Author's Note: There will be one more chapter after this. At least that is the plan, sometimes the plot bunnies won't leave me alone! I struggled with this chapter a lot, so I hope you like it! Please review!

Darkness completely engulfed Loki's senses. His ears felt like they were filled with cotton and his mouth so very dry it was almost painful. Loki tried to remember what was going on and what had happened. Everything was a blur. He remembered being tortured by the Creed, but he also remembered that Thor had saved him. The next thing he remembered was pain, being hot and cold and not being able to control his body. He vaguely remembered Thor dipping him into a lake? All of this was confusing him and he was also hearing a hushed voice whispering. The dull ache in the back of his head was now throbbing full force and he let a moan escape his lips as he tried to silence all of the noise in his head.

"Loki? Can you hear me brother?" The voice asked as a hand touched his face.

Loki knew that voice. It was Thor and he figured if Thor was with him, he was safe. Loki slowly opened his eyes and there was Thor leaning over him.

"Thor?" he asked groggily reaching out a hand.

"Yes Loki, I'm here. How are you feeling?" Thor reassured grasping Loki's hand.

"Tired….throat hurts." Loki answered his voice sounding like gravel.

"Hold on."

Thor disappeared from his view and returned with a canteen.

"Here drink this Loki it will help."

Thor held Loki's head up and helped him drink some of the water. Loki felt instant relief and drank a little more before Thor took it away.

"Better?"

"Yes. Where are we? What has happened?" Loki asked taking in his surroundings for the first time and noticing he was in a tent lying on a bed roll.

"Your fever was getting too high and you were having seizures because of it. Father found a legend about a lake here in the forest of Asgard that could heal you. I brought you out here yesterday and took you into the lake. It seems like it worked since you are awake. I was worried about you."

"How long was I out of it?"

"About week. Maybe a little longer. We were all worried about you, you gave us quite a scare."

Before Loki could respond, Helen entered the tent.

"Hello Prince Loki, I'm Helen. I'm a healer that was sent with you to take care of your wounds and to monitor your fever. I'm glad to see you finally awake." Helen stated.

Loki nodded and Helen started to check his vitals.

"Your fever has broken and everything else looks good. I think you are finally out of the woods my Prince. I'm just going to check your wounds and see if we can get some of these bandages off of you."

Helen removed the bandages and checked Loki's wounds.

"I am happy to say that all of your wounds are healed but you will have some marks left over from some of the more severe injuries. I suggest you take it easy the next few days and Eir herself should check you out once we get back. For now rest my Prince." Helen explained.

"Thank you milady."

Helen bowed and exited the tent to give the brothers some privacy.

"When are we going to go home?" Loki asked surprised with how small he sounded.

"Soon Loki. It's still early morning, I think we will leave here in the afternoon so it will give you a chance to rest and prepare for the journey."

Loki nodded as his eyes started to slide shut again.

"Rest brother, everything is alright now." Thor coaxed stroking Loki's hair back from his face.

Loki fell asleep as Thor stroked his hair. Thor sat there a little longer and watched his brother sleep peacefully before he pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and exited the tent to talk to Helen.

"So he is doing better?"

"Yes my Prince. He will make a full recovery, his body is just weak and tired from fighting the fever and infection. He should be fine in a few days with proper rest and food."

"You said that he would have some marks left. Does that mean the words will remain on his arms?"

"Unfortunately yes my Prince. I remember Eir saying they were carved with a cursed knife, so he might have to live with that for the rest of his life. I'm sorry my Prince there is nothing anyone can do about that."

Thor nodded sadly in understanding.

"I'm going to sit with him awhile longer if you wish to rest more. We will be leaving as soon as afternoon light comes."

Helen bowed and returned to her tent as Thor returned to sit by Loki's side.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frigga walked along the Rainbow Bridge to the Observatory. She was worried about her boys, but took it as a good sign that they hadn't called for Heimdall yet. She came upon Heimdall as he observed the vast abyss.

"Heimdall, how are my sons? Have you heard from them?" Frigga asked ringing her hands anxiously.

"No my Queen, but they are safe. I have kept my gaze upon them the whole time. Prince Thor has already taken Prince Loki into the lake and Prince Loki is starting to heal." Hemidall answered.

"I'm glad to hear that. I was afraid that given Loki's condition he would perish. Did he change at all when he was taken to the lake?"

"No my Queen, as far as I know Prince Thor still does not know about Loki's condition."

"I want to tell him. I have wanted to tell them both since the beginning, but Odin is insistent that Thor and Loki both still be kept in the dark. Do you think they should both know?" Frigga asked.

"Honestly my Queen I agree with….." Hemidall trailed off his gaze intensifying.

"What? What is it?" Frigga asked nervously.

"We need to alert the King, the Creed warriors are back in Asgard."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Loki was slowly drifting off to the sounds of nature. Yes he felt better and was glad the fever was gone, but he still had a headache that left a dull ache behind his eyes. He wanted to get back to the palace as soon as possible. He planned on laying in his bed and not leaving it for at least a day, but he still didn't feel like travelling yet. Thor said they would try and leave in the afternoon so they could be back at the palace before supper and then he left to gather some firewood. As Loki was just about to drift off he heard Helen scream. He sat up in time to see two of the Creed warriors come in and drag him out of the tent. He tried fighting against them but they held him tight and forced him to stand up. They put a dagger to his throat as the leader came up to him.

"Hello again little Prince."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As Thor gathered more firewood, he heard a scream. He immediately dropped the sticks in his hands and ran back towards the camp already calling his hammer to his hand. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him. The four Creed warriors that tortured Loki stood before him. Two of them held Loki in a tight grip and another held Helen. Both had daggers to their throats. Loki held his head high although his legs were shaking from still being a bit weak on his feet. Helen was shaking but also tried to keep herself composed. The leader of the warriors stood before Thor.

"Hello Prince Thor."

"Let them go now!" Thor cried.

"Not yet. You see we have some unfinished business with Prince Loki here, don't we little Prince?" The leader stated as he walked over to Loki taking his chin in his hand. Loki pulled out of his grasp.

"Don't touch him!" Thor yelled taking steps forward.

"Ah, ah, ah. Not a step closer Prince Thor." The leader warned as the dagger was pressed against Loki's throat.

Thor stopped in his tracks as Loki suppressed a small gasp of pain.

"Good now if you don't want to die yourself or see that little lady over there hurt then I suggest you leave now." The leader sneered.

"That will not happen. By now Hemidall knows you are in Asgard and has alerted the All-Father to your presence. You only have a matter of minutes before the armies of Asgard are upon you, so I suggest you let them go and surrender yourselves now." Thor warned as he saw one of Loki's hands turn slightly.

Thor allowed himself a small smile as he knew exactly what his brother was up to.

"You are not exactly in a position to be demanding things Prince."

The leader nodded to the warrior holding Helen and the warrior went to pull the knife across her throat. Before Thor could react, one of the warriors holding Loki screamed as he saw a snake crawling up his leg causing everyone to stop. He let go of Loki and in that moment Loki acted. He threw the other warrior of off him and sent a blast of magic to the leader standing near Thor and the one that had a hold on Helen. One of the warriors stood up to grab Loki but Loki summoned his dagger and slashed at his arm before stabbing him in the stomach.

"Thor Now!" Loki yelled.

Thor raised his hammer to the sky and brought thunder and lightening down upon the warriors and they flew to the ground. Everything became silent for a moment before erupting in chaos again. Horses stampeded in with Odin leading the way riding on Sleipnir and a few dozen guards coming in behind him. Odin started shouting orders to the guards as they gathered the warriors. A couple of them went over to Helen and started to tend to her. Thor took that moment to look over to where Loki was. Loki was on his knees gasping for breath looking like he could collapse at any moment. Thor immediately ran and slid on his knees next to him.

"Loki? Loki are you ok? Did they hurt you?" Thor asked grabbing Loki by the shoulders and giving him a small shake.

"I'm…..I'm fine. Haven't used….magic in awhile." Loki gasped patting Thor on the shoulder to reassure him.

Thor immediately pulled Loki into a tight hug.

"Oh Norns Loki, I was scared for a moment there. I was scared they were going to harm you or…."

"Me too. I'm fine Thor, I'm fine."

Thor pulled away but kept his hands on Loki's shoulders to keep him steady as Odin joined them. He knelt next to his sons.

"Are you both alright?" Odin asked.

"Were fine Father. How is Helen?" Thor asked.

"She is fine, a bit shaken up but she is going to be fine. I will make sure she is well taken care of. How are you Loki?" Odin asked.

"I want to go home." Loki mumbled.

Odin smiled softly at him and placed a hand to his cheek.

"Of course my son. Let us all go home."

Odin placed a blanket around Loki's shoulders as Thor helped Loki to his feet and supported him as Loki's legs gave out a bit under his weight. Odin walked with them to Thor's horse and helped support Loki while Thor mounted his horse and then helped pull Loki up so he sat behind Thor. Loki wrapped his arms around Thor to ensure he didn't fall off the horse and laid his head against Thor's shoulder in exhaustion.

"I will lead the way, follow behind me." Odin instructed.

Thor nodded and lead his horse over to follow behind his father's.

"Are we going home now?" Loki whispered.

Thor chuckled softly and gripped one of Loki's hands in a light grasp.

"Yes brother. Rest now and we will be home when you awaken."

Loki fell asleep against Thor as Thor kicked the horse into a soft gallop and they headed home.