Author's Note: Hello my loves! I hope your week went well! Mine was sooooooo long! The good news, this chapter is long too! It's full of Loki and Hermione and even a bit of action at the end! Make sure to listen to 'Wolves' by Christophe Black after Loki tells Hermione to run! That's where it fits best! Also, make sure to read the end notes for some fun questions and information on my current poll! Other than that, sit back, relax, and read on! (PS: Major shout out to Tina P. for beta reading this chapter! Thanks to her I am posting HOURS earlier than I normally would! Thanks girl! You are a rock star!)
Disclaimer: All non-original characters, plot points, and information belongs to those at Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, or J.K. Rowling. The title, "Wolves without Teeth" comes from the song of the same title by the fantastic Of Monsters and Men. The cover photo is a mashup I created from photos found on Google. The story plot and dialogue belongs to me. I do not write for profit.
Full Summary: In the age old fight of good versus evil, two souls converge in a battle to stop the end of all worlds. With the universe crumbling around them, Loki and Hermione find themselves connected by more than just their magical abilities. A myth becomes reality when an old foe comes tearing through the realms seeking revenge upon those who wronged him. What will happen when Loki and Hermione discover there's much more to their connection than meets the eye? Will they be forced to sacrifice everything they've ever wanted in order to save the nine realms or will love prevail?
Wolves without Teeth
Pairing: Hermione Granger/Loki Laufeyson
Rating: M (Rated Mature for adult language, violence, and sexual situations)
Part Five: Jotunheim
Song Recommendations: "Sail" by AWOLNATION, "Whispers in the Dark" by Skillet, "Bad Blood" by Bastille, "Uprising" by Muse, and "Wolves" by Christophe Beck
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"Your willingness to look at your darkness
is what empowers you to change."
—Iyanla Vanzant
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Jotunheim
The next morning Loki stood alone on his balcony, eyes trained on the Rainbow Bridge in the distance. Any minute now, Hermione would be departing to Midgard to retrieve research materials, texts, and some sort of magical cloak that would allow her to become invisible. His hands gripped the railing as a pang of nervousness rippled through his chest at the thought of Hermione traveling to Midgard on her own without anyone to accompany her. The strong willed witch had made it perfectly clear she would be able to travel via the Bifrost, obtain the necessary materials, and return all without a guard or one of the warriors to "babysit" her. Loki had sat back, a proud smirk on his features as Hermione had scolded Thor and Jane for even insinuating that she was incapable of completing such a mediocre task by herself.
Actually, the entire planning meeting had been quite the show for Loki. Of course, there had been the predictable threats to his life if he were to betray them in any way. He had rolled his eyes so many times he had begun to fear they may pop right out of his skull right then and there. After he had promised and vowed numerous times that he was not planning to deceive them, Loki had sat back and watched the events unfold. Hermione and Thor argued back and forth with Jane, Darcy, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three inserting their useless opinions. There really was not much for Loki to do other than enjoy the dinner that was still upon the table, along with a few choice goblets of his favorite red wine. It took hours of deliberation before they had finalized the plan into something everyone accepted.
The idea was for Hermione return to Midgard briefly to retrieve the needed materials before returning to Asgard. Then, Loki would be summoned from his chamber to travel with an invisible Hermione to Jotunheim where he would lead the way to Thrym's throne. There, he would try and persuade Thrym into handing over the Dark Elves and reinstating the previous treaty that had been put into place by Odin and Laufey. If all went well, Loki could leave Jotunheim without Hermione having to reveal herself at all. She was there as a precaution, both to make sure Loki behaved himself and to assure that no harm befell him. The Dark Elves would be collected by Lady Sif and the Warriors Three after Loki and Hermione were safely on Asgard once more. If things did not go according to plan, Loki would be allowed to use his magic to protect himself, while Hermione stayed invisible for as long as possible. The goal was for Thrym not to discover her identity and abilities unless there was no other option. If Thrym became aware of mortals with magic, there was no telling what he would do to the witches and wizards scattered all over Midgard. In short, it was a brilliant plan.
A brilliant plan where anything and everything could go completely and utterly wrong in the blink of an eye.
Surprisingly, fear gripped Loki's heart as he watched the Bifrost come to life, transporting Hermione safely to Midgard to complete her task. Once the Bifrost had closed, he turned away from his balcony, traipsing back into his chambers to begin mentally preparing himself for what was to come. There was no doubt in Loki's mind that dealing with Thrym would be a difficult task. Thrym knew of how Loki had killed Laufey without even caring that he was his birthfather. Loki hoped to use the fact that he did not try and claim the throne of Jotunheim, but rather let Thrym take it for his own, as an advantage. It would be demanding to pretend that he had not wished to sit on a throne after all of the misdeeds he had done over the years. There was nothing more in the universe that he craved than a throne of his own. There was a slim chance of Thrym and the other Frost Giants believing his words. It was a good thing Loki was the God of Mischief and Lies.
Stopping in front of his mirror, Loki ran his hands down his armor, smoothing out wrinkles in the soft leather. It was a ridiculously narcissistic thing to do, but he couldn't help himself. While Hermione was on Midgard, Jane and Darcy were going to be busy researching the Jotunheim section in the Asgardian Library. Nervously, Loki picked at a few specks of lint on his otherwise pristine green, gray, and black leathers. Straightening his back, he ran his hands up over his head, and threaded his fingers through his black hair, untangling the tendrils before using his magic to summon his horned helmet from the wardrobe where it was kept. He was just about to lift the heavy garment to his head when the doors burst inward. Pivoting, Loki immediately went into defense mode, helmet falling to the floor so both hands would be free for combat.
In the doorway stood Thor, in panoply with hammer in hand and a scowl upon his face. Rolling his eyes, Loki dropped his stance and bent to retrieve his helmet from the floor where it lay. He dusted it off with the sleeve of his armor as he snorted dismissively.
"Oh, 'tis only you, Thor. For a second I worried that Odin mayhap sent his guards to return me to the dungeon now that Lady Granger has departed Asgard." Loki refused to admit, even to himself, that the words he spoke held a small amount of truth to them. Finished with the distraction his dirtied helmet provided, Loki lifted his eyes to his brothers, uncertainty shimmering in their green depths.
"Father is still in his Odinsleep. It is uncertain when he will awake. Until then, you are under my protection from the guards." Thor stepped more fully into the room, stalking forward until he was mere feet from Loki. "That is to say, until you deceive us as usual."
A twinge of anger fluttered in Loki as his eyes narrowed at his brother as he placed his helmet on the dresser top. "You forget, brother, it was I who informed you of Odin's deceit."
"Only after Hermione revealed you as an imposter king!" Thor began to raise his hammer instinctively.
Loki flinched ever so slightly in response to his brother's outburst. "I only wished to leave you out of such nugacious issues until I was able to procure a viable solution to the problem." His voice had lost the malice it usually held, his hands held palm out in front of him to deter Thor was coming at him. He was, after all unarmed besides his magic and even that was restricted due to the cuff he wore. "I did not want to disturb the tranquility you and Jane were experiencing on Midgard." His lips peeled back off his teeth as he laughed. "For once, I was thinking of others instead of myself."
Thor appeared placated by his words, so Loki relaxed, dropping his hands back to his sides and relaxing his posture. With a sigh, Thor lowered his hammer, scrubbing his face with his free hand before stepping back, out of Loki's personal space. Loki nodded in acceptance of Thor's surrender. It appeared that the more the two of them were thrown together to deal with situations, the easier it became to work with one another. There would always be tension there thanks to Odin and the trivial competition he'd had them embark on for so long. Despite his overly benevolent nature, Loki did not mind his brother's company in the least. Thor and Frigga had always been the only two to truly understand his mischievous nature, and Loki suspected that was why, even now, Thor put up with him and his wickedness.
"Despite your intentions, posing as Odin was not the wisest course of action to take, Loki." Loki grinned sardonically in reply causing Thor to scowl as he strapped Mjolnir at his hip. "As egregious as your actions may have been, that is not why I have come to talk with you today."
Loki gestured towards the chair next to his overflowing bookshelf, all signs of playfulness gone from his demeanor. He could tell by Thor's tone that he was here to discuss something serious, so serious Loki would be, at least until he knew what the problem at hand was. Once Thor was settled in the chair, Loki sat himself on his bed, his back rigid with tension. They sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds from the wind and birds flowing in from the open balcony door. Finally, as if broken from a trance, Thor inhaled deeply before exhaling roughly through his nose.
"I've come to discuss Hermione."
Eyes narrowing in suspicion, Loki leaned forward, his words a near whisper. "You have not tricked her have you? She will be returning to Asgard, wont she?" Anxiety began to make Loki's heart clench as he truly thought about the reality if that were to happen. She still wore the Rime Diamond around her neck—if she did not return, their connection would eventually break and he would never get to see her again! "You plan to return me to the prison!" Loki jumped to his feet, Thor replicating the gesture, but Loki reached him first. "How dare you betray Hermione in this manor?! She will never forgive you!" Or me, he added mentally. Loki was literally shaking with fury, his eyes beginning to glow red as his skin turned pale blue—his anger causing him to lose control of his Asgardian exterior. Loki grabbed hold of the lightweight material at Thor's neck and squeezed, nearly lifting the God of Thunder off his feet.
"Loki! Brother…" Thor struggled to release Loki's onehanded grip on his throat, both his hands trying to extricate those blue fingers from squeezing the breath out of him. "Release…me…please…you mis…understand—" Loki refused to relent—only releasing his brother when Thor's eyes started to fall shut from lack of oxygen. Thor fell to his knees, hands immediately massaging his throat as a coughing fit overtook him. Loki back away from his fallen brother, crashing into the mirror he had been using earlier, nearly knocking it to the floor. Frantic, he turned and stared at the monster in the mirror—red eyes wide in horror at what was reflected back at him.
It had been so long since he'd allowed the Frost Giant within to surge to the surface. Taking long, even breaths, Loki clenched and unclenched his fists as he tried to get both his anger and frantically beating heart under control. Slowly, as he calmed, the blue skin returned to normal and his angry, red eyes turned green once more. Reflected behind him in the mirror, Thor had stopped coughing and was getting to his own feet once more. He did not look happy, and panic overtook Loki then as he feared the worst once more. Visibly shaking, Loki turned towards his brother, hands lowered but outstretched in submission.
"Thor, I—I did not mean it—I—" Thor put one hand up, effectively stopping Loki's stuttered apology.
"'Tis fine. I am fine." Thor moved forward swiftly until he was glaring into Loki's worried face. "It was not my intention to incense you. I came to discuss Hermione, but not that we have returned her to Midgard. Rather, I wanted to determine your feelings towards her." He cleared his throat, one hand coming up to massage the slowly bruising flesh. "It appears I made the right assumption in wanting to do so."
Loki flinched, turning his head away in both shame and at being found out. It was easy enough to pretend the potential feelings he had for Hermione were of curiosity rather than the romantic type, but his outburst just now clearly indicated otherwise. "I see."
"Now I know not what the two of you have spoken about when in private, but it is clear that the both of you harbor intense feelings for one another." Thor reached out and grabbed hold of Loki's armor roughly, but not overly so. "Hermione has come to be a close friend to Jane, Darcy, and me as well. If you so much as hurt a single curl upon her head, I will not delay in retuning you to solitary confinement in the prison. Do you understand, Loki?" A single nod was all that Loki could manage at first without blowing up again. He waited until Thor had released his armor and stepped back before attempting to speak.
"When I bestowed you with the Rime Diamond, I never intended to become linked with Lady Granger."
"Then what, pray tell, was your true intention?" Thor quirked a perfectly manicured eyebrow as he questioned Loki.
Pacing the floor, Loki decided it was time to come clean to Thor about the ring he had allowed him to propose to Jane with. It was inevitable that Jane and Darcy would no doubt find out the myth during their research anyway. Taking a deep breath, Loki stopped and turned while running a shaky hand through his tousled hair.
"One of the properties of the Rime Diamond allows you to observe what is happening to the other person wearing it." He held his breath as Thor processed this information. He may tease and call his brother a brainless oaf, but he was far from it, and as those blue eyes widened in realization, this was proven once more.
"What do you mean the other person wearing the Rime Diamond?"
"Ah," Loki began, sidestepping his brother and moving towards his wardrobe. "That is a significant question, now isn't it?" He opened the wardrobe and rummaged around inside until he extracted a tall, golden scepter that was slightly curved at the top. Embedded between two intertwining vines made out of rose gold, was an exact copy of the diamond that Hermione currently wore around her neck. This gem was slightly larger—in fact it was almost the size of an eye. "You see, this diamond is usually meant to be worn upon a diadem." He looked down at the scepter briefly before smiling evilly up at Thor. "I repurposed it for myself. I don't fancy wearing a crown, my helmet is tedious enough as it is."
"What does it do?"
"Oh, I was hoping that was your next question!" Enthusiastically, Loki twirled the scepter in his hand until the Rime Diamond began to glow. Eyes glued to Thor's, he brought the diamond close to his mouth and then blew on it as if it was a bubble baton children enjoyed playing with. Thor watched in fascination as a projection formed on the wall opposite where Loki was pointing the scepter. The frown on Thor's face deepened at the sight before him—Hermione was standing outside of Jane's, but she wasn't alone.
"Who is that man? I thought I killed him?" Loki moved closer to the projection, worry mixed with a tad of intrigue wrinkling his brow. He ran a finger over the short man's smiling face.
Thor punched his brother swiftly in the arm as he too stepped closer to the projection. "You nearly killed him. S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to save him—barely." Loki's eyes flickered to Thor momentarily before returning to the image of Hermione on the wall.
"How very fascinating…" He muttered as he rubbed the spot on his arm where Thor's punched had landed.
"Loki, leave it be." Thor gave him a look that clearly indicated it was not a subject which Loki should look into. Shrugging, Loki pushed the interesting information away, for now at least. Thor stepped back a bit to see Loki's face more clearly. "So these pair of Rime Diamonds act as a sort of two way device?"
"Yes and no." Gesturing towards the diamond in question, Loki pulled his eyes away from Hermione for the time being. "They can be used to see what the other is doing, but only if you know how to control it. It's sort of like a mirror—completely one sided. However," he began, eyes gleaming with mischief once more, "The Rime Diamonds have other properties as well."
"This has to do with the connection you and Hermione share and the reason behind her episodes." Loki's head shot up, away from the scepter he was holding in his hands.
"What episodes?" Concern laced his voice as he strained to remain unruffled.
Thor had just opened his mouth to explain about the time Hermione had gone into a seizure, when his attention was pulled back to the projection on the wall. He moved forward, squinting at the scene unfolding. "What the—"
"She's used her force field spell." Loki eyed the fallen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents quickly before Hermione turned on her heel and disappeared into the void. "Where has she gone?!" He touched the now blank wall, panic rising as he imagined the possibility of Hermione being dead. Thor's hand clamped down on his shoulder a millisecond before Hermione's form reappeared on the wall once more. This time she stood in the middle of a small room furnished with a couch, chair, and numerous bookshelves.
"Do not worry, brother. Hermione knows how to teleport herself. I do not recall what she calls it, but it allows her to vanish and reappear in a new place." Thor shook Loki gently before letting go and pointing at the projection. "It looks like she has moved herself to her home. We should go to Heimdall, I am assuming she will be ready to return shortly." Vaguely aware of what Thor was saying, Loki nodded before waving his hand, the projection disappearing and the Rime Diamond implanted in his scepter going dull once more.
"I am going to leave this here. It would not do well for Thrym to discover its existence during our negotiations." After returning the scepter to his wardrobe and securing the vessel, Loki turned to Thor, ready to depart. "Now, how are we getting to the Rainbow Bridge?" Thor was smiling at him, Mjolnir in hand. "No. Absolutely not, brother." Loki was shaking his head, but it was too late, Thor had already lunged forward and grabbed him under the arm. In a flash, they were soaring out the open balcony door, a huge grin plastered on Thor's face as Loki scrambled not to fall, his arms waving about haphazardly.
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Traveling via the Bifrost was most certainly an exhilarating experience. Hermione landed a bit wobbly outside of Jane's mom's house. Quickly, she hurried to the door and entered the pin code to gain access. She smiled as the door beeped and then clicked open allowing her to move inside. Running down the wooden steps to the basement, Hermione tried to remember everything Jane and Darcy had asked her to bring back to Asgard. She stopped at the bottom on the stairs, eyes roving over the small lab before catching sight of what she needed—her bag was still on the floor where she had left it all those days ago. She moved forward quickly, grabbing it up and determining that the undetectable expansion charm was still working perfectly.
After securing her bag, Hermione went about the task of collecting all of the books, star charts, and other miscellaneous items Darcy and Jane had requested. It did not take very long as Jane liked to keep the lab quite orderly. After turning off the computer they had left running, Hermione double checked her list and upon finding she had gotten everything, scurried back upstairs, securing the door behind her. Moving quickly through the house, Hermione found her way into the guest bathroom, where sure enough, her clothes were still strewn across the floor. Then, it was only a matter of minutes where she stripped out of the Asgardian dress she wore and changed back into her black leggings and gray sweater dress. These clothes seemed much more practical to her than the frilly dresses she had been wearing on Asgard.
After deciding there was nothing to be done with her hair as usual, Hermione vacated the bathroom and began scouring both Darcy and Jane's rooms for the personal items they had wanted. This took about three minutes in Jane's room, and about eight in Darcy's, but for the most part, Hermione had been successful. In total, she had only been back on Earth for twenty minutes so far, and already she missed Asgard. It was strange that she had become to feel so at home in such a strange place, but that was how she had felt when she had gone to Hogwarts as well. Hermione tugged her boots back on her feet and drew her traveling cloak about her shoulders before reaching into the pocket and extracting the cell phone that had been completely useless in the other Realm. Hitting the speed dial she wanted, Hermione placed the phone at her ear, unsure of how this conversation would go.
Harry answered on the first ring.
"Hermione?! Hello?"
"Hello, Harry." Hermione began pacing the kitchen, biting her lower lip anxiously.
"Where have you been? We've all been worried out of our minds?"
"I was on Asgard."
"Asgard! Really? You traveled to another realm? Merlin, we thought you were taken by that S.H.I.E.L.D. group or worse. I've been covering for you at work, but Hermione they're starting to get suspicious." Harry sighed heavily across the line and Hermione stopped pacing, staring out the kitchen window unsure of what to say next.
"I'm fine, really fine actually. Asgard is more than I ever dreamed it could be…and my dreams, I think I am starting to understand them. But Harry, I need to ask something important of you—something I hope you will allow me to do." She ran her free hand through her tangled hair, chest tight and eyes screwed shut.
"What? What can I do to help?"
Hermione opened her eyes and stared blankly in front of her, nervousness making her stomach churn unpleasantly. She knew Harry would feel obligated to help if she asked him. She really, really hated to take advantage of that, but with the fate of the universe at stake, Hermione had to pull out all the stops.
"I need to borrow your Invisibility Cloak."
There was silence on the other line and Hermione began to think Harry would deny her request. In fact, she took the phone away from her ear to check and make sure he had not ended the call. Finally, she heard him take a shuddering breath followed by some crinkling as if he had balled up paper in frustration. After what seemed like an eternity, Harry spoke with a strained voice.
"Of course you can borrow it, Hermione, but do I even want to know what you need it for?"
"I promise I'll explain everything to you once it's all said and done, but right now I need you to meet me at my flat. I'm leaving the lab, now." She hurried to the door, flinging it open, and slamming it closed behind her, the beep going off to indicate it was once again locked and secure. "I don't have much time, but there are some books and research I have to get from there." She just moved away from the door when a fairly short man accompanied by a woman with chin length hair and dressed for combat waltzed into the yard.
"Are you Hermione Granger?" The man asked glancing down at a tablet where she could clearly see her driver's license photograph. Hermione eyed him up carefully before turning her attention to the woman next to him. She had arm bands that went up to her elbows and looked as if she could take Hermione down with only a few punches. Hermione would have to tread very carefully. On the other line, Harry was calling her name, but she barely hear him.
"Harry, I'll see you shortly. I have to go…" She hung up the phone and tucked it back into the pocket of her traveling cloak before crossing her arms, her hand discreetly sliding into the sleeve where her wand was tucked away. "I am. May I ask who you two are?" She eyed them the entire time she spoke, grasping the handle of her wand. She suspected these people were a part of S.H.I.E.L.D., but there was no telling. The Bifrost had probably attracted their attention. Thank Merlin the lab was impenetrable without the passcode.
"I'm Agent Coulson and this is Agent Johnson."
"Daisy." Agent Coulson gave the Daisy a crooked smile at the interruption.
"Yes, Daisy, and we're a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. Do you have time to answer a few questions, Ms. Granger?" Coulson swiped a few times on his tablet, the screens readjusting so that Hermione was able to glimpse a few pictures of Thor, Jane, and Darcy as well. An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach, and she gripped her wand even tighter knowing it was the only way she would be able to protect herself from these people.
"I have a few minutes to spare, but I do have someplace I need to be." Yeah, Asgard.
"We can make this brief then, I don't wish to delay you." Hermione got the sneaking suspicion this man did not care in the slightest if she was late as long as he got the information he wanted.
"How long have you known Thor Odinson, Jane Foster, and Darcy Lewis?" Hermione nearly rolled her eyes at the simple question.
"Well, I took an internship with Dr. Foster mid-June and that's when I met Ms. Lewis as well. I did not meet Thor until sometime later." Hermione could sense Daisy scrutinizing her out of the corner of her eye. "I'm studying Astrophysics at Oxford, you see, and a requirement to graduate is a year-long internship. Dr. Foster was gracious enough to take me on even though Ms. Lewis is already interning with her. Is that everything?"
Coulson tapped his tablet a bit more before before becoming frustrated with what appeared to be a prosthetic hand. He gave the tablet to Daisy, who rolled her eyes and began swiping furiously at the screen. "Not quite, Ms. Granger. You see we have been observing this area for about a week now since Thor traveled via the Bifrost not once, but twice, in less than twenty four hours." He rocked back on his feet with his hands in his coat pockets as he contemplated the next question. "So, I guess what I am wondering, Ms. Granger, is if you are aware of the whereabouts of Thor Odinson, Jane Foster, and Darcy Lewis?"
"They're on Asgard." Hermione saw no reason to lie to these people. Lying would not make them go away. Wand now secured in the hand that was hidden by the long sleeves of her traveling cloak, Hermione dropped her arms to her sides trying to make herself look relaxed. "Actually," she added, "I just came from there myself. I'm back now and going to meet a good friend of mine for lunch." Vaguely, Hermione remembered seeing the clock on the kitchen wall indicating it was somewhere close to noon.
"This won't take much longer, I assure you." He turned and shared a pointed look with Daisy who nodded once before retuning her attention to the tablet, Hermione's driver's license photo back on the screen. "Can you explain why you took a trip to Asgard?"
"For research. It's part of my research for Oxford." She was running out of half-truths to tell, and that anxious feeling had doubled. In fact the Rime Diamond was warming against her chest. She carefully reached up to make sure her cloak was covering the ring from view. A mysteriously bright diamond would be more than a little suspicious to these people.
"Interesting." Coulson shrugged his shoulders, a small smile upon his lips. "Ms. Granger, you are quite the mystery. You see, we have been watching Thor since his first visit to Earth back in 2011. We've also managed to keep tabs on Dr. Foster ad Ms. Lewis over the years. When we discovered that they had taken on another intern, we immediately tried to find out as much about you as possible."
"We can't seem to find anything concrete about you though," Daisy said returning the tablet to Agent Coulson, who then tucked it away in his jacket. "You went to primary school here in London, then poof! Nothing about you again until around 2000 when you applied for your driver's license." She smiled, tucking her short, dark hair behind on ear as she did so. "We can't even seem to locate your parents. They've been missing since late 1997."
"My parents moved to Australia. They live near Sydney." Hermione swallowed dryly, her nerves making her skin prickle. Or was that the connection to Loki? It didn't matter. What mattered right now was getting out of this situation as quickly as possible and, hopefully, without using her magic. "I attended boarding school in northern Scotland. I'm not sure why that information couldn't be found. It is public record after all."
"Don't you have a job?"
"I'm a student, Agent Johnson. I am busy interning with Dr. Foster right now." Hermione glared at Daisy, getting angry with their interrogation. She had to lie about not having a job. If she told them about the MLE then the entire Magic world would be jeopardized. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really do have to go. My friend is expecting me."
"Actually," Agent Coulson said taking his hands out of his pockets and revealing what appeared to be a strange looking gun, "we're going to need you to come with us. Daisy?" He nodded at the woman who stepped towards Hermione, a pair of handcuffs at the ready. It was then that she also noticed the handful of other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents that had started to close in around them as the interrogation had been going on.
Panic seized Hermione as the seconds ticked by. She had to do something and quick! Throwing caution to the wind, she decided the only way out of this situation was to use magic at this point. "Sorry Agents, I don't like to be late to my meetings. I'll see you around!" With a smile, she threw up a protection shield, effectively knocking back all the agents encroaching on her. It was satisfying to see them all flown backwards by her shield, but a sick sort of wonder filled her at just how powerful it had been! The agents had been thrown back nearly twenty feet! On a good day, her shield would only knock opponents back about ten. With wide eyes, Hermione took in the scene for a brief second, trying to analyze the strength of her power at the moment. Not wanting to waste any more time for the agents to come at her, she readied herself to disappear. Daisy was just jumping to her feet as Hermione spun on her heel and Apparated with a loud "pop"!
Hermione arrived in her living room, heart pounding and nerves shot to hell. She paced for a moment trying to get her emotions under control before Harry arrived. There was certainly no point in worrying him more than he most likely already was. Raven, her cat, wandered in from the kitchen to wind between her legs a few times before disappearing down the hall towards the bedrooms. Okay, Hermione thought. Get your shit together, get the shit you came for, and get the hell out of here before S.H.I.E.L.D. bloody finds you! You can analyze your newfound power increase later! Her mental pep talk seemed to work, because she was able to calm down significantly and began browsing the bookshelves for the books she both needed and wanted to take back to Asgard.
By the time she had gathered all the books, research materials, and had started on clothes, Hermione was back to her calm self. Hopefully, Agent Coulson and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. would be unable to locate her place of residence since she had not led them there in any way. While she and Ron did live in the Muggle part of London, their flat was registered as a Magical Residence and had wards to deter Muggles from just randomly finding it. Of course, their landlord and neighbors were able to see the flat, but they usually found themselves avoiding door 304 for unknown reasons. Hermione and Ron valued their privacy and hoped to keep it that way. If Coulson wanted to, she was sure he would have no trouble locating this place.
Hermione threw the last of her clothes into the small bag before zipping it up just as Harry stepped through the fireplace. Dropping everything in her hands, she rushed forward and into his arms. Harry managed not to tumble or fall, but the silky Invisibly Cloak did.
"Harry! I am so glad to see you! I've missed you terribly!" Hermione squeezed him once more for good measure before backing away, smiling at the red tinge on his cheeks.
"I've missed you too, Hermione." Harry readjusted his glasses as he grinned goofily down at her. "Now, can you please explain to me what the bloody hell is going on?" He looked around at all the empty spaces on the bookshelves and the small bag Hermione had left sitting on the coffee table. Hermione bit her lip, as she stared into her friend's worried face.
"I have to go back to Asgard because I'm helping Thor and the others stop the end of the world from happening." Even to her own ears it sounded ridiculous. She watched as Harry picked up the Invisibility Cloak and refolded it before draping it over his left arm. "I need the cloak for protection when Loki and I travel to Jotunheim to repair a treaty that was broken."
"Did you just say 'Loki'?" Hermione scrunched up her face at her slip of tongue. She had hoped to leave Loki out of this for the time being. "Hermione! He's the one who invaded New York with aliens! What are you thinking working with such an evil being?" Harry's face had gone red again, but this time it was with anger—he was angry with her. That was never the plan.
"Harry," she began, stepping towards him, her palms facing up. "It's not what you think…yes he did those things, but he's helping Thor to bring peace between Jotunheim and Asgard." She pulled the ring out from under her sweater dress and showed Harry, his eyes squinting behind black frames. "This is the Rime Diamond. For some reason Loki and I have a connection because of it." The ring spun on its chain, almost glowing as she explained what she knew. "It's the cause of my dreams and that seizure I had. Loki knows what else it's capable of and he's going to tell me, but I have to get Jotunheim secured first"
Harry stepped forward, a tentative finger poking the ring so that it swung back and forth like a pendulum. He lifted his green eyes, so very different than Loki's, to stare intently at Hermione. "Is it safe?" He dropped his hand and stepped back, a look upon his face that took her back to their years at Hogwarts when they were about to set off on some sort of crazy plan to save the world from Voldemort once more. "I mean, are you safe working with Loki? Can you trust him?"
Hermione thought about Harry's questions for a moment, dropping the ring back underneath her sweater dress. Biting her lip, she turned away, unable to look into Harry's honest eyes as she spoke the words she so badly wanted to believe.
"Yes, I am safe. I can trust him."
"Alright then." Even though he clearly did not believe the words she had spoken, Harry handed the Invisibility Cloak over and she accepted it, hugging it to her chest like a lifeline. "Do you need me to come with you?"
"No," she replied quietly, shaking her head back and forth. "I need you to stay here, Harry. You have your family to worry about, and Ron—" Her voice broke then, tears beginning to gloss over her eyes. "If things go wrong," she stopped again, wiping the tears from her cheek before continuing, "I need you to make sure Ron is okay…and Draco…and please…don't try to come after me." She looked up into his face, hugging that cloak ever tighter against her stomach.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He stepped closer, reaching out to wipe a few stray tears from her cheek. She smiled wetly up at him, unsure of exactly why she was crying. She had every intention of winning this brewing war in the other realm and returning to her life here. Didn't she? She hiccupped allowing a laugh to escape as she thought about how silly she was being, crying over such nonsense.
"Don't mind me, Harry. I need to ask you to do something else for me."
"Anything."
"Can you try and find out what happened to Fenrir Greyback after the Battle of Hogwarts? Can you use your Had Auror status to try and dig up his file?"
Confusion clouded Harry's face as he repeated, "Fenrir Greyback?" Hermione nodded in reply. "What do you need to know about him?"
"We need to know if he died, and if not, where he ended up." Looking at the kitchen clock, Hermione realized she was wasting precious time she and Loki needed to prepare for Jotunheim. "Look, I ran into some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents before I came here. They were questioning me pretty intensely about who I was and why I seemed to have such a vague past. I'm afraid they might try coming here. Can you take Raven with you and make sure Ron goes and stays with Pansy for a while until it appears they're not going to swarm this place? I don't want to put the Magical Community at risk."
"Absolutely." Harry's top priority behind his family and friends had always been and would always be protecting the Wizarding world. "Ron and I will clear the place of magical books and items and I'll even cut the Floo network. What should I tell the Kingsley and the MLE?" Hermione thought about that for a minute while she safely tucked away Harry's cloak in her bag. She straightened up, turning to face Harry with a grim expression.
"Tell them the truth. Explain that I've gone to Asgard to help protect the universe and have them name Draco as my replacement for the time being."
"You can't be serious?" Harry stared at her, bewilderment overtaking his features.
Hermione simply smiled sadly. "I'm completely serious, Harry. I'll be back…I think. Now, I have to Apparrate somewhere far away from here before Heimdall can open the Bifrost for me. I don't want S.H.I.E.L.D. crawling all over this place minutes after I depart."
"Hold on," Harry said, grabbing her cloak before she could disappear. "How am I going to get this information to you about Greyback if I find anything significant?"
"I'll find a way to get it. I promise." Harry nodded once before letting go of her cloak. With a farewell wave, Hermione turned on her heel, departing with a "pop" to a forest she had not seen in nearly two decades.
The Forest of Dean was exactly as she remembered. Taking only a moment to catch her bearings, Hermione looked skyward, a grim smile upon her face.
"Heimdall, please open the Bifrost for me."
Nothing happened and suddenly she was paralyzed with the horrible fear that maybe they had sent her back to Earth to stay. Perhaps, at this very moment Loki was being transported back to the prison and Thor was on a suicide mission to Jotunheim by himself. She grasped desperately for the Rime Diamond at her neck, the realization that she may never see Loki again making her head spin and her heart ache desperately. Just as her hand encircled the ring, the beautifully bright Rainbow Bridge exploded from the sky, projecting her up, up and through the realms. Relief pure and simple rushed through her as she laughed at her silliness and tried to enjoy the brief trip surrounded by exploding colors and stars. They had not forsaken her after all.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loki glared at Thor as he tried to regain his calm composure. Flying through the air by Mjolnir was far from what Loki would deem an appropriate way to travel. Pacing back and forth upon the golden floor, Loki scowled not knowing what was happening to Hermione down on Midgard. Leaving the Rime Diamond scepter behind was the best decision though. If Thrym even so much as suspected that the two diamonds truly existed, then there certainly would be no swaying him to hand over the Dark Elves. The history of the Rime Diamonds was shrouded in mystery and secrecy. It was a miracle that Loki had even found them tucked away in the Asgardian Vaults to begin with. Pretending to be Odin had its advantages for he was not even sure Odin himself knew the relics had been sealed away down there all these centuries.
"What is happening?" Loki stopped his relentless pacing to glare up at Heimdall where he stood at the ready to open the Bifrost to Hermione the moment she asked. Heimdall, let his eyes slide from the heavens before him to narrow at Loki briefly before returning to their post.
"She is talking to her friend, Harry. They are discussing her borrowing the magic cape."
"What is taking so long? Should she not be hurrying before those insufferable S.H.I.E.L.D. friends of yours catch up to her?" Loki aimed his anger towards his brother, as usual, who merely narrowed his eyes.
"Hermione's home is warded against what she calls "Muggles". This should make it more difficult for Coulson and the others to find her quickly. And, as you now know, she is able to teleport herself from place to place if need be." Thor crossed his arms before leaning back against the golden wall, awaiting their next move.
"I wish she would warn me before doing that. It makes it difficult to relocate her quickly." Heimdall continued to keep his eyes on Hermione. Loki pursed his lips but did not say anything else as he resumed his pacing. Thor watched him carefully for a moment before turning his head towards the ever watchful, Heimdall.
"Is she nearly finished, do you think?"
"She is saying her goodbyes, yes." Heimdall's face crinkled with concern, causing Loki to stop pacing once more and glare upwards.
"What is it?"
"She is crying. It appears she is concerned she may not return from this realm."
Pushing away from the wall he was resting against, Thor shook his head. "We will do everything in our power to make sure that Hermione returns to Midgard in one piece. She has graciously offered to aid us. 'Tis only fair if offer our own protection as well."
"Yes." Loki agreed, catching Thor's eye briefly before they both turned their attention back to Heimdall. The all-seeing god had sighed heavily.
"She has disappeared again. I shall try and find her." His eyes searched quickly, darting back and forth over the expanse before him. He saw many things, both good and bad before a small smile of relief graced his face. "She has called out to me." He lifted his sword and turned it before slamming back into the pedestal. The room burst to life, as electricity and magic pulsed making the golden room turn and allowing the Bifrost to open.
Thor and Loki stood side by side as they awaited Hermione's return. A second later, Hermione appeared, the Rainbow Bridge closing behind her as Heimdall sealed the Realms once more. Relief flooded Loki as he took in Hermione's disheveled appearance. He would never admit it, but just being in Hermione's presence brought out a side of him he had not known since childhood. Granted, it most likely had to do with that diamond hidden beneath her cloak, but it was a light he could hold onto in the world of darkness he dwelled.
A smile graced Hermione's face as she brushed curls away from her face. Loki watched as she nodded up at Heimdall and he gave her a rare smile of his own. "Thank you, Heimdall." Now that she was in his presence once more, Loki could feel the full range of her emotions. When she was on Midgard, he could only feel a stirring of what she may have been feeling. Now, though, it was like a cacophony of overwhelming sensations with what the small woman in front of him was experiencing. Joy, trepidation, and relief were just a few that bubbled under the surface. It made his insides hum but not uncomfortably so. Idly, he wondered if she felt the same. Hermione hugged Thor briefly before turning to Loki. "Are you ready to go?" She canted her head ever so slightly, causing that incessant curl to tumble into her face once more.
Loki licked his lips. "You wish to leave right away? Do you not need to rest before we journey to Jotunheim?" Loki knew from experience it was unwise to just jump into battle, but he never really listened to reason. It appeared this witch held a similar trait.
"I have what we need. We should go before any more time passes. We still have no idea what Thrym and the Dark Elves are planning." She rummaged inside her tiny bag before extricating a folded piece of fabric. Loki looked on in awe at the shimmery fabric that seemed almost liquid in texture. "This is Harry's invisibility cloak. It will keep me hidden from sight, and as long as I don't use any magic, the Jotuns will have no idea I am accompanying you." Turning away from Loki, Hermione addressed Thor. "I had a run-in with S.H.I.E.L.D. You may want to contact the current Avengers and let them know they're on the hunt for me."
"No one knows about your powers. I never told a soul." Thor's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend what exactly Hermione was explaining to him.
"Well, S.H.I.E.L.D. does, unfortunately. The cat's out of the bag I suppose." She shrugged with a half-smile. "I guess it's time to fill everyone else in—as long as they can keep my secret! The rest of the world cannot find out about the Magical world. They can only know about me. Understood?" Hermione's face was set in a hard line, her finger pointed sternly. She glared up at Thor with such intensity that Loki couldn't help but smirk. There was something attractive in the way she bossed people around.
Thor peered over Hermione's head to take in the smirk on Loki's face before meeting her eyes and nodding. "I understand, Hermione. However I share Loki's uncertainty. Do you not need time to prepare?"
Sighing with frustration, Hermione threw the cape about her shoulders, effectively vanishing everything below. She ignored Loki and Thor's gasps of surprise and Heimdall's chuckle as she narrowed her eyes. "The longer we wait the more time the Dark Elves and Frost Giants have to prepare whatever it is they are planning. I have Harry looking into Fenrir so we can see if your Fenrir and mine are one in the same. In the meantime, we have work to do here." She turned suddenly, her hair whipping about. "Now, Loki are you ready to smooth-talk Thrym into handing over the Dark Elves or not?"
Loki raised his eyebrows ever so slightly as he glanced back and forth between Hermione's determined face and Thor's thoroughly scolded one. Swallowing the laughter he so badly wanted to let free, he shook his head and stepped forward until she was forced to tilt her head up to look into his face. "I am." A fresh smile blossomed on her face as she turned away to stand near the Bifrost portal. Loki joined her, standing closely by her side. "Remember, once we arrive, we cannot speak to one another. We will walk directly to the palace and speak to Thrym. Keep close and do exactly as I say." He glanced down briefly to see her staring straight forward, a determined look in her chocolate eyes.
"Let's go."
Loki nodded at Heimdall, who then activated the Bifrost with a turn of his sword. The swirling Rainbow Bridge surged to life in front of the pair once again as Heimdall spoke above the noise. "Remember, I will not be able to open the Brifrost for your return unless I can guarantee the Realm's safety."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Immediately upon landing, Loki went into fighter stance, arms extended outwards, ready to use his limited magic if need be. Head whipping from side to side, his keen eyes taking in the dark, snow and ice covered terrain. He was also making sure that Hermione was indeed completely invisible from sight. His breathing was slow and even, little puffs of fog floating in front of his face with each exhale. All was silent on Jotunheim except the occasional gust of wind swirling the mounds of snow about their feet. Relaxing ever so slightly, Loki swallowed and nodded once indicating it was safe for them to move forward away from the Bifrost point. Glaring into the distance, unease tickled his insides knowing that if the conference with Thrym did not go well they had quite the distance to return to this spot. With absolutely no way to communicate with one another, Loki worried that should danger arise, there would be no way for him to protect Hermione. With one last glance about him, he stepped onto the rock bridge that would lead them across a ravine and into the heart of Jotunheim where Thrym awaited.
Hermione could feel the unease wafting off Loki in waves. He may not be aware of her feelings, but she was most certainly aware of his thanks to the Rime Diamond. She was glad that despite Loki's misgivings, she had decided to wear it on their journey. She vaguely recalled him mentioning at the planning session that if Thrym had access to the gem, well, things would basically go to shit. With her wand securely is her grasp, she reached up with her free hand to make sure that the ring was completely hidden under her sweater dress. She grasped the warm metal and ran her thumb over the intricate vine pattern. Just slightly ahead of her, Loki was glancing back and forth as they moved quietly over the rock bridge and onto more solid ground. She made sure to follow in his footsteps where the ground was covered in snow. Rolling her eyes, she thought that Loki would be wise to walk on the rock path rather than through the snow so there was less a chance of her being found out!
With a start, Hermione had to stop abruptly before she ran right into Loki. Throwing out her arms to get balance, Hermione realized he had turned around and was staring directly at her, even though she was still invisible. The ring felt almost on fire in her hand so she gently let go and tried to figure out why he had stopped. She watched as Loki furrowed his brow and looked down at his boots, standing in the snow. Deliberately, he picked one foot up, raising his eyebrow as he did so and placed it on the solid rock terrain before smirking and turning back towards their destination, this time making sure to only walk on ground without snow. Hermione's mouth dropped open at the realization that somehow he had known what she was thinking. Shutting her mouth so forcefully her teeth clacked together, she followed him once more, her hand reaching inside her shirt to grasp at the still warm ring.
She fingered the gem lightly trying to decide what to do with the idea that was tinkling at the back of her mind. Smirking to herself, she gripped the ring and tried to project her thoughts towards the mischievous god ahead of her. "If you can hear me, tuck your hair behind your right ear." At first Hermione thought her theory was mistaken, but just as she was about to let go of the ring once more, Loki lifted his right hand and tucked his wavy, black hair behind his ear before surreptitiously glancing over his shoulder with a glare. Hermione had to squeeze her lips shut from making a squeak of excitement. Instead, she continued communicating across their connection. "Shit! Oh—sorry—I didn't mean to curse! I'm just so excited about this discovery! Merlin! Can you talk back? Try it!" She scurried forward so that she was close to Loki but ever so slightly to his left so she could see up into his face.
Loki kept his eyes forward as they continued to grow closer and closer to the Frost Giant's dilapidated palace. Hermione found it increasingly difficult to avoid the snow and watch Loki's face at the same time. Somehow she managed, and as she watched the frown deepen along with his scowl, she quickly realized that their telepathic connection was one sided. "It's okay, Loki. I just thought if we could communicate with our minds…I thought it might help." She looked sadly up into Loki's face as the disappointment he felt made her stomach churn uncomfortably. "I want to make sure we both make it out of this alive." Loki's eyes widened ever so slightly before they darted briefly to where she walked invisibly beside him. The look didn't last long, but his gaze held so much emotion it sent Hermione reeling. So badly she wanted to reach out and grasp his hand—just so he knew he wasn't in this alone. Instinctively, she knew this would be unwise—both because it could jeopardize everything and…well, because they did not have that type of relationship. This was Loki the God of Mischief and Lies, after all.
Loki tried desperately to return his mind to the task at hand. Get in the palace unharmed. Persuade Thrym into handing over the Dark Elves and fix the treaty. Get the fuck off this planet. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Somehow, Hermione had managed to trigger the telepathic powers the Rime Diamond was capable of. Her excitement and eagerness was nearly overwhelming as their connection bound them closer and closer together. It had shocked him nearly out of his skin when he'd heard her thoughts inside his mind. Thankfully, for the time being, his mind was still a sealed vault to the knowledge hungry witch. He could sense her presence, and while it may be a bit of a comfort, he feared that perhaps others may notice it as well. If only they'd had the time for him to teach her to control her emotions! Why was she so eager to rush into such a dangerous situation? And why was she so willing to accept him as an ally?
Having been so lost in thought, it was a surprise, almost, to discover that there were a handful or so Frost Giants monitoring their progress. Granted, they were staying hidden behind pillars and mounds of rock and snow, but Loki knew they were there—and their presence was troublesome. Slowing his breathing, he managed to bring his own emotions in check as he began scanning the area more closely. They were now officially on palace grounds, and gradually more and more Jotuns were appearing. At present, Loki wanted to warn Hermione to stay as close as possible in case they needed to make a quick getaway. If he had brought the other half of the Rime Diamond he could have told her this, but that would mean giving away the secrets he so desperately wanted her to find out on her own. Instead, he did the only thing he could think of:
"I have come without weapons!" He shouted this at the guards that had come forward, meeting each pair of glowing red eyes in turn. "I am here to have conversation with King Thrym, and nothing more." He schooled his features, trying to keep his façade calm as he neared the throne room. The splintered doors were pushed aside for him as he surged forward, silently hoping Hermione was tucked close behind as the space was quite narrow. He ignored the beauty of the carvings in the ice and rock pillars as he locked eyes with Thrym instead.
Thrym was larger than he expected, much more suitable as king than Loki himself appeared. He even rivaled Thor in size; his muscular arms and legs stretching the thin fabric he wore almost indecently. Loki stopped just six feet shy of the throne, showing his empty palms towards his cousin in what he hoped appeared to be an agreeable gesture. Thrym merely continued to sit back, his chin and right cheek perched in his hand as his elbow rested on the icy throne he overwhelmed. An eyebrow arched at Loki as he bowed ever so slightly at the waist as a last shot at showing he accepted his cousin as the one true ruler of Jotunheim. It didn't matter that inside his blood boiled knowing that yet another throne was not his to take. At least for the time being. Returning himself to his normal height, Loki smiled faintly at Thrym before opening his mouth to begin. He did not get the chance.
"Loki Laufeyson." Thrym grumbled, finally dropping his arm to push himself into an upright position. "I am surprised you have decided to show your murderous face here once more. Explain to me why I should not have you killed straightaway." The Jotun king flicked his hand indicating for the guards to move more closely into the room, effectively blocking the exit. Fuck. Inhaling the icy cold air deep into his lungs, Loki knew he had to use his best deception skills if he even wanted an inkling of a chance to at least get Hermione safely back to Asgard.
"I must say, cousin, you are looking rather well. It appears ruling suits you." He smiled up at Thrym, hoping the compliment would allow for some sort of break in the hostile persona he was displaying. When Thrym did nothing but blink back at him, Loki decided to switch gears. He held up his left arm, allowing his sleeve to fall down, revealing the magical cuff he wore. "As you can see, I have come unarmed." He indicated the cuff. "This cuff restricts my magic, and I have no blades upon my body. Essentially, I am defenseless." More or less. He lowered his arm once more, inwardly smirking at the interest now evident on Thrym's light blue face. "I have only come to discuss the former treaty Jotunheim held with Asgard."
"Who has sent you?" Red eyes narrowed at Loki causing him to feel uneasy.
"Odin, of course. He wishes to restore the peace between the nine realms once more." Loki spread his arms wide as if indicating the realms of which he spoke. "With Thor on earth with his human, Odin has sent me to do his bidding." Loki spat out the last word, trying to appear as if he resented the man who raised him. It was easy to sell a lie when it was partially true. Thrym settled back into the throne once more, looking relaxed for a moment.
"You have seemingly returned from the dead once more. Care to explain how you managed to avoid death at the hand of Kurse and disappear until now?" Inwardly rolling his eyes, Loki placed a simpering smile on his face before licking his lips. He hadn't expected to be questioned about his faked death, but alas, Thrym was not as gullible as Laufey had been.
"It was merely an illusion." He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I then managed to take the form of an Asgardian guard. I bided my time until I knew Odin would not have me killed on sight."
Thrym leaned forward, sneering down from his throne. "I fail to see how Odin trusts you enough to repair a broken treaty." Well, he has me there. Time to get serious.
"He does not. Hence my lack of protection. I was requested to come and repair the treaty that was broken when my oaf of a brother and I acted, shall I say, childishly." Loki's eyes roamed his cousin's face, trying to gage whether or not his tale was believable. Not enough. He needs more information. Sighing, Loki decided to play the victim—he dropped his gaze to his boots and tried to place a decorous look upon his face before glancing back up at Thrym. "If I am successful in the reformation of our former treaty, Odin will spare my life. As selfish as it may seem…I value my life above all else."
Thrym worked his jaw back and forth a few times, his narrowed gaze never leaving Loki's face as if he were just trying to see the lie for what it really was. Loki did his best to remain calm and appear trustworthy even though every cell in his body was on edge. One wrong blink, one wrong movement, or even one wrong breath and the entire mission would be lost. "I think he believes you." Loki nearly lost it—nearly. If it hadn't been for Thrym readjusting himself once more upon the throne, surely Loki's near flinch would have been noticeable. How could Hermione even think that right now was an opportune moment to talk to him via the connection?! What on Midgard did she think she was doing? Now that she had spoken to him, he could clearly sense her in front of him instead of beside of behind him. If she made the wrong movement, Thrym would surely see her and all would be lost! Thoughts of Hermione were pushed aside as a smile slid onto Thrym's blue face.
"It is decided then. The treaty from before Thor came here uninvited may go back into effect. Immediately." After speaking, Thrym slid back into the throne as if he prepared to rest. "You may return to Asgard and notify Odin of our new agreement."
Blinking at his luck, Loki bowed slightly, a smile playing upon his sinful lips. "Thank you, Thrym. Odin will be quite thrilled with this news." He turned to leave, took two steps, and then turned back once more. "I should add that there was one more detail Odin wished to include in the restoration of the treaty." Loki heard the air whoosh out of Thrym's overly large nostrils as he sat up, eyes narrowing at him.
"And what might this detail be that Odin insists you ask of me?"
"Oh, just that you hand over the army of Dark Elves you have been hiding here on Jotunheim since before the Convergence." Silence. Deafening, thought-provoking silence. He could almost hear Hermione breathing next to him. Almost. Loki was unprepared for the booming laughter that left Thrym a moment later. He was not unprepared, however, for the anger that laced the king's following words.
"We hold no Dark Elves here. Get out."
Loki needed no further instruction. He managed a tight lipped smile, a mumbled Thank you for your time, and then he was swiftly striding out of the throne room and back through the palace, praying that he breached the outer walls before the guards came tearing at him—and Hermione. His pace was a nearly a brisk run as he eyed the guards closing in on either side. Theoretically, they were there to escort him out of Jotunheim, but Loki was no fool—as soon as they were cleared of the palace, those guards were going to turn their weapons on him faster than you could say Bifrost. His only hope was ensuring that there was enough area surrounding them all so Hermione would remain unnoticed. And so she could escape. If he himself could not make it off this forsaken planet, his primary goal was to make sure she was returned safely to Asgard. As more and more guards and Frost Giant soldiers flanked his sides, Loki became increasingly nervous that he at least would not make it off Jotunheim alive this day.
True to his predictions, as soon as he had fully cleared the area around the crumbling palace, the unsheathing of weapons could be heard and a number of the Frost Giant began growing ice daggers from their fingers. Gritting his teeth, Loki closed his eyes briefly, inhaling the cold air deep into his lungs as his hands clenched into fists. Those green eyes opened slowly, pure malice morphing onto his features as that sinful smile came out to play. His body came alive with the thrill of an impending fight. It had been far too long. Stopping to brace himself, one foot slightly behind the other and a starting stance taking over, he breathed one word aloud:
"Run."
Even as Loki pushed off, his body barreling forward and boots digging into the terrain, he knew that there was absolutely no way to outrun the Frost Giants pursuing them. Eventually, he would have to stop and defend himself and Hermione. As he ran, his mind continued to focus on whether or not Hermione was still hidden from view. Luckily, for the time being, the Cloak of Invisibility was withstanding their relentless pace. A growl escaped Loki's throat as he realized they were nearly surrounded. Panic buzzed across the connection as Hermione no doubt realized the precarious situation they were in as well. The Bifrost point was still hundreds of yards away, and as the angry Frost Giants closed in, it was becoming evident that both of them would never make it.
His breath coming in heavy puffs, Loki slowed his pace ever so slightly and raised his hands. He just managed to duck as a spear came hurtling through the air from his left. He threw a burst of magic towards where it had come from, triumph glinting in his eyes as two Frost Giants tumbled to the ground. Unsure of whether or not Hermione had continued running at a quick pace, Loki zig-zagged through the terrain shooting defensive magic at those that still pursued. Trying to count quickly while still protecting himself, Loki determined there were at least twenty to twenty-five Frost Giants attempting to kill him, and if they continued at this pace, they would succeed. Relief rushed through the connection just as Loki zapped a Frost Giant out of his way—clearly the Jotun had been too close to Hermione.
Loki jumped over the fallen body, twisting his head around mid-jump and meeting the red eyes of another pursuer. With a smirk, he sent out a strong blast of magic, stopping the Frost Giant and two others who happened to be close enough as well. Still too many. Without the full use of his powers, there was no way to stop the attack. Swiveling back around, Loki surged onward, pleased to see the number of Frost Giants was dwindling. There were still too many to take on alone, however, and this was problematic. So far he had been able to thwart any attempt at physical combat, but with the rock bridge growing ever closer, that advantage was waning. Grinning wickedly at the sight of the rock bridge within feet, Loki slowed his pace even more, allowing Hermione more time to cross the crumbling overpass.
Somehow knowing that she had made it safely across, Loki came to a complete stop mere feet from the expanse. "Loki! What are you doing?! Come across the bridge! Your magic! You'll be killed!" Hermione's terrified voice filled his head and made his blood turn cold. He shook his head resolutely as the Frost Giants, nearly twenty of them, circled around him, ready to attack—ready to kill. "Heimdall will not open the Bifrost if he feels the passage will lead danger to Asgard." He did not care that he received a few off looks for apparently talking to himself. One Frost Giant to his left let out a bark of laughter.
"There will be no need to open the Bifrost for you, murderer. Unless Odin wishes for the retrieval of your dead body." Others joined in the laughter and taunting, only causing the evil smirk to grow on Loki's pointed face.
He turned slowly within the ring of battle ready Frost Giants, eyeing each one in turn and trying to block out Hermione's scared and angry emotions that were wreaking havoc on his body. Stopping, his face staring at where he suspected Hermione awaited on the other side of the bridge, he canted his head to the side, a sad smile playing at his lips. "Forgive me." Inhaling sharply, Loki snapped his wrists together, forming a large ball of magic just as the Frost Giants began to move forward at him. He screamed gutturally as he sent the magic tearing forward, destroying his only means of escape. He wasted no time watching the rock bridge crack and disintegrate into the ravine below before he grabbed hold of the closest spear and ripped it from the hands of its owner, turning it quickly, and plunging it deep within the heart of the Frost Giant it had come from.
From that moment on, Loki was on his own. There was no way for the Frost Giants to cross the ravine. Hermione could call out for Heimdall and return safely. Fortunately for him, Odin had made sure he and Thor were trained in hand-to-hand combat. He could use these skills combined with his limited magic to bide Hermione more time. Baring his teeth maliciously, Loki cackled as he punched a Frost Giant in the face before swinging his body around, lifting his leg and kicking him fiercely in the side of the head. The Frost Giant went down. Hard. "Who's next?" He questioned, fists poised, breathing heavy as he glared at those closing in ever closer. Idly, he longed for the comfort of his blades. They would be far more useful against the ice daggers. It was at this time a horrible sound reached his ears.
"Loki! Behind you!"
Heart dropping to the pit of his stomach, Loki ducked just as a Frost Giant attempted to send a spear through his skull. At the last second, he grasped the weapon and twisted, sending the owner soaring over his body and slamming into the ground where Loki used the spear to decimate the face glaring up at him. Once he was certain the current threat was over, Loki whipped his head up to see Hermione's head seemingly suspended in mid-air! There were cries of "Sorcery!" and "Witchcraft" from those around him. Instead of dwelling on the fact that Hermione had blown her own cover, Loki used the distraction to his advantage, blasting two Frost Giants out of his way to get closer to the ravine.
"What are you doing," he bellowed, eyes locking onto hers in a desperate plea. "Call to Heimdall! Get out of here!" He had to turn away from her petrified face to tackle his would be killer to the ground. He snapped the Frost Giant's neck cleanly, licking his dry lips and panting from the exertion. He struggled to his feet, beginning to feel the effects from running and fighting. It had been quite a long time since he had trained, and he knew without a doubt if this continued, he would die. He swallowed roughly as he spied even more Frost Giants closing in from the distance. Suddenly there was a loud "POP" and Hermione appeared beside him, no longer invisible.
"I'm not going anywhere without you," Hermione growled using her wand to stun a Frost Giant before slashing her wand causing another to be blown backwards. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the direness of the situation. "Loki, we have to go! You'll die if you stay here!" She zapped two more oncoming Frost Giants as they ran towards them, fingers armed with ice daggers and battle cries sounding. She chanced a look at Loki who was using his own magic to protect them at her side.
"Lady Granger, you have effectively blown this mission by revealing yourself to the Frost Giants." Loki spoke through clenched teeth, anger dripping from each syllable, but the connection revealed the relief he felt at having her battling by his side.
"Shut it, Loki." Another Frost Giant succumbed to her stunning spell. "The mission was blown the moment Thrym denied the presence of Dark Elves here on Jotunheim!" She performed a complicated wand movement that was followed by a flurry of sparks that acted like a Muggle Taser. Three more Frost Giants fell back, electrocuted into unconsciousness. Thank Merlin for confidential MLE defensive spells. As a fresh batch of Frost Giants cleared the area, she shared a panicked look with Loki, who looked both ready for battle and just a touch nervous. "There's too many of them."
"Clearly." Loki glared down at her, his brows furrowed. "What do you suggest?" He gestured at the incoming Frost Giants, eyebrows raised in obvious doubt.
"Take my arm." When Loki did nothing but stare down at her, his eyes smoldering with confusion and an emotion she had to table for later scrutiny, she rolled her eyes and tangled her arm with his. Loki started to struggle to get free, but Hermione held tight, wand gripped in hand as she concentrated fully on what needed to be done. Throwing up her most powerful Shield charm, Hermione blasted the new wave of Jotuns back off their feet. "This may feel a bit…awkward." Before Loki had a chance to question what she was about to do, Hermione Apparated them across the ravine to the safety of the Bifrost point. Hermione landed with ease but Loki stumbled, falling to his knees as he retched. She suspected this was due to the exhaustion she could feel echoed across their connection more than his first voyage via Apparation.
Hermione wasted no time, cleaning Loki's armor with a quick Scourgify before she bellowed to the dark sky above. "Heimdall, open the Bifrost! Please, hurry!" She shared a look with Loki as snow began to fall around them. His chest was heaving as he stumbled to his feet, eyes glowing heatedly as he stalked towards her, using his wrist to wipe uselessly at his mouth. A gasp shot out of her throat as Loki grasped the front of her traveling cloak, gripping tightly. Fear seared through her at what he could do to her, even with his limited magic. Their eyes connected and it was as if fire and ice flowed through her veins. Her heart thudded as his face leaned in, but whatever he had planned was thrown off by the sudden explosion of color above. Both of them looked skyward just as the Bifrost shot down and carried them safely back to Asgard.
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End Notes: Well….what just happened?! What do you think Loki was about to do to Hermione? Do you have any theories about the Rime Diamond(s)? Did you like the action/fight scene? Let me know your thoughts on these questions and anything else you may be wondering about! Also, pop over to my profile and vote on the poll I just posted: Who should I pair Darcy with, if anyone, in this story? I'd love to see who you think would best suit this feisty woman! The good news, I am a little more than halfway done with Part Six: Draco…so until next week, thanks for reading!
xx DustNight