A/N: I...uh...yeah.
Here's the next chapter!
Odin found the group in the observatory. He watched Thor, unsure of what to make of this development. He had seen the fight, had seen what Loki had done. He had not expected his adopted son to make such a sacrifice, though. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it yet. But Thor was restored. That was what mattered at the moment. He joined the group, noting the general air of sadness. His son looked up at him.
"Can't you do anything?" he asked, a last desperate hope coming through the tears. Odin shook his head.
"I cannot bring back the dead." Darcy glanced up at the one-eyed king.
"Can't, or won't?" she challenged.
"I cannot. I will not go against fate."
"But he redeemed himself!" Thor argued.
"Thor, one good deed is not enough to win the favor of the Norns."
"But why? You could have stopped this from happening."
"It was for the best." He said simply. Thor glanced up at his father, his emotions practically boiling.
"How is this best? My brother is dead…" Odin gave him a sharp look.
"He was dead a long time ago. A man who feels no love for anyone or anything is not a living soul at all." Thor shook his head.
"No father, he wasn't. There is no greater love in all the realms than the willingness to die for someone else."
"Perhaps there is truth to your words, but Loki is also a master liar." Thor glared at his father.
"As are you. You hid your actions concerning Angrboda from everyone." Frigga said quietly. Darcy looked confused.
"Angr-who?"
"Angrboda. Loki's wife. She died." Thor said. Slowly, realization came over him. "You killed her." Odin didn't deny it. The thunderer regarded him as he would a stranger. Lighting flashed around the observatory, and thunder split the tense silence. Then he gestured towards the door. "Leave us. Now." The king paused before silently walking away. Frigga's guards came back in, carrying a bier. Carefully, they moved Loki's body onto it, and took him away. Frigga turned to the women.
"If you wish to stay in Asgard for a while, you may, as our guests." Jane nodded, stepping away from Thor for a second, and holding Darcy.
"Do you want to talk?" she whispered. Darcy shrugged.
"What is there to talk about?" she said, wiping her cheek on her sleeve.
"Believe me, we'll think of something." She put an arm around her shoulders and they followed the group back to the palace.
Sif couldn't believe what she was hearing. Loki was dead? It seemed an impossibility. When she had seen the look on Thor's face, she had immediately regretted what she said to Loki before the fight.
"I could care less whether or not you make it out of this situation alive." What had she been thinking? She knew how much Loki had meant to Thor. And now in retrospect, she saw how much he had helped them. All the times he had come in at the last minute with some spell that would save them all. That didn't mean she had to like him, but it was nice to have someone skilled in magic when it came to a fight.
"You miss him?" a voice said, coming up behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know that it was Fandral. Sif closed her eyes, trying to hide her few tears.
"I don't miss him." Fandral crossed his arms over his chest.
"You don't sound so sure." He stated quietly.
"Just leave. Please."
"It's not wrong to grieve for him. He wasn't completely evil. There was something more to him, and it showed through in the end." Without another word, he left her to her musings.
He walked into the chamber where Loki's body lay covered in a shroud. Thor and Frigga sat beside the bed, talking quietly. Fandral cleared his throat before he could overhear anything. Thor looked up.
"Fandral, what brings you here?" he asked. Fandral shrugged.
"I want to bring Loki back. He shouldn't have had to die."
"Odin will not allow it." Thor intoned.
"When has approval or disapproval stopped us from doing something?" Fandral said. He glanced over at Frigga, who was nodding.
"I will handle Odin. If you can find a way to bring my son back to me, I would be most grateful." Fandral looked back to the prince.
"What say you, Thor?" A slow smile spread across Thor's face.
"Let's see what can be done."
Darcy flopped across the bed, worn out. She wasn't sure why seeing Loki die had affected her so much. She wasn't exactly sure what her exact feelings for him were, much less whether or not they were returned. Her brooding was interrupted when she heard a soft knock on the door.
"Darcy, it's Jane. Can I come in?" Jane sounded worried. With a sigh, she sat up, and opened the door.
"Yeah, come in." She held it open wide enough for her friend to enter.
"I had to check on you." Jane looked unsure of what to say next. Darcy shrugged and went back over to her bed.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not. Normally you'd try and stay as far away from a dead body as possible, but you closed his eyes. There's something different about you now." Darcy refused to make eye contact. She knew that the moment she did, she'd start crying.
"If I knew, I'd tell you, so I could get it off my chest."
"You loved him, didn't you?"
"Maybe. I dunno. It seems wrong to say that about the guy who killed my best friend's boyfriend, but maybe...And I only knew him for a little over two days." Jane shrugged.
"So? How long did I know Thor before I figured out that I loved him?"
"Just a couple days...I see what you did there." Tear threatened to come again. "Just go be with Thor. At least you've got him here." Jane nodded.
"You sure you'll be okay?"
"I guess."
Loki opened his eyes. Darkness surrounded him. He was standing upon the Gjallarbru, and though he had been there once before, he now felt as though he actually belonged.
Does Odin realize what I did for his son?
Another thought struck him as he stood there, upon the Bridge.
I finally did something right.
Loki smiled a little at the thought as he stepped up to the gate. The enormous doors swung inwards, and he walked through. The hall was empty, lit only by torches. It was a far cry from the crystal chandeliers, dwarven lamps, and were-lights that illuminated the palace in Asgard. She was here, but she was hiding again. Loki glanced around, trying to peer through the murky shadows to see her.
"Hela, please don't hide. You're my daughter, you shouldn't have to hide from me." No response. Expected, perhaps, but still disappointing. "I'm aware of my many mistakes that I made when it came to you and your brothers. I will openly admit that I could've handled our first meeting a little better…"
"Yes, you could have. You told me that I should return to my place in Niflheim. You were ashamed of what I was…" Hela's voice echoed around the chamber, making it impossible to tell where she was.
"I was never ashamed of you. Imagine thinking someone to be dead, and suddenly learning that they were not. Hela, you must understand." His daughter appeared before him, her hands clasped before her.
"But you didn't do anything about it! I remained here, and my brothers and I have suffered."
"There was not a day that went by that I didn't think of your mother, or you and your siblings. When you came to Asgard, I wasn't sure what to do. I was afraid of what Odin would do if I tried to liberate the three of you." He paused. "I'm not afraid of him any more." Hela raised her eyebrow.
"You think that you suddenly losing your fear will make this all go away?"
"No. But I do hope you can forgive me, or at least put aside your hatred of me long enough for me to find a way of freeing you and your brothers." Hela was silent.
"If you could do that, I might see fit to release you. I make no promises." She watched him, studying him. "Why are you trying to reconcile with me? I killed you." she asked finally. Loki shook his head.
"I deserved what you did to me. It was no worse than what I did to you by not searching for any sign that Odin was lying to me." He looked up at her, his expression earnest. "I truly am sorry for what I allowed to happen to you." Hela smiled a little.
"In that regard, you are forgiven. But we still have the matter of Odin's crimes." Loki grinned.
"I have a few ideas. Care to help?" Hela looked intrigued.
"I'm listening."