Author's Note: Hello again my lovely readers! I'm absolutely thrilled with the number of people reading this. Thanks to everyone who read, alerted, and favourited, and as always I'd like to specially thank my reviewers: HistoryGeek1993, witchbaby300, RogueMetamorph, and hidansgirl1234. You're all awesome! Anyways, just a heads-up, this chapter is a whole big bunch more angsty and sad than the previous chapters - no fluff here. But it can't all be sunshine and rainbows, right? I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: The movie Thor and all related characters and situations belong to Marvel, not to me. All I own is Rika and stuff relating to her.
I don't know what to do anymore; I've never felt so lost, not even when my parents died. So much has changed in the few short weeks since Thor's banishment that I'm not sure what to think, not sure what to trust. Something is wrong with Loki. I fear that something inside him has snapped and that he's on the verge of doing something awful. And I'm not sure I can do anything to help him.
Sif and the Warriors Three left several hours ago for Midgard. They intend to bring Thor back. They tried to get me to go with them but I couldn't bring myself to betray Loki that way, even though it has set me at odds with my closest friends. I sigh sadly as I remember the angry words I exchanged with them before their departure; Sif and I in particular said some very harsh things to each other.
An urgent knock at the door to my chambers interrupts my thoughts and I call for the person to enter. The palace guard to whom I spoke several hours ago comes in and closes the door behind him.
"Lady Rika," he says hurriedly. "You asked me to alert you if anything strange were to happen."
I leap to my feet and stride quickly towards him. "What is it? What's going on?"
"You'd better come with me, my lady."
My heart leaps into my throat as I follow the guard from my room and through the corridors towards the king's chambers; several possible scenarios flit through my mind as we hurry onward, but nothing could have prepared me for what I see when we enter Odin's rooms.
A shaky and pale Frigga stands at Odin's bedside, and the king himself is waking from the Odinsleep. But what shocks me and stops me in my tracks is the Frost Giant lying dead on the floor, his blood seeping onto the golden tiles. And it's not just any Frost Giant bleeding out on the floor; it is Laufey, King of the Jötunn. I am so stunned and confused that it is a few moments before I remember I have just burst in unannounced on my king and queen.
I drop to one knee and clasp my fist to my chest, lowering my head in respect to them. "I apologize, your majesties," I say breathlessly. "I was just - "
My voice dies in my throat as I feel a strong hand clasp my shoulder, and I look up to see King Odin standing over me.
"Stand, Lady Rika, and come with me," the king says, his voice ringing with authority. "I think you will be needed before long, dear girl."
"My king, what is going on?" I ask as I get to my feet. He doesn't answer, just looks at me solemnly for a moment before striding purposefully out of the room. I glance at Frigga. She just shakes her head sadly and motions for me to follow Odin, so I rush after him, more confused and apprehensive than ever.
I catch up to him just as he rounds the corner at the end of the corridor; he is striding purposefully through the palace with a grim expression on his face. I fall into step beside him, trying to decide which question to ask first, but before I can open my mouth he looks down at me and I see overwhelming pain and concern in his blue eye. I've never seen my king look at anyone that way before, with such raw emotion clear on his face. His gaze shifts to my hands, which I suddenly become aware I am wringing nervously in front of myself, and he reaches out and grasps my hand surprisingly gently. Odin brushes his thumb over my engagement ring and frowns sadly.
My heart seems to stop for a second before it begins pounding painfully against my ribcage. Odin releases my hand and it drops limply to my side.
"Loki?" I choke out, unable to say more past the nervous lump in my throat.
King Odin nods. "He lured Laufey here and killed him. He intends to destroy all of Jotunheim."
I can practically feel the colour drain from my face. I must be as pale as I feel because Odin stops and grabs my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
"Rika," he says urgently, "you must pull yourself together. If anyone will be able to get through to Loki, it is you." He pauses and holds my gaze firmly. "Can you do this?"
Steeling myself for what lies ahead, I take a deep breath and nod. Odin gazes at me for a second longer before releasing his hold on me and resuming his quick pace down the corridor. I trail after him, trying to still my shaking hands.
It seems to take ages for us to get out of the palace, but somewhere in the back of my mind I realize that it can't have been more than a few minutes. When we step outside I stop in my tracks again at the sight before me. Off in the distance the Bifröst has been opened and the characteristic bright light is pouring out of it. In an instant I realize what's going on: Loki plans to destroy Jotunheim by leaving the Bifröst open and unleashing it's full power on the ice realm. As I come back to my senses and hurry after the king once more, the ground shakes beneath my feet and the light surges for a moment. Odin breaks into a run and I sprint after him.
As we draw closer to the rainbow bridge I can just make out two silhouettes battling each other at the far end; the flares of magic and forks of lightning tell me that it's Loki and Thor. I run down the bridge after Odin, silently praying we get there in time to prevent disaster.
My eyes widen as I see Loki soar through the air and skid along the bridge on his back. Thor leans over him a moment, then walks toward the Bifröst chamber. Loki struggles to get up and I squint to see why; Thor's hammer is sitting on his chest, pinning Loki to the ground. Seconds later Mjolnir goes whizzing through the air into Thor's outstretched hand. He raises it high above his head and - to my complete shock - brings it down hard on the surface of the bridge with a resounding crash.
Loki springs to his feet, shouting at Thor, but I can't make out his words over the noise of the Bifröst and Thor's continued strikes. Suddenly there is a great rumbling crack as Thor's blows break through the bridge. The resulting explosion knocks me off my feet; I sail backwards through the air and land hard on my back, smacking my head on the surface. It is a few moments before I can haul myself back up, the pain and dizziness spiking through my skull making movement difficult.
By the time I struggle to my feet, the scene that greets me freezes my heart in my chest.
...
"I could have done it, Father! I could have done it! For you! For all of us!"
"No, Loki."
My grip on the staff is slipping. I see movement behind Odin, a flash of red hair and pale skin, and my stomach fills with lead; Rika falls to her knees next to him, and even from this distance I can see the tears streaming down her cheeks. Oh gods, I don't want her to see this. I don't want to leave her. Her gaze locks with mine and my own tears spill over.
"Loki no!" Thor shouts as my hand slides from the staff. "NO!" My eyes don't leave Rika as I fall into the inky blackness of space. I hear her own anguished scream mingle with Thor's shout, and the last thing I see before they vanish from my sight is my beloved Rika launching herself toward the edge of the bridge.
Gods, no, please don't let her follow me.
...
With a shriek I hurl myself toward the shattered edge of the Bifröst bridge, not thinking clearly after Loki's fall. I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me back against an armoured chest. I struggle against them, wordless screams still tearing from my throat, but the arms have me firmly pinned and my efforts to be free of them prove futile.
A few long moments later my howls give way to sobs; violent, painful sobs that rip through my body, making me shudder uncontrollably. I stop struggling. The arms around me loosen slightly, but do not let me go. One of the hands reaches up to grasp my shoulder and I raise my own hand to cover it, gripping it tightly.
The person holding me turns me to face them. Thor's blue eyes meet mine, the agony swirling within them matching my own. Seeing the tears rolling down his face cause my own to fall faster and I fling my arms around him and bury my face in his shoulder, sobbing and shaking.
I have no idea how long we sit there at the ruined end of the bridge, but eventually Thor gets to his feet and picks me up, cradling me against his chest as he walks beside Odin back to the city, all three of us quiet in our misery.
...
A few days later there is a feast celebrating Thor's return to Asgard. I'm only attending because that's what is expected; if I could I'd still be in my chambers. This whole celebration feels wrong. Everyone is deliberately ignoring the events of several days ago: the battle, the destruction of the Bifröst, and Loki's fall. Tears burn in my eyes as I think of him and I blink rapidly to banish them, taking a few deep breaths to avoid breaking down in front of everybody.
I sigh deeply, pushing around the food on my plate more so than eating it. I feel a hand on my arm and look up to see Fandral gazing at me with concern on his face. He, at least, has forgiven me for our disagreement.
"Are you alright?" he asks quietly.
"No," I say with a shake of my head. "I'm really not."
"Oh, Rika," Fandral sighs, squeezing my arm. "I am so sorry things turned out this way."
"As am I," I say softly. "If you'll excuse me, I need a moment."
Fandral nods. "If you need anything, my friend, just ask it."
A tiny smile crosses my lips. "Thank you, Fandral. Truly."
"Of course," he replies, giving me one last sympathetic look as I stand and leave the table.
I weave through the crowd of people and out onto the balcony, where it's a little quieter. Leaning against a column out of view of the others inside, I let a few silent tears roll down my cheeks, though they do nothing to alleviate the crushing pain in my heart. I can't believe my darling Loki is really gone.
The sound of approaching footsteps startles me and I hastily wipe the tears from my face. Seconds later I hear the voice of Queen Frigga.
"How is he?"
Sif's voice answers. "He mourns for his brother." It is only now that I notice Thor and Odin standing together at the far end of the balcony. I must really be out of it. I tune back in to what Sif is saying.
"And he misses her. The mortal."
Ah yes. Thor told me about Jane Foster, the scientist he met on Earth. The woman he fell in love with; and now he's cut off from her. He and I have spent a lot of time together over the past few days, helping each other deal with everything that's happened.
I sigh audibly, alerting Sif and Frigga to my presence. So much for being alone.
"Rika, my dear," Frigga says, crossing over to me and enveloping me in a hug. "How are you holding up?"
I try to force a smile as she pulls back, but I don't think Frigga is fooled. "I am alright. How are you, my queen?"
Tears sparkle in her eyes. I take her hand in mine and she looks grateful. "I grieve for my son. And I worry for Thor." She pauses. "I worry for you as well."
Her concern touches me. "Thank you, my queen."
Frigga hugs me again before heading back inside. It takes me a moment to realize that Sif stayed behind. There is an awkward silence between us; we haven't spoken since before she left for Midgard.
"Sif, I -"
She holds up her hand, stopping me. "Rika, I am so sorry. I didn't mean any of those things I said to you."
I take a few steps toward her. "I didn't mean what I said either, Sif. You've always been a good friend to me. I am sorry."
"Shall we forget it happened?"
I smile slightly. "I think we should."
Sif closes the space between us and hugs me swiftly. We stand side by side in comfortable silence, staring out at the setting sun; a few moments later Thor finishes talking to his father and joins us, stepping between us and placing an arm around each of our shoulders. I lean into him and he gives me a brief squeeze.
Despite the agony of losing Loki, I begin to feel slightly better. Standing there with two of my best friends, the golden glow of the setting sun warming us, I feel like maybe I'll be able to get through this with their help.
A/N: Comments, constructive criticism, and suggestions are appreciated! Oh, and yes, I know that in the movie Loki intentionally lets himself fall, but the Loki who's in love with Rika just wouldn't do that to her. So I made him slip. Hopefully that doesn't bother anyone too much.