He was definitely getting soft, thought Loki wryly. The Throne Room was strewn with bodies, both elven and Aesir, but it appeared that the battle had been won on this front at least. Exhaustion gripped him, every bone in his body hurt - he had accrued any number of cuts, bruises and minor plasma burns during the course of the fight, but the bone deep slash from the obsidian knife – to his left arm thank the gods, would require the attentions of a healer at some stage. Across the room, he could see Thor speaking to Romanoff and Rogers, while Harry was having a blow to his head tended while Sif hovered anxiously. Odd, he thought, he had never seen Sif anxious about anyone but Thor before...

Members of the guard scattered as a scarlet and gold figure flew in through the window. The visor clicked up to reveal Stark's face, his expression unusually serious. Going straight to Thor, he took him to one side to speak to him.

Thor gave a single cry of rage, and grabbing Mjolnir flew straight from the room. Loki ran over reaching for his arm "What is it Stark? What ails my brother?"

Stark's face was grim. "They have been in Thor's rooms. They've been destroyed, and there is no sign of Jane or the kids." The dark eyes looked suddenly even more concerned. "Loki, was Hermione with them?"

Loki shook his head relief flooding him. "They are safe – I did not have time to tell my brother yet. I will go and set his mind at ease. We must also check on Fletcher as it was him they came for ..."

The last thing Loki wanted to do at this stage was teleport around the castle, but he needed to put an end to Thor's fear as quickly as possible. Seconds later he alighted beside his brother, just outside the Royal Apartments.

"Thor – brother – wait."

Thor paused, his hand on the door. "I don't have time..."

"Be easy. They are safe Brother." Loki propped himself against a convenient wall, hoping that he could stay upright for a little longer. His depleted magic was struggling under the combined need to transport him, to keep him upright and functioning, and heal his injuries.

Thor's face was blank. "Safe?"

Loki nodded weakly. "Hermione got them out. At least that was the plan. Give me a moment and I may even be able to get them back. But first, do we not need to check on our other guest. He was the reason that they were here surely?"

Thor looked at Loki with some concern. "Brother, you are exhausted..." he looked down at the blood that stained his Loki's sleeve, and dripped from his finger tips. "... and wounded."

Loki shook his head. "It's just a scratch... it will wait."

Thor looked at him sternly. "Would Hermione agree with that diagnosis?"

Footsteps came down the corridor, heralding the appearance of Stark, with Harry hard on his heels. "Is everything alright?"

Thor smiled, relieved but tired. "They are safe my friend. Hermione was able to get them out in time. Loki knows where they are, but he is both weary and injured, so I will need to be patient. Harry, could you take Loki to the Healers please? He needs to get that arm tended, and will never do so unless there is someone to ensure he sees sense. I will go and check on our disreputable guest upstairs, and will meet you in the Healing Rooms. Stark, will you accompany me?"

Stark nodded. "There was a skirmish up in the corridor. I was up on the balcony - I didn't realise they were after someone in particular. I thought they were looking for Jane and the kids.

The two Avengers ran up to the small apartment two floors up, where Fletcher was staying. Turning into the corridor, they stopped in horror. A pitched battle had clearly taken place here. Long scorch marks covered the walls, and any number of bodies littered the corridors.

One of them, with distinctive red hair.

"Dalan." Thor crouched beside the crumpled figure, but knew that even with Loki's great power there was nothing that could be done. Like the Midgardian wizards, Dalan's throat had been slashed almost to the bone, and his soul would already be on its way to Valhalla. With a hand that was not entirely steady, Thor gently closed his eyes. "Safe journey my friend...".

Stark emerged from the chamber, looking around at the carnage. "Shit. What a mess. This is down to the big Balrog guy and the one with the fancy braids."

Thor looked up. "Did they get what they came for?"

Stark shook his head. "If you mean the scruffy scared little guy, he's safe. I found him hiding in the dressing room..." He looked down at Dalan. "I've seen this guy with your brother several times."

Thor nodded. "Dalan, I made him the Captain of the Palace Guards when I took the throne. He and Loki had a very special relationship. In fact my brother is only here today because of Dalan. He will be greatly grieved by this news."

"Did he have a family?"

"A wife and three children. We will ensure that they want for nothing." He rose to his feet, weariness evident in every movement. "Come Stark, let us go to the Healing Rooms. Loki will not be the only one requiring treatment tonight. I need to be there"

ooo0ooo

The normally calm Healing Rooms had an undeniable air of controlled chaos about them when Thor and Stark arrived. Among the primarily male warriors, Romanoff was having a very nasty cut to the side of her head healed under Rogers' watchful eye. Thor heard him murmur something to her about Banner, but he didn't entirely catch it. When he paused for a moment to check on her, she looked up smiling. "It's nothing Thor, really." She shrugged. "It could have been much much worse. I should be dead right now." She followed his eyes to the black haired figure further down the room. "He saved my life – Loki. I took a blow to the temple" she indicated the cut to her head. "It left me dizzy for a minute. By the time I realised what was happening your brother had blasted the elf that was about to kill me clear across the room. It was because he was saving me that he's sat over there… And by the way – since when can he shoot ice spears out of his hands…..?"

Thor shook his head. "I wasn't aware of it – it is possible that he was not either. The heat of battle when a warrior's life is in peril, can make one capable of many unexpected feats."

The young healer attending Loki had already helped him out of his armour, and was in the process of carefully removing his shirt. The cut was unpleasant rather than life threatening, opening his arm almost to the bone, from shoulder to elbow. Harry, who was hovering to one side, looked up and saw Thor and Stark approaching.

"Did they get Dung Thor?" In spite of his mixed feelings towards the disreputable Fletcher, he had no wish to see him dead, even without the complication of what was presently within him.

Thor shook his head, but his expression remained grave. "Fletcher is safe, but at a great cost. Eight of our best men lay dead outside his chambers". He put a large hand on the back of Loki's neck. "I am sorry to tell you this Loki, for he was a friend to both of us, but shared a particular bond with you. One of the dead was Dalan."

Loki's face tightened, eyes closed. Thor tightened his hold imperceptibly. "He died with honour brother, and he achieved his aim. The mortal is safe. Malekith's attempt failed. Tonight he will feast with his ancestors in Valhalla"

Loki looked up – eyes smudged with sorrow and utter bone deep exhaustion. "Did he suffer?"

Thor's tone was cautious. "He died the same way as the Midgardian Wizards… "

Loki shuddered, avoiding his eye. He was silent for a moment. "I wish Hermione was here - or that I could at least get a message to her – set her mind at rest, she will be so worried, as will Jane and Mother but I don't think..."

Harry had perched beside Loki, a hand on his good arm, offering wordless support in the face of these new developments, but now he spoke up. "I think you can leave that to me. I can get a message to her"

Loki shook his head. "The wards are keyed only to me, and to Hermione. I don't think that even your magic would get through."

Harry chuckled. "Just leave it with me" taking out his wand he concentrated for a moment... "expecto patronum". Even Loki gasped at the huge silver stag that filled the rooms with a bright white light for a moment before galloping into the darkness. Eir – the Head Healer glared at Harry in disapproval who raised a hand in apology.

No more than five minutes later, a figure appeared in the doorway, scanning anxiously round. Hermione paused for just long enough to spot Loki, before she came hurrying toward them, dignity forgotten, hurling herself into her husband's arms...

Loki gasped into her hair, holding her tightly with his good arm. "Gently love... everything hurts..." Reality overcame relief and she stepped sharply back, checking him over anxiously, exclaiming over the deep gash on his arm and the multiple lesser burns and bruises that adorned his torso. She questioned the Healer in some detail, discussing treatments and potions. Eventually Thor cracked.

"Hermione!" He may have spoken more sharply than he intended, he thought, but he was tired

Hermione turned reluctantly back to him, still a little flushed and breathless from her haste. "I'm sorry Thor, I was so worried, especially when I heard you were in the Healing Rooms. Jane and the boys are fine, they are all asleep in the Castle. Your mother is with them"

Thor looked confused. "The Castle?"

His brother smiled. "My castle, on the Sea of Marmora. Hermione suggested that I set it up as a safe house just before she left for Midgard just in case. We knew that should Malekith attack we would need to make sure that Jane and the boys would be safe. When the attack came Hermione apparated them all directly there."

Thor's face was pale. "If you had not done this, Hermione, Loki - Jane and my sons would be dead. I am indebted to you both. More than I can ever repay. Harry, could you send another of your – messages to my wife and my mother, telling them that all is well, and we will come for them in the morning." Harry nodded, and out of respect for Eir, stepped into the corridor to send his second message.

Hermione looked doubtful. "Thor, are you sure that you don't want me to bring them back now?"

Thor looked regretful. "There is nothing I would like more, but you are weary, my brother is exhausted and wounded, and our chambers are in chaos. By the morning, you two will be rested, and I can have the mess cleaned up. And while I remember Brother, what is this that I hear from Lady Natasha. She informs me that not only does she owe you her life, but that your powers appear to have evolved. Has this happened before?"

Loki looked uncomfortable, shaking his head. "Never an ice spear like that. The ice magic has been gradually merging into my magecraft but this is new."

Thor ruffled his hair affectionately. "I cannot begin to repay either of you for this night's work. Now Sister. If the Healer is finished, please take my brother to bed."

Hermione smiled wickedly, sketching a curtsey. "Your wish is my command, your Majesty."

Thor watched them go, trying not to think that he was almost certainly blushing.