly. "Why is that?"
"Because all the evidence is being erased, isn't it?" Loki asked. He gazed directly into Thor's clear blue eyes. His own eyes betrayed sadness and a certain degree of vulnerability. It's the most Thor had ever been able to read into those green eyes. "The people aren't allowed to know that it was me who opened the gates for Arta. They aren't allowed to know that I was tortured. Now the healers are doing everything within their power to delete every possibly scar. Even the ones on my back are gone. It's like everyone is already moving on. They are all pretending as if nothing has ever happened."
Thor had never put it that way before. He supposed Loki was right, but he didn't understand why that was a bad thing. Wasn't it better that everyone was moving on? At least now they could continue their lives.
"We won't forget," Thor assured his brother. Moving on didn't equal forgetting after all.
"Good," Loki said determinedly, "because I certainly won't be able to forget. I've lived through the worst pain imaginable – physically at least – and I have betrayed my family for my own sake."
"No," Thor countered without hesitating, "you didn't betray us, Loki. Your hand was forced."
"You wouldn't have done it," Loki said angrily, "you would have died before you gave Arta what he wanted."
"I would like to say you are right," Thor said truthfully, "I like to think that I could suffer through every possible torture, but I've never lived through what you have lived through. I can't possibly predict what I would have done. All I would know is that you would be looking for me. I know you wouldn't leave me."
"I waited for you," Loki sighed, "and I knew you would find me eventually, but it didn't matter. I broke anyway and I did everything Arta asked of me. I refuse to make any excuses for myself, Thor. I know what I did. The moment I opened the gates, I condemned people to death."
"I should have found you sooner," Thor argued. He moved to sit closer to his brother, steadily holding his green gaze. For a moment, he considered taking Loki's hand, but he decided against it. His brother had never been the sentimental type and he doubted he would appreciate the bodily contact in this moment. "Let's make a deal," he said, his voice strong and confident, "you will stop blaming yourself for everything that has happened and I will stop blaming myself as well because don't think for a minute that I don't feel guilty."
Loki arched one eyebrow, but Thor ignored it.
"Let's make a promise here and now," he said, a smile filling his face again. He witnessed Loki growing tense and finally he dared to take Loki's hand. He never showed his brother much affection, but in this very moment, he didn't care about being manly or courageous. He only wanted to be a good brother. "Let's promise that we will never leave each other and that we will always have each other's backs. Deal?"
Slowly, Loki nodded. "Yes," he said softly, "that sounds like an honorable promise."
"Great," Thor smiled. He turned serious again. "It's good to have you back, brother."
"It's good to be back."
"I'll let you rest," Thor said as he stood, "but I'll return later today. I'll bring you some books."
Loki smiled. It was his first smile in days. "I would love that."
Just before Thor left the room, Loki called out his name again. He spun around and waited for Loki to speak again.
"I thought you were dead, you know," Loki said, "Arta told me you and Father tried to escape and that you both had been killed. Just before I passed out after I killed that bastard, I thought I might have died because suddenly you were there."
Thor had no idea where exactly this was going, but he listened intently none the less.
"What I am trying to say, is that everything is a bit hazy about that moment," Loki concluded, "but I remember you comforting me and telling me that everything would be all right. That gave me strength so thank you."
"Like I said," Thor told his little brother, "we have each other's backs. I will always find you, Loki, no matter where you are."
Loki nodded. "And I believe you."
Thor turned away from him and left the room. He knew Loki would be all right. They would all be all right, just as long as they stuck together, as long as they protected each other and looked after one another. Thor was planning to do just that. He refused to disappoint Loki again and from this moment on, he would do anything within his power to be a good brother.
He would protect Loki, no matter what happened. He swore to protect him always.
~ 0 ~
The end.
~ 0 ~