A/N: This story has more to come, believe me. But as this is the last one, I really want to make sure everything's right. Happy reading :-)
I watched as Loki knelt down to the ground and rub something between his fingers. Disgust emerged on his face as he rose. "What is it?" Though, I had a sneaking suspicion I already knew the answer.
"Frost." He replied coldly, a menacing look in his eye. I nodded briefly in reply, my suspicions confirmed.
"What do we do?"
"We?" His brow quirked in alarm at my words. "I am leaving to ascertain what occurred and drive the beasts out. You," He pointed to the tile where I stood. "Are to move that and remain until I fetch you."
"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right. Because I know you aren't pulling this 'damsel in need of protection' card." I crossed my arms over my chest, jutting my hips to the side in defiance.
"Olivia-"
"I feel like you're forgetting one tiny, little detail. Oh, yeah! I. Can't. Die!" His jaw clenched and unclenched several times before he spoke.
"I have not forgotten." His voice was barely louder than a whisper. "It is not your mortality that concerns me. You know nothing of the frost giants or their customs, nor do I expect you to. I do, however, expect you to do as I command." He strode to my location, moving me off the tile. I watched as he slid the solid stone to the side to reveal a small crawlspace.
"No." I stated obstinately.
It took me no time to realize my mistake. His mouth pressed into a hard, flat line, his nostrils flared, and his hands balled into fists. He grabbed me round my waist and lowered me into the darkened space beneath the floor. "You may be unable to succumb to death, but you are not immune to the sting of pain." Loki hissed. "You are incapable of fighting them and, should they take you, they would not fail to hurt you in every way imaginable. You would beg for death but it would never come. Therefore, stay until I fetch you." He finished firmly, returning the stone to its place and leaving me in the dark.
I waited for what felt like hours, the distant sounds of battle sounding from above. I tucked my knees into my chest and rested my head upon them while I waited impatiently. A loud roar reverberated from somewhere and I raised my head in alarm. Silence ensued and my ears perked for the faintest sound. As I readjusted my position, my foot smacked something with give.
Curious, I switched to all fours, crawling towards the objects. My fingers search in the dark until I found a plank of wood. With some effort, I was able to remove it, sound rushing into the crawlspace.
"He will never cease hunting you, Loki. Though we stand victorious this day, he will return. Again and again until he finds what he seeks." The voice belonged to Thor and I knew he spoke of Loki's brother.
"Do you think I am unaware?" Loki replied angrily. "Were it only my destruction he sought, I would happily give myself to him if I thought it would change anything." I heard a faint murmur break out among whoever was congregated. "But it is not only I that he seeks. Laufey was slain by my own hand and I nearly eradicated the rest of his people, were it not for you. Býleistr has not forgotten this and he pursues the decimation of my family."
"Your family?" An unrecognizable voice jeered. "A human whore and a bastard half-breed are your family? You disgust me, vile creature that you are!"
There were the sounds of a brief scuffle and I heard Odin boom a reply. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" The slamming of what could only be his staff resounded as it struck the ground.
"Father, may we presume Býleistr has entered into an alliance with Hel? Without her aid, he would never have been able to summon Jörmungand. Nor would he have been able to attack us on Asgard."
"Are we to believe Loki had no part in this treachery?" The same accusatory voice returned. "He has betrayed us not once but twice! His past crimes are far from forgotten-"
"Loki may be many things but I am certain he would never risk the safety of Olivia or their daughter for revenge of a slight, real or imagined." Thor replied evenly. "Olivia is the one person for whom he would gladly die for. I think it safe to presume he was not involved."
"You call that whelp by a name? What kind of creature could ever love-"
"Have care of whom you speak!" Thor bellowed. "Olivia is just as much valued by me as she is Loki. She is my friend and should you speak another word of ill toward her I shall silence you where you stand." A faint smile tugged on my lips at the thought. At least I had the prince of Asgard on my side.
"Mortals aside," A voice I recognized as Fandral's interrupted. "We have no means by which to defeat Hel. Even if Thor were to destroy Jörmungand, and Loki slay Býleistr, we would still be incapable of defeating the Queen of the Dead!"
"Legend states," An unknown woman began, her voice thick with wisdom from the ages. "That upon such a state, time itself shall intervene. Its champion shall bear the Scythes of Memoriae and strike down the in-vanquishable foe." My heart leapt to my throat at the words. The champion of legend bore a great resemblance to me as I recalled Hel's words.
"I have never heard this legend." The angry voice returned, sniffing in dismissal.
"Neither have I, though I refuse to dismiss such a hope so eagerly as you, Váli." Thor replied. "Where shall we find this champion of time?"
"He cannot be found, Thor, son of Odin. The champion shall arrive when the time is right, revealing himself to you then. Until then, you must wait for his arrival."
I felt a wave of relief as the woman stated the champion was a 'he.' I preferred to fight battles with my mind, not my fists. Still, the words seemed implanted in my soul and I could not shake the feeling that it was I who would do such a thing. There was an order of dismissal and I quickly placed the wood back into its place. Not a moment later, Loki returned.
"You kept me waiting long enough." I stated bitterly, trying my best to appear ignorant of all I had heard.
He said nothing in response, an anxiety in his eyes that his smirk of amusement failed to hide. "I was unaware you had somewhere to be."
"Yeah, well that's what you get for assuming things, isn't it?" I extended my hand upward and he pulled me out. "I take it they've gone?"
"Presumably."
"Still here, I see."
Loki chuckled then. "Sorry to disappoint you."
"Yeah, well...maybe next time." I pecked him on the cheek, carefully treading across the shambles of the floor to the door. "Next time, at least have the decency to put me in a wardrobe to another world; satyrs and white witches are far more interesting than being stuck in a cramped, dark hole."
"Where are you going?" He inquired, that same smirk plastered on his face.
"You don't really expect me to sleep in this, do you?" I tsk-ed in disapproval. "Some husband you are, making your wife sleep in a bed with splinters." I hoped my joviality hid my inner turmoil. He laughed, and as he took my hand, I felt an unsettling apprehension in my stomach. Thoughts of Sarah struck me and I hoped my grandmother was taking good care of her. A persistent ache remained in my heart at having to leave her in the past. She was my daughter, she should have been with me. Strength flooded me. If I was in fact the champion of which the mysterious woman spoke, I could do it; if for no other reason than to kill the woman who sought to destroy everything I held precious.