For jeadamized...herein lies your request...though we are not quite through with it, yet.
Jane hurried up to the throne room. The vastness of the palace required a walk some fifteen minutes in length.
Her heels were heard on the marble floors, beating them hard in her haste.
She approached the King and Prince, breathing hard.
"Jane!" and Thor rushed to her.
"What's going on?"
Odin stood. "It appears, Lady Jane, that Asgard is facing an eminent attack from Jutenheim."
Jane swallowed. "What does that mean?"
"It means, dearest," began Thor. "That we need to get you into hiding. Our armies are assembling...the giants will be upon us in less than half an hour."
"I cannot use the Bifrost?"
Odin shook his head. "Any manner of egress is unwise to use with our enemy baring down."
Jane nodded. "Ok. So...where do I go?"
"Odin will take you to a secure chamber. Stay there..." Thor began to leave.
"Thor!" Jane yelled.
He turned.
"You should take Loki."
Both father and son stopped and looked at her.
"Loki is a prisoner," Odin observed.
Jane looked at him steadily. "Yes. And Thor told me that any enemy is wary of doing battle with him...his magic is so powerful."
Thor approached his father. "Jane has a point, father."
"And what do you propose I do if and when we defeat Jutenheim's armies? Send him back to his cage a war hero?" Odin's voice was raised in agitation.
Jane seized the moment. "See? Even you assume that he will successfully defeat the giants! Take him out, All-Father! Do it for Asgard."
Odin didn't care for Jane's point. "What do you think, son?"
Thor swallowed. "Allow him his liberty," and he looked at Jane.
She smiled.
Odin grumbled and took Jane by the arm, leading her to parts unknown in the palace.
"Why do you speak on Loki's account, Jane Foster?" He stopped, looking at her.
"Because…I think that he could help you…"
"No. That's not all. What has he said to you?"
Jane became painfully aware of her fidget. She mindfully ceased her movement, and held her head high. She swallowed. "He is not unredeemable. He is not evil. He is alone, he is angry, and he is powerful. He resents his imprisonment, and honestly, part of me agrees that he was wrongfully imprisoned."
"Has he your mind?" Odin looked at her quizzically.
"No."
He didn't appear convinced. "Why should a criminal, one who has killed many of your race, not be left to a prison?"
"Did he have a trial?" Jane offered.
"He admitted his guilt."
Jane shrugged. "I've often admitted to complicated things to avoid a tiresome argument."
Odin smiled. He waved his hand, and Jane disappeared.
He waved his hand once more, and heaved a very great, very worried sigh which escaped his lungs reluctantly.
Loki heard scamperings in the palace…something was happening. He lifted his head to see Thor standing before his cell.
But something…the glass was gone.
Loki stood up immediately. "What's going on?"
"Asgard is facing a threat from Jutenheim. Odin has given you release. If you fight alongside us, I imagine it shall be permanent…if you waver or disappear, I shall spend the remainder of my days hunting you until I find you and I shall kill you dead."
Loki swallowed. "Odin did this of his own accord?"
"Jane convinced him."
For the smallest possible creep of time, less than a second in length, the time it takes for your own heart to pulse its life, Loki felt something in his bowels, in the place so believed to be hollow, beneath his ribs. It felt warm in his icy depths. It felt…like honesty.
He nodded, and emerged from the cage, and the moment he passed its entrance, his armor presented, coiling its way down his person…his hair once more slicked back, his face no longer line-ridden, he was once more the proud sorcerer. The dark prince. The able warrior.
The brothers emerged in the stretch of the great hall, and made their way to Asgard's armies awaiting instruction.
Thor's mighty voice boomed:
"And so, my Aesir, we wait to face a mighty foe! The Giants are formidable, indeed! But we shall strike early and hard, and when the mighty fall, we shall ensnare them in a circle…our warriors shall teach these monsters a thing this day! This day will be written in the books of lore! This day…"
And Loki left, unable to suffer his brother's diatribe any longer. He would help, of course. He wasn't without loyalty.
And he relished the thought of exacting pain on the Frost Giants…his own race, whom he loathed…it is no wonder no one cared for him.
Save…his mind whispered…a tiny mortal elf, stowed away no doubt, in some corner of the castle.
Stop.
He ceased his stride. He should discover where she was, so before he left the place, he could ensure that she was fine…
He would leave as soon as he dismantled the armies…leave for Thanos…
He was quite certain that his adrenaline alone could level Jutenheim's silly force. How ridiculous they bothered with such a tiresome task as an invasion of Asgard. His magic was brimming…it would take much to control it and not destroy Asgard in the process.
He reminded himself that his vow wouldn't allow such a thing.
Odin was easily found…he wasn't hiding.
"Well, All-Father. You have consented to my release," Loki strutted toward the god bent over a map, along a great wooden table.
"I have. And should you fight well and alongside the Aesir and your brother, you shall gain your freedom utterly."
Loki nodded. "I shall do, as you say."
"Jane Foster saw to this, Loki. What have you to say on that subject?"
Loki laughed. "Nothing."
"Indeed? She merely reasoned for your release because she was suddenly struck with the notion? That does not seem likely."
He shrugged. "I do not pretend to understand the workings of a random mortal's mind." He paused. "Where have you put her? In safe hiding?"
"Why does that concern you?"
He looked crookedly. A hint of truth would be beneficial here. "Well, she is, as you said, my emancipator. At the end of this battle, when I've won it for Asgard, I should like to check on her. Make certain that she is alive."
"She is in your mother's private room…at the back of the palace…where she kept the tapestries she wove…"
Loki swallowed. That was indeed a curious place to put her.
He nodded, and left.
Odin smiled softly. He was not the fool Loki took him to be.
The drums of Jutenheim ruptured the air…the sky crimson as they advanced. The Aesir were assembling in droves, all at alert, weapons in hand.
Thor was positively frothing at the mouth in anticipation. He held Mjölnir fast and strong. He was a warrior, in every sense.
Sif was at his left, Fandrall on the right. Volstagg behind him, wielding a sword.
And Loki emerged, looking bored. He approached Thor.
"Can't I just send a spell now? It would be much more effective and efficient."
"No. You need to save yourself. You are weak still…" Thor wasn't looking.
"Am I?"
And at that the Giants were seen, marching along, Asgard's armies had thinned them out substantially.
"NOW!" yelled Thor, and the mass of them rushed.
Loki ran alongside Thor, a sword in hand…
And one by one, he ran the great blue beasts through.
The air bled with the stench of the injured Giants quickly…the weapons of the Aesir superheated to give them bite and effectiveness against the rime of the giants.
Loki kept them all warm under his magic…the air cerulean and churning with the scarlet of before.
And he saw the leader…and with might and purpose, he stood atop a stone wall along the perimeter for a better view…his gaze narrowed…he raised his arms, and the green of his magic surged inside of him, finally finding its release sans pain…and the leader fell, wrapped in a net of green light.
Thor ran to Loki…
"Some have made their way into the palace!"
And they both made their way back inside to capture the giants.
The sound was slight in the tapestry room. She could hear muffled booms and they shook the material of Frigga's effort.
Jane was feeling rather helpless, and she despised that tendency. She was not weak.
She touched the door, somewhat dwarfed by the other things which resided in the palace.
She could escape to the Bifrost…get to Earth. She was tiny, insignificant, and Loki was out. It was up to him to stay out. She had done her duty here, and she could leave…
Her fingers trembled at the doorknob…
She turned it.
There, in the hall just a few feet away, was the tower of a Frost Giant.
He turned to her.
Jane's heart stopped.
Red eyes examined her.
She slammed the door in a seemingly useless attempt to rid herself of the beast.
And indeed, she was right.
The thing pushed the door in with laughable ease, and he went to her…
"A mortal?" it said with a strange accent. "Why would a mortal be hidden in the depths of Asgard?"
"That is no concern of yours," Loki was in the doorway.
"Prince Loki…just the sorcerer we are here for."
"Excellent luck, then. Release the mortal, and take your prisoner."
Jane looked at Loki with a wide expression. She didn't go through all of that just to have him imprisoned again. "What the fuck do you mean? Take your prisoner?"
Loki laughed. "Oh, mortals are crude, are they not?" he wasn't looking at her.
"Loki! What do you mean?"
The Frost Giant looked between the pair. He smirked, he laughed.
And the next thing that Jane knew, she was on a ship, tied to Loki, headed for Jutenheim.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you for this," he hissed.
Honestly, Jane could think of none, so she remained silent.
"Had you checked your insatiable need for curious satisfaction, we wouldn't be in this mess," he continued.
"Can't you just melt these bindings or something?"
"No…they are bound with a Juton spell I am unfamiliar with…given enough time, I may be able to undo them, bring us to a safe haven…but did I not tell you…your curiosity would be your undoing? Little did I know that I would fall victim to its folly," Loki sighed.
"No one likes an I told you so."
"You act like I care for your aphorisms and whether I am liked or not."
Jane shook her head. Her back was against his. She began to fiddle with the bindings.
"What are you doing?" he whispered.
"I'm cooking spaghetti," she sighed. "What do you think I'm doing?"
"Shhh…they'll hear you. And trust me, you are wasting your time. They will not yield."
"I can't just SIT here…" Jane sounded manic.
"You won't need to any longer…" and the ship stopped.
A blue giant appeared, smirking at the two prisoners.
"Undo Prince Loki's bindings. Bring the mortal inside," he commanded.
Jane was taken from Loki, and she glanced back at him, worry carved in her features.
Loki attempted to remain stoic, but his eyes betrayed him.
"Do not fear, Prince. She will be VERY well attended."
Loki laughed, and his bindings were undone. If only they had left Jane there, he could have easily transported them back to Asgard. As it was…
"What am I doing here?"
"Thanos," was the answer.
"Thanos is on Jutenheim? Why?"
"He is a wise and just ruler," and the guard motioned for them to lead Loki out of the ship.
Well. This was a turn. He needn't go off looking for Thanos, he was being served him on the silver platter of Jutenheim. Perhaps he might rid the cosmos of a few of those monsters as well. He could cut off the head of Thanos…boil some Giants…
…and what of that silly mortal?
He supposed he should attempt to free her of the irksome scoundrels.
Loki was brought to a vast chamber.
Thanos was perched on a throne.
"Well, my wayward Prince of Asgard. We meet again. So disappointing about Midgard…such a laughable loss…"
"Indeed. Your armies were pathetic."
"Their captain perhaps lacked wise instruction."
"Or, perhaps more likely, they were not of good stock."
Thanos laughed. "And why did the giants bring me a mortal? Cavorting with such filth is unbecoming to a Prince."
"I cannot know the inter-workings of a meagre giant mind. You should ask them yourself."
"Well...since you care not for the wretch, I'll show you her comfortable quarters."
He led Loki to a dark chamber, there was glass all around. The walls, those without the windows, were a sodden stone, black and imposing.
Thanos pointed at one of the windows, bidding Loki to look.
And there, in a lower cell, was Jane Foster.
She was tied to the floor, and two creatures were over her hovering…one was cutting her arms with a small knife.
The other looked upon her hungrily…
Loki swallowed his gasp.
"Well, Prince. What do you think of your mortal's predicament?"
He looked at the beast. "She is not my mortal." And he heard her soft cries, and his temples began to ache.
"No? Shall I have them ravish her, then?"
No response.
Thanos curved a thin smirk. "It would be a pity, Loki, to have her taken in such a crude manner…."
"What is it that you want?"
Thanos appeared contemplative. "Well…before we get into all of that, why don't I leave you to muse about things, and what we discussed…"
He noticed Loki's glance found Jane once more.
"Not to worry, sorcerer. I'll just let her bleed a bit longer…she shall not be defiled until you've had time to consider."
Thanos left.
Loki stood there. His knuckles turning white as he pressed his fingers into his palm…his palm that tickled at the memory of his promise to the woman being tortured slowly beneath.
And though he hated her at that moment and her foolishness…and he desperately wanted only to kill Thanos and wipe that stupid smirk from his hideous visage…his soul could not abide seeing that stubborn creature thus.
It was wrong in the extreme…he, watching her from above…she, in pain below…
…he could undo it…cast a spell to render the creatures which held her captive dead…
But then what? He looked about. A guard was stationed at the entrance of the chamber.
He must think…think quickly…
And Jane let out a screech…her voice mostly holding mute cries heretofore…
His eyes darted toward her.
He gasped at what he saw…