*Sighs in relief* This has proved to be the most trying chapter to write so far. You can all send boxes of chocolate and fruit baskets to Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl who gave me a push in the right direction for this chapter. Honestly, you wouldn't be reading this right now if it wasn't for her. So HUGE thanks to her. I really don't have much to say on this chapter. It pretty much speaks for itself. Thanks to all for reading this far, but we're not quite down yet. I still have a few tricks up my sleeves. Anyway, enjoy!

Song of the Chapter: Paradise (What About Us?/feat. Tarja) ~ Within Temptation

Chapter 17

Silent Screams

"Would you mind if I hurt you? Understand that I need to? I wish that I had other choices, than to harm the ones I love. Would you mind if I killed you? Would you mind if I tried to? Cause you have turned into my worst enemy. You carry hate that I don't feel. It's over now, what have you done? I have been waiting for someone like you, but now you are slipping away. Why, why does fate make us suffer? There's a curse between us, between me and you."

-Sharon den Adel

Freyja hobbled down the corridors with Loki's help, her strength still diminished from the poison. Her mind was racing as she thought of what Thanos could be planning and what she could do to counteract it. The solution was simple: destroy Thanos's vessel and whatever way he had found to remain in the Realms while dead would unravel. But that would require killing her own brother. And that was not an option for her.

"I've sent an astral projection after Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three," Loki said quickly, green eyes tinged with a barely restrained panic. "Freyja, how could Thanos's consciousness remain in reality when you killed him?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. It shouldn't be possible. Not even the darkest of magics can return the dead to life. Whatever Thanos has done will have tampered with something far more evil than all we have seen."

Before Loki could reply, Thor and Sif came running in. Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg followed behind, two of the three looking shocked and the third keeping a calm façade which almost cloaked the worry in his silver eyes. Thor opened his mouth to speak but fell silent when he saw the look in Freyja's eyes.

"It is true," Hogun said, voicing what no one else wanted to.

"What would you have us do?" Volstagg asked, looking from Freyja to Thor and back.

"Thanos will no doubt attempt to destroy Asgard-"

"He cannot possibly hold such a power," Thor protested, though no one was certain who he was attempting to reassure.

"But the Bifrost does," Freyja pointed out. "We need to evacuate the city. Volstagg, Fandral, take anyone south of my old training hall to the forests of the east. Haunted or crawling with bilgesnipe, it's the closest escape for them. Hogun, Sif-"

"No," the shield-maiden snapped. "I will not flee when there is a battle to be fought!"

"Sif, listen to me," Freyja begged, grasping her friend by the shoulders. "There is always the possibility that we may fail in saving Asgard. But that does not mean it cannot be reincarnated elsewhere. If that occurs, it will need a Queen and heir to the throne. It will give the people hope. Fighting this battle will gain nothing. Please."

"And what of you?"

All eyes fell on Freyja as Sif asked the one question no one else had the courage to ask. Freyja bit back the rising sensation of hopelessness as she realized what moment they had come to. With the fate of the Realms hanging in the balance, she could not afford to waver.

"This was the one war I was born to fight," she replied truthfully. "Would you deny me the right to prove myself a worthy citizen of Asgard?"

Sif threw her arms around the Vanir, causing everyone to look on in shock. Freyja stopped short at the gesture before returning the embrace.

"You have never been unworthy," the warrior whispered. "I will name my first daughter in your honor."

"Your second," Freyja corrected with a sad smile. "A Vanaheim custom which Hogun can explain. Take everyone north of my training hall into the mountains. Do not let any man or woman tell you otherwise."

Sif nodded, backing away. Freyja turned her attention to Hogun.

"I trust you know of the pathways between the Realms."

He nodded in reply.

"If we fail, rendezvous with Volstagg and Fandral and take everyone as far away from here as possible. Now go."

The four left quickly, knowing better than to draw things out too long. There was no time for farewells and Freyja wondered if she would ever see them again. Shaking the thought from her head, she turned to Loki.

"Where is the Tesseract?"

Loki pulled a silver chain from under his shirt, the Tesseract dangling from it in its pendant form, "Just why do want it?"

"I will need enough energy to match any Thanos retrieves from the Bifrost. This leaves me with only one option."

"The Tesseract corrupts all it comes into contact with," Loki protested. "Absorbing any of its energy risks the life of the user."

"I agree," Thor added. "There must be another solution.

"There is not. And the Tesseract's energy is the exact reason I am alive now," she replied. "Besides, what more damage can it do when I already harbor a portion of its energies?"

Loki kept her gaze as he grudgingly handed her the necklace. She could see every thought cross his green eyes, each one more tainted by grief than the last. Nodding in both thanks and reassurance, she led them to the dining hall. Though it wasn't ideal for what she had in mind, it was the closest room with a surface on which she could work. As they walked in, Freyja glanced over her shoulder at Thor.

"Will you place Mjolnir on the table, please?"

"Mjolnir is necessary for this?" he asked, doing as she said.

Freyja nodded, "The spell I plan to use will cause an increase in the Tesseract's energy generation and will most likely melt the table. Mjolnir is one of the few items that cannot be affected."

After returning the Tesseract to its original size and placing it on Mjolnir's head, she motioned for the two brothers to step back. Both watched as she placed her hands on either side of the Tesseract and began to chant in the language of her people. Her silver aura flared to life, encasing both her and the cube in a net of shimmering energy. As she continued, falling into an archaic form of her language, blue tendrils began to snake from the Tesseract to the sphere around them.

Loki wasn't sure whether to be horrified or awed at the sight which stood before him. Freyja was using an ancient magic to harness its power, something which he had never witnessed. He imagined it was the same with the coronation and marriage rituals. He marveled at the blue tendrils which branched out to cover the entire surface of the energy web until there wasn't any silver left. As the final words left Freyja's lips, the energy exploded outward. Both princes were knocked to the floor by the force.

When Loki dragged himself to his knees, he realized Freyja was slightly hunched over the table as if she might be sick. Her nails dragged long scores through the wood as he grew closer, her pupils blown wide until there was no color to be seen.

"Freyja?" he breathed, unsure of whether to disturb her or not.

She blinked twice, her pupils slowly retracting to reveal a brighter blue than Loki had thought possible. They glowed with the power of the Tesseract, which was now no more than a translucent cube of diamond.

"I'm fine," she answered, her voice slightly hoarse. "It was just a shock."

She turned her attention fully to him as Thor carefully approached, "There is something I need you to do."

"I know that look," he muttered. "Whatever you have to say, I'm not going to be fond of it."

"Yes, but it is necessary."

"What would you have me do?"

"While I fight Thanos, I will be attempting to find a way to release the Bifrost's energy without killing Freyr. Without the energy, the bridge will become nothing more than several shards of crystal. With any form of containment, the energy could potentially return to Freyr and cause spontaneous combustion."

"You need me to keep the Bifrost standing," he guessed. "And Thor will aid me as soon as you return Mjolnir. You wish for me to leave you."

"You must do this, Loki. Please."

He frowned when he nodded. Expecting him to turn and leave in anger, Freyja returned her attention to the Tesseract. She hadn't expected him to spin her around and swoop down to kiss her. It wasn't the same as his other kisses, feather-light and teasing. She could feel his fear and desperation in the motions. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers.

"Be safe, love," he breathed in her language.

"Have strength," she replied.

Without another word, he drew away and walked out the door. Freyja hadn't even noticed the tear sliding down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly and turned to see Thor picking up Mjolnir and heading for the door. Once she was certain Loki was out of earshot, Freyja took hold of Thor's arm to keep him there. His blue eyes met hers at the contact. He seemed to be perfectly calm, but she knew it was a façade. She could see the anxiety in his eyes, both for what she had done and what they were about to do.

"Might I have a word?"

He glanced at the door, "Should we not-"

"It is of great importance."

He nodded, turning to face her fully as she let go of his arm. Sparing one last glance at the door, she magically summoned the Kris dagger she had kept. It was the same one Loki had asked her about in New York before she left. She placed it in Thor's hands, careful not to let the blade touch his or her skin.

"What is this?" he asked, confused at her actions.

"Thor, the Tesseract is one of the largest sources of negative energy in the Realms. It has become its own creature with the ability to think and feel. That is why it controls all who come in contact with it. There is a high possibility that I will be able to control it for long."

"And yet you still went through with this? Why did you not inform us?"

"Loki would have never allowed me to do this if I stated my doubt of my capabilities. There was no other way."

"What does this" –he raised the dagger- "have to do with what you are saying?"

She sighed, "If I lose control, there will be nothing to stop me from destroying the Realms myself. I cannot ask Loki to do this, as he would never agree."

"Freyja," he warned, not liking where the conversation was going.

"If I lose control," she wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the knife, keeping her voice steady, "drive this through my heart and do not stop until the light leaves my eyes."

She could see the shock plain on his face, "I will not take your life."

"I'm asking you, as King of Asgard, to make a choice. Will you sacrifice my life, or the lives of your people?"

He was silent, internally conflicted at the two ideas. At the back of his mind, he could hear the Other's taunts at Freyja. You cannot stop this. This was set into motion before you were brought into these Realms. The only question is, just how far will you go to protect your family? Looking into her eyes, which were glowing from the Tesseract, he realized what her answer was.

"Thor, I trust you to make the right decision. You are a good man, and I know you will make a great king when all is said and done."

She let go of his hand and walked to the door before glancing back at him, "If I lose control, tell Loki I am sorry. He will understand in time."

And with that, she left the room, leaving Thor to stare despondently at the dagger gripped in his hand.

Loki reached the Bifrost just in time to see Freyr stand up. He could already see the crystal beginning to crack, but that did not seem to worry the prince – Titan, Loki corrected himself. Thanos smiled as he saw Loki, the feral smirk looking foreign on Freyr's face.

"Come to see the show?" he asked, walking easily over the fracturing bridge.

"I have no interest in a show without reason."

"You think I have no motive?"

"Your actions seem haphazard in my eyes. A warrior of Midgard once told me I lacked the conviction to take control of his Realm. He was right, of course. I saw the same in your eyes when you told me of the plan."

"I did not truly want Midgard, it is true. Both the attack on it and using you was a way to gain both the attention of the Realms and of the Princess. But she was far too busy trekking through Niflheim to notice. Besides, there was a chance to retrieve the Tesseract. But using you was a mistake on my part. I can see why Freyja is fond of you. You are quite the fighter at heart.

"But, no, I never wanted Midgard. It was simply a way to bribe a broken prince with a way to prove himself worthy. I promised both you and Freyja recompense for how you have wronged me, and now I shall make good on my words. Do you know what I plan to do, Jotun Prince?"

"You will tell me either way."

The Titan chuckled, "That I will. I will make certain neither you nor your Princess find peace in these worlds. What better way to both honor Lady Death and keep you from rest than destroying each of the Realms, starting with the supposed 'Realm Eternal'? Will Lady Death not be pleased to see so many self-claimed 'immortals' brought to her doorstep?"

"How is it you lived with the Vanir so long and never adopted their beliefs? Your idea is warped, stemming from a tormented mind. Did you never find tranquility?"

"Power is my tranquility, death is my honor, and destruction is my love. You shall find that true when I have tortured you within an inch of your life. Of course, Freyja will watch. I will not harm her, not physically. She does not respond to carnal torments. But she will break when I toss your mangled remains to the wolves of Helheim. Then I will let her wander the ruins of these worlds and watch as she takes her own life."

"And what do you plan to do once everything is gone?" Loki demanded. "What will you do when you are the only being left in whatever will remain after your rampage?"

Thanos grinned, "When nothing remains, I shall give myself fully to my mistress, to Lady Death."

"How have you not done so yet?" he asked, backing away as the Titan reached the edge of the bridge.

"Oh, you'll like that," the Titan announced. "In the beginning, there were both magics of light and darkness. The Vanir committed themselves to the simple sorcery of light. But I found that darkness is much more powerful. With it, one has much more to cover. Were you aware that it is possible to split the soul and mind into halves, allowing one half to live on if the other is killed?"

Loki narrowed his eyes, "You planted this half of your soul into Freyr's mind."

"From there I was able to manipulate what he remembered while I took control. I allowed him power when it was necessary, and he was not even aware of my presence. From inside his own mind, I can do whatever I please. He is mine to command. I could have him kill you and then remove the memory, all without his knowledge. But I want him to see this, so I have allowed him to see all that occurs around us."

"A prisoner within his own mind."

"By a soul which has already died," Thanos added.

"A soul which I shall drag to Hel," a clear voice announced, cutting through the sound of crashing waves.

Loki turned to see Freyja materialize into being, her aura now as blue as the Tesseract. Thor landed behind her, Mjolnir crackling with energy. Thanos's eyes widened as he saw her.

"No," he breathed. "You would not be such a fool-"

"As to use the Tesseract to fight you?" Freyja asked. "As much of a fool as you are for using such ancient darkness. We do not awaken such magics for a reason, Thanos."

"I refused to rest until I have done all I must, so I have ensured I will not."

"And, in doing so, you have condemned your soul to burn. But that does not matter, does it? All that matters to you is seeing me break in your hands. That is why you choose Freyr. You knew I would find him."

"Yes, but I have no more time to waste. Why should I explain when I can simply show you?"

Before any of them could reply, a whirlwind wrapped itself around Freyr and the Titan propelled himself into the sky. The force of the winds caused the rifts in the bridge to widen, and Loki leapt towards the crystal, spells flying off his tongue as he kept the pieces together.

"Thor!" he yelled, feeling his energy slip away quicker than he had expected.

"Lend him your strength," Freyja ordered before she followed her brother, blue fire trailing from her fingers as she flew.

She could see Freyr in the distance as she flew. In her mind, she struggled to keep control while the Tesseract's presence fought to take over. She had never felt such anger, such bloodlust, as was evoked by the energy. Hovering above the city, Freyr summoned lightning from the skies and directed it towards the gold and silver structures below. Fury rose in her mind and Freyja barely realized she had shot a wave of energy towards the Titan until he fell from the sky.

Freyja descended after him as Freyr-Thanos grappled at the air as if searching for purchase. Just before he hit the ground, he managed to recite a spell to slow his fall. He landed on the cobblestones agilely, but Freyja threw herself at him the second her feet touched the floor. Sparks flew as their skin made contact, the two opposing energies clashing as the two grew too close. The road beneath them cracked as they tumbled across the stones in attempt to gain the upper hand.

A cry of shock left her lips as Freyja felt the stones close around her ankle and drag her off of her brother. Thanos grinned as the masses of broken rocks converged into vaguely humanoid shapes and attacked her.

"I know what lies in the Tesseract!" he yelled, bringing an entire building crashing down with the flick of his wrist. "Tell me, Freyja, is it difficult to fight me as well as the overwhelming need to kill me for what I've done? How hard must you fight to keep from killing your brother?"

Freyja screamed in rage, melting the stone creatures as the words fanned the flames she was desperately trying to smother. She turned to face him, the Titan wearing her brother's face. His eyes shone with a joyful glint that made him look unhinged.

"You should know that he sees all of this," the Titan announced. "You should hear him scream!"

Freyja froze as a scream of defiance echoed through the streets. She watched, frozen in shock, as Kenna leapt from the roof of a nearby building, sword in hand. Freyr-Thanos snarled as Elderstahl sliced across is cheek. Blood splattered across his face as a gaping hole opened to reveal his teeth clenched in fury.

"Kenna, no!" Freyja shrieked as the Jotun woman raised the sword again to land a more satisfying blow.

She raced towards the two as Freyr turned to retaliate. Flames encircled his hands as he deflected the blade and thrust his right hand into her chest. Freyja watched, desperately trying to close the distance, as Freyr-Thanos crushed the Jotun's heart within her chest. Kenna's eyes went wide in pain before she crumpled to the floor.

"No!" Freyja cried, throwing Freyr into the sky with a burst of energy.

She knelt beside her half-sister, eyes roaming over the burnt flesh left behind. There was no life left in her ruby eyes. Freyja turned to gaze in the direction the Titan had fallen, her hand gripping the hilt of Elderstahl – or Sorsauctor, as it now was. The prophecy was coming to reality, and so the sword should have its true name.

Blue flames erupted to life along the blade as she threw herself into the skies, heading in the direction she had seen Thanos fall. He was hovering above the city, watching as the palace began to tear away from the ground and rise into the air. It didn't reach three feet before Thanos's concentration broke as he dodged a swing of Sorsauctor that grew too close to his head. Freyja continued to attack him with the flaming sword, her head clear of any thoughts.

The Titan dropped to the ground to delay her blows. Freyja followed quickly, landing in what she recognized to be Warrior's Square. Thanos took no delay in summoning the water from the fountain to him, freezing it to ice as he shot the shards at her. The princess blocked as many as she could, though some still sliced through her clothes and skin. Blood dripped down from a cut above her brow, but she ignored the discomfort.

Thanos summoned two blades of energy, running towards Freyja with the swords raised. Freyja parried the attacks and landed a blow to his left arm. Her brother hissed in pain, but he continued to fight. The two spun and twisted, each trying to incapacitate the other. Blood fell to the cobblestones, painting the streets with every swing of the blades. Freyja let some of her control slip as Thanos cut into her shoulder, the Tesseract gaining more strength over her actions. She could see the growing fear in the warlord's eyes as her attacks grew more feral, intention more targeted to kill than wound.

With a final yell of anger, Freyja sliced into Freyr's good wrist and kicked him in the chest. The Titan fell against the stone of the fountain, gazing up in unbridled horror as she angled her sword just above his head, the top of her left hand against the blade to keep it steady. His eyes widened more as the sword descended. The Titan flinched at the sound of sword embedding into stone, but watched in surprise as he saw what had occurred. Freyja stood above him, panting for breath as the sword sat deep within the stone next to his head.

Freyja turned away with a snarl, "It matters not how you bait me, Thanos. I will not kill my own brother."

Thanos hesitated, processing all she had just said. Taking his chance, he leapt to his feet to attack her. His fingers had just brushed her skin when she spun on the balls of her feet, placing a hand on his chest and another on his forehead. His mouth fell slack as she forced her way into his mind.

Freyja gasped at the chaotic state Freyr's mind was in. Thanos had warped and twisted almost every memory of the recent months, forcing Freyr to forget every killing. The Titan grappled with her consciousness as she fought to find her target. Thanos was anchored to Freyr's mind by one connection and, if she could sever it, she could destroy the remaining fraction of Thanos's soul. She finally located a strand of her brother's mind that entangled itself in every branch of his psyche: his ability to use magic.

NO!

Thanos's voice reverberated through every thought as Freyja tugged at the connection. She didn't want to harm Freyr, but the connection would not break easily. She pulled viciously at the strand, wanting nothing more than to free her brother from the Titan's hold. She could feel Thanos fighting to throw her out, but still she yanked at the connection. With one final pull, the connection broke away from the rest of Freyr's consciousness. Pain lanced through her mind as Freyja pulled out and Freyr collapsed to the ground.

He scrabbled around on the floor, trying to regain his strength after the painful procedure. But his eyes were still blue as Thanos tried to claw his way to safety in Freyr's mind without magic. All of the energy had vanished, leaving no trace of aura to be found.

"What have you done?" the Titan demanded.

"I am sorry, Freyr. It was the only way," she whispered.

"No, he will be the one to grieve," Thanos announced.

Freyja turned in time to see the Titan pull Sorsauctor from the stone beside him and thrust it through her chest. An ethereal scream echoed off the stone walls surrounding them as pain lanced through her. Blue light enveloped her before she fell to the floor, sword still piercing her heart. It took her a second to realize that the scream she had heard had been her own.

The blue fled from Freyr's eyes and they widened in shock as he kneeled down beside her. His hand shook as he tried to summon any form of magic, but Freyja had destroyed any trace. Instead, his hand closed around hers as tears slid down his face.

"Mea culpa," he breathed. "Mea maxima culpa."

Loki slumped forward with a sigh of relief as the energy returned to the Bifrost. He shook as he stood to his feet, Thor helping him regain his balance. Both turned their gazes to the sky as a streak of brilliant blue shot into the sky. Thor raised a questioning eyebrow at Loki as the younger prince's heart fell.

"Something is wrong," he muttered before racing off in the direction of the light.

It was simple to find the origin of the light. After all, Loki knew the city of Asgard better than most. It did help that there was a relatively clear path of destruction to follow. Most of the buildings he ran by where crumbling from the large holes blown through their walls. Fires burned in certain areas, eating through the wood and scorching the stone.

When they finally reached Warrior's Square, Loki's blood turned to ice in his veins. He had never felt so cold, not even when his hand had turned blue on the disastrous trip to Jotunheim. The Square was in ruins but, right next to the fountain, Freyr sat beside Freyja's prone figure in the very center. A sword of blue rose from her chest like a monument. Her red hair was splayed across the cobblestones.

Loki ran to her side, shoving Freyr out of the way. The Vanaheim prince did not seem to mind. He simply buried his head in his hands and muttered in his own language. Loki brushed a few stray strands out of Freyja's face as she watched him with weary eyes. Thinking wildly through every healing spell he knew, Loki turned to face Thor.

"Find the guards," he snapped, voice more despairing than angered. "Quickly!"

Thor nodded, running off in the direction of the castle. Loki returned his attention to Freyja, whose lips were moving but no sound left to be heard. She winced weakly as he pulled the sword free and tossed it aside. He shook his head frantically at her wounds, her blood coating his hands as he held.

"Hold on, Freyja," he pleaded. "You'll be fine."

He ran through healing spell after healing spell, firing them all off faster than he could have normally. But nothing seemed to be working on the gaping hole. Her hand suddenly grasped his faintly and his free hand reached to cup her face, blood smearing across her cheek as he did.

"Loki…"

The word was barely more than a breath, but nothing else followed. Her eyes went blank and Loki was left staring into her empty face. Even bruised, cut, and bloodied, she was still the most beautiful woman he had seen. It was a devastating thought.

"No," he snapped, voice growing louder with his anger. "No, you cannot leave me this way! You do not have my permission to die, Freyja!"

Tears are running down his face, but he pays them no mind. Instead, his focuses all of his attention on wracking his brain for any other incantations he may have overlooked. Suddenly, an idea that was not his own came to mind. He had learned many things when he had been under the control of the Tesseract, but he had never expected to use such knowledge. Loki dropped the spell which kept his usual appearance to conserve more energy, his skin bleeding to blue as he did.

Beginning to chant an incantation he was not familiar with, Loki watched as emerald tendrils of his aura drifted from his cerulean skin. He continued, the belief that she could be saved driving away the weariness. It wouldn't matter if he killed himself from overexertion at this point. There were only two outcomes: Freyja would be saved while he died, or he would meet her in death. As he finished the final part of the spell, Loki felt himself falling forward. His eyes drooped closed as the last syllable ended. He leaned his head against Freyja's shoulder, unable to fight the darkness closing in on him any longer. Just before he was swallowed up entirely by the black, he heard a familiar sound.

It was the sound of Freyja's heartbeat.