Loki and Thor finished their conversation, as Loki agreed to help. The cell still looked like a mess, but none of them paid attention.
"One more thing", Thor said, crossing his arms, when Loki was dressing up. "This girl… Eir, right? She will go with us."
"Forget about it.", said Loki coldly, trying to spot his left shoe, not looking at his brother. "We don't need a servant."
"She will go, like it or not, brother.", portly man shrugged.
"Then I am not.", Loki pursed his lips. He was completely dressed, but his attitude was showing, that he means what he says, no matter what it costs. Stubborn little prince.
"She is going with us, irrespective of whether you will go or not.", Thor said, not looking at his brother, his eyes locked on the dark corridor.
"You need me, I am your only chance to sneak out without being seen.", Loki answered, smirking. He was back his old self, cold and penetrating. He smoothed invisible folds on his robe, his usual, mischievous manner on his face.
"Then we will have to go through the front door, right? It might be quite dangerous. Besides, I am sure that the last thing you want is to stay here.", this time Thor looked straight into Loki's eyes.
"You wouldn't do that, brother.", Loki's eyes were calm, but Thor knew, that he wasn't so sure. One good thing of having God of Mischief as a brother is that sometimes you know his real feelings, not his tricks. Well, maybe it's not always working, but Thor saw glance of doubt in Loki's usually impenetrable gaze. Inside, Thor knew he already won.
"Is that so? People change, Loki. Look at yourself.", he said. "We can need her healing abilities. Well, let's call it an insurance – I am pretty sure you will not kill us with her on board."
Loki clenched his jaw, but he didn't say a single word as they left his cell.
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"Eir", she heard familiar voice behind her. Eir recognized, that it was lady Sif.
Eir turned around, looking at her questioningly. She was frustrated, she wanted to go back down to Loki as fast as she could, she didn't want to have social chats with Sif. However, she couldn't just go as she didn't hear her, even if she felt like doing it. Besides, she couldn't go back down just now until Thor is down there, so she can talk with Sif to make the time pass faster. Hopefully, Thor and Loki will not kill each other. So fast.
"Come with me, we have some business to attend.", said Sif with smile on her lips. Eir tilted her head, raising one eyebrow. "We have some locked up princess to save for Thor."
"We're going to get out lady Jane?!", asked redhead in surprise, looking at Sif with her eyes wide open. They kept walking and Eir was so confused, that she almost fell, tripping on her own shoe. "But…"
She stopped in the middle of the sentence, as they passed two guards. Eir was almost running next to Sif to keep up with her. Sif nodded to males and when Eir was sure they were far enough, she started again, "But how?"
"It will come up.", Sif answered, shrugging slightly. Suddenly, female smiled archly, looking at Eir. "And I believe later you will have some trip to attend."
"What… Sif, what's going on out there?", Eir asked in confusion. Sif didn't respond as they reached cell, where Jane was held.
Eir looked nervously as Sif simply knocked down guards and then led Jane out. It was happening so fast, she didn't understand what was going on at all. She was worried about Loki, and yet she was running next to Sif in an unknown direction. Well, Sif was simply walking fast, but both Jane and Eir looked more like jogging to keep up with female warrior.
She was confused. All that she wanted right now was to go back to prison and stay there with Loki, as she didn't like what was happening. She had no clue what was Thor's plan. Also, she could sense that there was something wrong with that mortal running next to her, she was really weak, even for a Midgardian. So yes, even if it was madness, all that she wanted at this specific moment was to stay with rather dangerous god of mischief.
She looked with the corner of her eye at slim, pretty female on her right. Since for now she can't go to Loki and thinking about it will not make any good, she started wondering what is this source of power destroying this mortal from inside. She was really pale, her lips were almost white and even while they were moving so fast, Eir noticed that her hands protruding from lengthy sleeve of her dress were trembling.
"Eir", she gasped to Jane, smiling encouragingly. Maybe Eir was confused and surprised, but at least she wasn't so exhausted, so she shouldn't be complaining, she thought to herself.
"Jane", she answered, panting. "Pleased to meet you."
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To her surprise, she met Loki and Thor as they were standing in the middle of the hallway. She slowed down slightly a few feet from them, looking at Loki questioningly, but he only gave her a warning glance, so she said nothing. Jane slapped Loki's cheek when he was trying to present himself and Eir would probably laugh seeing his face if only she would know what the hell was going on. Loki was wearing handcuffs, which made her even more confused. She didn't like this "trip", as Sif called it. She didn't like it at all. As a matter of fact, she felt like turning around and going away, but she knew Loki didn't have such a choice. And – oh well, that's lame – she didn't want to leave him alone.
"Betray him and I will kill you", Sif looked straight at Loki. He answered her something, but Eir didn't pay attention to them, focusing on guards running towards them. She knew too well that lady Sif wouldn't do anything that Thor wouldn't approve. And since it seems that Thor was the one who freed Loki, he won't approve for sure.
As Thor hurried with Jane next to him, Loki grabbed her elbow and pulled her with him. Again today, she was running to keep up, but still she was like one step behind Loki, as he forced her to stay there with his hand.
"It will be all right. Trust me.", he whispered, when Thor was too far to hear him. She nodded, opening her mouth to ask him to explain her what are they doing, but then she saw that thing.
Huge, black machine, pounded into walls of the castle. And it seemed like they were heading to it. She looked at Loki with her eyes wide open. What the hell?
It came to her mind, that it was probably the machine, in which Malekith came yesterday, because it wasn't anything known to Eir and she heard yesterday right after she left Loki's cell, that guards were talking about some invisible ship. It couldn't have been any Asgardian device, it was way different from all their inventions. It was… enormous, rather irregular in Eir's opinion… and why on Earth Thor is walking inside?! She stared at him with her eyes wide open, unwittingly piercing her fingers into Loki's arm.
Volstagg stopped Loki with his huge hand and Eir fell on Loki's back, surprised, forced to move her eyes from the machine to men standing in front of her.
"Betray him…", man started, threat in his voice. Eir bit the bullet, looking at him angrily. She moved herself to stand right next to Loki and she definitely felt like using one of spells Loki taught her. Or at least some weapon. Or her hands. Teeth. Something.
"…You'll kill me?", Loki looked at him. "Evidently there will be a line."
Volstagg let him go and Loki moved towards this thing. Happy or not, so did she. Loki stopped in the entrance to let her go in first and touched her hand one more time as she passed him in the door. She looked back at him and nodded lightly, as if she wanted to tell him that she will be fine. She stood next to Jane, who looked really sick right now. Eir smiled faintly to her and Jane gave back the smile. Without thinking a lot, she touched Jane's hand.
There was something dark inside her, it was weakening this mortal. Eir closed her eyes, focusing, and allowed Jane's body absorb a little bit of her power to strengthen her. She was completely aware that it won't help much, but she was too scared to hurt Jane's body with too much power.
Jane blinked, as if she was surprised that suddenly she feels…
"Better?", Eir whispered, as Loki and Thor were arguing next to cockpit. Sounds coming from the place they were standing were rather disturbing, so Eir did her best to focus lady Jane on conversation.
"Yes", female nodded, smiling. "Whatever you've done, thank you."
"It won't last long, but at least you will be better for now.", Eir answered, looking at brothers, standing arm in arm. She couldn't hear noises outside, but she saw perfectly, as Volstagg was fighting guards. He won't manage them for long, there are too many of them…
"Do you think he knows what to do?", Eir whispered to her companion, seeing as Thor was hitting the device with Loki behind his back, looking at his brother curiously. He looked like he was having good time, looking at efforts of his brother.
"Well…", Jane started, her eyes also locked on Thor, but before she was able to finish the sentence, screen flashed and engines began to work. Eir almost clapped her hands, but she stopped herself in the very last moment from this stupid behavior.
"Let's sit down.", Eir suggested, pushing Jane to the floor. She could sense, that mortal female was still weak and she couldn't help much. Again, she grabbed Jane's hand as they were sitting on the cold floor and started passing small amount of power to mortal's body.
What are they going to do?
The way Thor led the ship made them almost fly from one corner to another and Eir had to use all her strength to keep Jane in more or less stable position. Concerned, she listened to conversation – well, maybe more quarrel – between Loki and Thor.
Suddenly, Thor pushed Loki through open door of the ship. She looked at him with her eyes wide open, opening her mouth to yell at him, but before she was able to say a single word, he grabbed Jane, hugging her to his chest, barely carrying her.
"Come on", he said, grabbing her hand. She was pulled to the door and Thor jumped, holding her hand firmly. She felt warm air around them and her hair covered her sight completely.
It felt all like a dream to her, she was there, and yet she had a feeling that she is just observing all the actions from distance. Like she lost her own free will to act. And – what is even more weird – Loki's magic had nothing to do with that.
She landed somewhere safely, crouching to support with her arms. Her hair covered her face and before she was able to push them away, someone helped her up. When she moved her hair, she saw Fandral next to her. She glanced at him and then behind her. She noticed Loki as he was getting up on his legs. Instinctively, she wanted to go near him, but Fandral's hand locked on her arm, stopping her. Eir looked at him surprised. He was also staring at her without his usual smile. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he did, Loki appeared, looking at Fandral coldly.
"Let her go, it hurts her.", he said calmly, clenching his jaw. Eir and Fandral looked down at the same time. His hand was holding her wrist firmly and when he removed it, they could see red bruises on her skin. She started rubbing it.
"It's fine, he didn't mean that.", she said, smiling to Loki calmingly. He didn't respond with a smile, instead, he looked even more angry. If at first he was thinking about a way to leave Eir somewhere safe, now he was determined to take her with them, just to take her away from Fandral. He didn't like the way this tiny friend of his brother looked at his Eir.
"She shouldn't be here and you know it.", Fandral said in a low voice, looking straight into Loki's eyes. "I will take here somewhere safe."
"She is strong enough to go with us.", Loki answered through clenched teeth.
"She is just a young girl! If you care about her at least a little bit, let me take her with me.", Fandral glanced at Loki, who opened his mouth to respond, but Eir was faster.
"Stop talking about me as if I am not here or as if I am deaf or too stupid to understand what you're saying.", she said, stamping her foot. She looked at both of them furiously, straightened up proudly and left them, joining Thor, who was kneeling next to Jane.
Loki almost smirked, shaking his head slowly. Then he looked at Fandral, shrugged and made a silly face.
"You've heard the lady.", he said, turning around to look at three people in front of them. Eir was holding Jane's hand, as she did in the ship. Loki could feel that she was trying to strengthen this mortal's body, but he knew it was pointless for longer period of time – they need to remove Aether from her body as fast as it was possible, or his brother can say goodbye to this Midgardian pretty soon.
"One hair falls from her head…", Fandral's quiet voice reached Loki, as man grabbed his elbow, "And you will beg for death."
Loki chuckled, looking at Fandral over his shoulder.
"Let… Me… Go.", he mumbled, pulling out his arm from grip. "And don't you dare to touch me again."
They stood next to each other, undecided what to do. Eir was peeking at them by her arm, ready to react if it's needed. Finally, Thor asked Fandral for help as guards showed up and, happy or not, he did so, leaving the small ship. Eir sat on her knees next to Jane, angry. Those two morons were discussing her skills and general ability to go – wherever they are going - when she was standing next to them. Like she was too stupid to understand.
She looked at Loki with her teeth clenched. He was also staring at her and when her eyes turned to look at him, with one short move of his head he commanded her to come to him. Slowly, she stood up, dusted off the dress and joined him. She looked at him questioningly, crossing her arms. Her red hair were shining in the afternoon sun and here usually merry eyes were literally throwing thunderbolts. He almost smiled at that. She looks real cute when she is so angry.
"Oh come on, there is nothing to be angry about", he said, smirking. He came closer to her, grabbing her arm with his hand. He was still cuffed, so he had actually only one hand to hold her, but she wasn't fighting hard to free herself. Still crossing her arms, she was looking ahead, forcing herself not to look at him. Even if the situation was serious, she was acting ridiculously and Loki barely kept himself from laughing.
"Don't be angry, there is no reason to be.", he repeated softly, kissing her forehead. She looked at him, caught off guard. She gave a quick look to Thor, but he was still kneeling next to Jane, saying something to her.
Without warning, she hugged herself to him, embracing him firmly. Loki shook his head slightly, a bit impatient. There is no time to show weakness right now. At this moment it came to his mind, that Fandral was right about her age. She was still so young and innocent.
Not being able to hug her in response, he moved himself a bit closer and rested his chin on the top of her head. He wasn't that sure how she will react to what he planned just like a few minutes ago. However she will, he's got no other choice. She must understand that. For a few seconds he allowed himself to stand really close, feeling her warm body and sweet scent of her hair. Then, moved himself away, forcing her to lose her grip. She looked at him questioningly, but he only shook his head, leaning down and kissing her shortly on the lips. It was inexplicable even for him why he needed to have her close. And it was annoying.
"What's going on?", she whispered, lifting her head to look him into the eyes.
"It's fine, you have to trust me.", he said, turning around to control the ship. "Keep close to me, it may be throwing a little bit."
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Sorry for this break – but I think from now on chapters will be published rare compared to what I did in the beginning. However, I am still not sure about few things taking part quite soon in the story, so I keep rewriting them, still not really satisfied. As I said before – I don't like rewriting parts of a movie, so I am trying to skip them as much as possible.
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