Worthy Chapter 4, a thor fanfic

A/N: Hello everyone! It's been long since I updated and I am truly sorry for that. Please don't be angry. Actually I was reluctant to put this beautiful journey to an end so quickly! I must thank all you lovely readers for your valuable support and encouragement throughout the course of the story..

A special thank you to x-Angelic-Demon-x, Magic111, Cooljoanna15, ImagiTheNation, karrade33, ashio and Uzofire for following and favouriting the story. Loads of love to you all! 3 3 3

So, this is the final chapter of the story. And I had cried two napkins to a pulp whilst writing this. Keep yours ready too.

Disclaimer: All original characters of the movie Thor are the express property of Marvel. I only own the story.

Enjoy!

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Chapter Four

'Nooooooooo!'

Loki could feel his eyes start to water as the rugged elfish blade sliced through his innards. He did his best to school his features into that of abhorrence and hate as his hands fumbled for the thing he was seeking. The hot, pungent breath of the Kurse whiffed over his face as the creature itself glared back at him.

There. It was done.

With another jerk, the blade was wrenched from him, sucking away all breath from his lungs. The pain was yet to come. He knew.

Your birthright was to die…

With a thud that jarred through every inch of him, Loki fell to the hard, gravelly ground. His chest was on fire. He could sense the hot blood overflowing his palms and dripping into the dust of Svartalfheim.

Yet there was satisfaction. The joy of knowing that he had been able to do exactly what he had set out to accomplish—avenge his mother.

Loki tried taking a gulp of the musty air and struggled to pick up his head. His ribs tingled in protest. The beast was still standing there, the sword protruding from its chest.

'See you in Hel, monster,' he spat at the Kurse.

Then it hit him. Blinding pain. Like the punch of an ironclad fist. Or one of Thor's hammer-fells. All the air within his chest disappeared in a trice. Loki was oblivious to the frantic efforts of the Kurse to disengage itself from the black hole. He was too wrapped up in his agony.

The earth began to shake.

The next moment Loki was pulled up from the ground and cradled in a set of muscled arms. They were strong yet tender. Loki slowly opened his eyes. A pair of anguished blue eyes peered back at him.

'You fool! You didn't listen!' Thor's gruff voice set mild tremors through his chest.

The mighty Thor. Weeping like a child for the brother that had wanted to steal the throne from him.

Loki had a sudden urge to laugh.

How blind he had been. In his eagerness to find the treasure he sought he had neglected what true treasure he had right in front of his eyes. His family. He had lost his father because of his pride. He had lost his mother because of his stupidity and his inability to see the consequences of his rash actions. And now he was going to lose his brother as well. Because Loki had been foolish enough to covet what was never to be his.

'I know,' he gasped. 'I'm a fool…I'm a fool.'

Thor pulled him closer. 'Stay with me, okay?' he begged.

Loki gazed at his brother's face through the haze of pain. Was all this really necessary? Could the war have been prevented? Had he truly opened the gates to chaos by the sheer stupidity of his actions?

All because Loki wanted to be king…

Pride. It had been his downfall. It had been all their downfall. Pride had compelled Thor to rashly attack the Jotuns. Pride had compelled the Allfather to take rash decisions. Pride had made him act without thinking about the consequences. He had learnt his lesson when he had lost the one person he truly loved—his mother. And so he had swallowed his pride and agreed to help his brother in this hare-brained scheme.

Loki took another labored breath. The pain was there, pulsating and intense. He knew he did not have much time.

A king admits his mistakes…

Yes. He must. He must atone for his crimes. He must prove to his mother that he is what she wanted him to be. Worthy of being her son.

'I'm sorry,' he rasped, struggling to form the next words. 'I m sorry…I'm sorry.'

I'm sorry for what happened to mother…I'm sorry for helping the Kurse… for destroying New York…for Jotunheim…for not being the brother you wanted me to be…

There were millions of other things he wanted to apologise for. But there was little time. He was dying.

Your birthright was to die…

Atleast he was fulfilling Father's statement. Loki had another insane urge to laugh.

Thor rocked him softly, shushing him. 'It's alright,' he crooned, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

The pain was gone now. Loki shivered. As if he was back in cold Jotunheim, breathing in the icy air.

'I'll tell Father what you did here today.' Thor's voice broke in.

Loki paused. Had he done this to impress Father? Did he still wish to redeem himself in the eyes of the Allfather? No. He did not. Those intentions appeared meaningless now.

'I didn't do it for him,' he said quietly. I did it for you, Mother, he murmured in his mind. For you and for Thor.

And his mother smiled through her tears, holding out her arms in that way she always used to. Come, alskling, she soothed, her golden hair waving in the breeze, it's time to go home.

Loki slowly stretched out his fingers, trying to reach out to his mother. Frigga nodded encouragingly.

Their hands touched. And Loki suddenly felt lighter than air. All the pain and anguish was gone. It was over. He was free.

Frigga pulled him into a warm hug, rubbing his back in soothing circles.

'I'm so proud of you, son.'

Loki smiled into his mother's shoulder and drew in a breath. He was at peace.

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Thor watched his little brother stretch his fingers slowly, as if trying to touch something. His face was not scrunched up in pain anymore. His eyes were unfocused. He was gazing into space, smiling softly.

'Loki! Brother, can you hear me?' he implored.

Loki did not respond. He took a soft heaving breath and closed his eyes. Then all was quiet.

Thor felt his heart stop.

'Loki!' he murmured. There was no response. Loki's hand lay limp at his side now. He looked like he had fallen asleep.

'Loki, brother!' Thor patted his cheeks. They were cold.

'Loki!'

But his brother did not answer.

'No no no, please. Look at me brother, look at me…LOKI!' Thor roared, clutching his little brother to his chest. 'Talk to me, Brother!' he whimpered, rocking his brother's limp form. 'Please!'

Yet he knew Loki would never talk again. He would no more taunt Thor or cause mischief. Loki was gone.

His little brother was dead.

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Whoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall posses the power of Thor…

Nobody noticed the soft hum.

Nobody noticed Mjolnir twitch in the dust where it lay.

Nobody noticed it rise silently and speed towards a new master it had recognized.

And nobody noticed when it dropped in midflight, like a pebble in a pond.

Whoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall posses the power of Thor…

Loki lay on the cursed ground of Svartalfheim, looking peacefully asleep, his handsome face relaxed and smiling.

Not knowing that he had finally achieved what he deeply desired in his heart.

Not knowing that he had proved himself.

That he was worthy.

At last.

~fin~

Thank you, lovely readers! Hope you have enjoyed reading the story! If it is not much to ask, I would be really thrilled if you would provide your valuable comments about this tale I have spun. I will be back with another Loki fanfiction in the near future. Till then, love to you all!

Fairyflights.