Tom materialised in the dungeons. Weird he thought, it was so much like the set but actually real. He turned round and found himself facing Loki's cell which appeared to have Loki reading in it, yet to notice Tom. He however was not fooled. "I could always see through your illusions Loki" he said moving closer to the glass.

Loki cackled and the scene around him dissolved leaving a dishevelled Loki sitting on the floor of his cell broken objects lying around him. Just like in the film, but this was much worse. "I'm so sorry" Tom said moving to the side of the cell closest to Loki.

"Do not berate me with your sympathy mortal. Why is it that you are here?" well this was going better that expected.

"To help you"

"HELP ME!" shouted Loki, ok so maybe not so well, "You who ruined my plans, forced me back into this cell and made me live my life in ruin."

"Yes I am here to help you" Replied Tom calmly. Having dealt with Loki before he felt this was the best approach.

Curiosity it seemed, got the better of Loki "How did you get here."

"Heimdall and this" said Tom holding up the small hourglass.

"You have travelled in time. Why would you do this"

"I have seen the future and I wanted to do something about it"

"You have seen the future in one of those pathetic films I suppose"

"I have"

"Then tell me why are you here. Have I killed Thor, are you going to appeal to my humanity" mocked Loki.

He has no idea, thought Tom a sad look falling across his face. Steeling his resolve he said "You died"

Loki looked in shock, alarm, pain, confusion. He slumped against the wall. "I will die" He said weakly.

"That is why I am here"

"What will you do, wish me condolences on my own death." He spat out before murmuring "It is worse that I know. I wish you had not come" he drew his knees up to his chest

"I want to stop it"

At this Loki glanced up hope crossing his face before his well practiced mask swept swiftly back into place. "Why would you help a person that has tried to kill you"

"When we crossed minds it was not only you who knew of your feelings." Loki hissed "I know that you feel angry at Frigga's death and shortly Thor will come to you with an offer to get revenge. And I know that he is still a brother to you, however much you deny it" A look of anger and sadness crossed Loki's face "You love him so much that you save him from death and in doing so you suffered it yourself."

"My solution is simple then I refuse to help him"

"But you wont I know that you will help. The events are already in motion and he will always be your brother and she will always be your brother." He saw tears brimming in Loki's eyes. "I am sorry I have gone to far."

"Why is it I am understood by you, whom I despise. A weak mortal"

"Weak am I" said Tom creating a flame in his hand. Loki shot up pressing against the glass.

"How is it that you do this?"

"You left some gifts with me when we changed back."

"It is fascinating that this has happened"

"So I've heard" Tom said, glad to have brought Loki back from the brink of despair.

"I know the events so we can work something out"

"How do I die" demanded Loki, his time of softness clearly over. Tom grimaced.

"You get um stabbed by a sword you stabbed into the beast that attacks Thor. It is fatal wound"

Loki thought for a moment "I have the solution you can heal me, after Thor has gone. I will act dead"

"That would work if I knew the spell"

"I did not leave you with a healing spell?"

"I don't know I've never needed to try it"

"You must"
Tom removed the knife Heimdall had given him from his pocket. He cut his hand, hissing and grimacing as he did so.

"Focus on the wound, picture it healing"

Tom tried, he really did for several minutes but nothing happened.

"I can't"

"Then hope is lost" Muttered Loki worry in his eyes as he slumped back against wall "Do not fear for me mortal I will take my death valiantly" and suddenly the illusion of Loki reading shimmered before his eyes.

"Loki, listen to me I will learn it" The reading Loki did not react. "Loki please we still have time" Tom looked at the hourglass, it was half empty what the hell!

He heard footsteps on the stairs and transformed into a guard, shifting to the other end of the corridor, out of sight

He was unable to hear most of the conversation but clearly picked up the steely resolve in Loki's voice when he said "When do we start"

Tears sprung to Tom's eyes as he knew Loki would go valiantly to his death. He couldn't let that happen. He could see Loki and Thor moving towards him Loki shifting form, clearly trying to have as much fun as he could in the time he had left. Dammit he was going to save Loki if it was the last thing he did. Little did he know how true that statement would become.