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THE TRICK
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By Advi
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CHAPTER THREE
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The next morning, Loki was seated ready on his bed. Thor said that he was coming along, but Loki knew… it was a lie. Thor could not take him on today's quest. Odin would put a stop to it. To add to matters, Loki knew Thor's friends would have much to say on the matter.
No one after all dared trust him. He was after all the traitor of Asgard.
Well, perhaps it wasn't so bad to be back in his glass prison. He could catch up on reading.
The sounds of heavy footsteps approached the arched entrance of his room. Loki sat up and turned. At the archway he saw his brother holding a furred cape to him. But, Thor himself was clad in his black leather tunic.
"Here," said the God of Thunder, holding the furred cloak to Loki. "Heimdall says to dress warmly."
"Am I really going?"
Thor strode into the room and up to Loki still seated on the edge of his bed.
"Of course you are coming, brother. Did I not say that many times yesterday?"
Loki grinned widely and rose to his feet. He stared straight into Thor's blue eyes. "And your father will allow it? Your friends have nothing against it?" Loki gave a cold laugh. "I know I will not be allowed to leave the confines of Asgard."
Thor threw the furred cape on the bed and reached behind's Loki's head and held him there. Then gazing steely into the icy-blue eyes of the man in front of him, he said, "You are coming with me despite the likes of others! You will follow where I go and fight when I do."
"Grand words, Prince of Asgard… I'll like to see you keep them."
"I will!" Thor answered firmly. Then, he let go of Loki, bent and picked the cloak up and held it once more to Loki. Loki took hold of the cape. It was dark green in color and covered with fur at the top. "Thank you… your gift… surprises me. I did not think you would give me something as grand as this."
Thor flashed a debonair grin. "I've known you all my life. I what your tastes are."
Loki slipped the warm cloak over his shoulders and buttoned it at the top. Together, they strode out of his room. "So, brother… will you entrust me any weapons… or will you bind my hands again."
Thor laughed. "I think I'll surprise you."
Loki stopped and stared at his brother. "You're full of wonder today… it's most fascinating!"
Thor laughed some more.
And indeed, surprisingly, Thor led Loki to the weapons armory. As the guards opened the heavy doors, Loki leaned to Thor and whispered, "Are you sure you want me in there? I could steal all the weapons and you wouldn't even notice."
Thor chuckled. "I think we'll notice." Suddenly, there was a clinking sound between the two men. Loki looked down and saw his hands in cuffs. His head shot up. "You're getting very good at this."
"Thank you!"
Together they strode into the weapons armory and Thor led Loki straight to the spears. He chose a somewhat simple lance with an unusually long blade at its head. He took hold of it and held it to the God of Mischief. "Here."
Loki gazed amused at Thor. "Really, you're giving me a lance? Are you sure?"
"I am, although I'm tempted to give you that knife; however, against a beast it is completely useless."
"True."
Loki took hold of the polearm and held his palms up. The lance floated in front of him and began to turn into green light. He then rotated his opened palms making the glowing, green spear shrink and then vanish. He looked up at his brother with a bright smile on his face and playfully asked, "Anymore?"
Thor chuckled. "Don't push your luck. You're only to use that lance until I say so and no making copies of yourself."
"That's a bit harsh," Loki answered, as Thor moved passed him, walking to another part of the vast chamber. Loki found himself being led to an area where they kept cases of daggers and throwing knifes. Thor opened a case and said, "You may only take six."
"You're in a very giving mood today, brother. First a fur cloak, then a lance, now knifes. Are you sure you didn't catch some Midgardian illness?"
Thor laughed. "No, but if you keep me waiting, I'll only allow you to have two knifes."
"Well, that's not very useful." Loki made a little wave of his hand over the case of throwing knifes. Thor saw six radiate in a green glow and vanish. Then, he shut the case and made Loki walk in front of him. He had to make sure the God of Mischief did not try to steal any other weapon. The brothers strode out of the armory and the doors were closed behind them. However, right after that, all the knives in the case suddenly disappeared.
Loki was extremely surprised.
He had expected Odin to send guards to restraint him from leaving the palace. But no… that did not happen. As usual, he and Thor met the Warriors Three outside the palace with Lady Sif. They; however, eyed the God of Mischief warily. Secretly, they made pledges to each other, that if at any time, Loki were to harm Thor or if there was any sign of betrayal – they would all kill him immediately.
Once they all were outfitted with their host of weapons, the small band of warriors & Gods mounted their horses and galloped away.
Loki wondered if Odin was really going to allow him off Asgard. So far, his day was running just too good – it wasn't right.
The six mounted warriors galloped through the glided capital city of Asgard, still under much repairs… though most were nearly complete. They rode on outside the city, over the great sea towards the Bifrost.
They stopped a few feet from the circular building, where stood Heimdall and a group of six golden guards. Loki grinned. This was the end of his usually good day.
Thor dismounted his horse and went to Loki – who still cuffed – made a poor dismount. His leg accidently slipped on the stirrup and he fell backwards… into Thor's awaiting arms. Loki sighed; he had one leg down and the other, caught in the stirrup that had decided to twist around his ankle. He held up his cuffed hands. "Are these things still necessary?"
"Yes," Thor answered, oddly cheerful, "very necessary."
"I think you mean that in a different way," Loki answered, peeved.
Then Volstagg came up to the brothers. "What happened, Loki? Did you forget how to ride a horse?"
Loki narrowed his eyes. Now, this was usually how his days were, teasing, bullying, and him being left in the shadows while others got all the glory and attention. Yup – he had almost all of his old pathetic life back. Thor began to help Loki gain a bit of leverage, so he could remove his entangled foot from the stirrup.
It wasn't easy.
Then, it was Fendral's turn to tease the flustered God of Mischief. "Apparently I'm right, Loki, you've lost all your grace being in prison."
Loki began to struggle fruitlessly against the stirrup. It wasn't letting him go.
"Friends… please," said Thor, sensing his brother's frustration. He knew that if they teased Loki anymore, his infuriated brother was bound to cause chaos. But, all of a sudden, Hogun came up to the brothers and freed Loki's foot from the stirrup and then strode away towards the Bifrost. Thor smiled proudly at his friend. Loki; however, was stunned by Hogun's unexpected show of gallantry.
"Thank you," said Loki, and he meant it.
Hogun stopped, did a half turn, bowed slightly and turned back to the front and continued to Heimdall, who watched everything. Once Loki had both feet planted firmly on the rainbow bridge, Thor held Loki's arm and followed the others to the Bifrost. However, Loki felt somewhat confused. He did not think any of Thor's friends would give him a helping hand-and of all persons-Hogun, who like Lady Sif, was always suspicious of him.
As the heroes and traitor of Asgard came to stand before Heimdall, Thor announced loudly, "We are ready for our quest!" Then, the God of Thunder shot a quick glance at the guards standing by the Bifrost.
The golden eyed gatekeeper of Asgard eyed his prince with his usual aloof gaze. "Yes, and I am ready to send you upon it… however…" Loki grinned, he knew what was coming, "these guards have business with you, Princes of Asgard."
Thor and Loki turned to the guards; one with a steely gaze, the other with amusement.
"What business do you have with us?" Thor demanded.
The guard closest to Heimdall answered, "Odin, our king will not allow you to bring the criminal Loki with you."
Loki looked like he was laughing on the inside.
Thor gritted his teeth at the guard. "How dare you call my brother a criminal! Loki is my responsibility and he is my prisoner, bound to my side. Can you not see I have him in cuffs?"
"Yes," said Heimdall, "anyone can see that Loki is Thor's prisoner. After all in those cuffs, Loki cannot even properly dismount from a horse."
Loki stared with a mixed sense of amusement and surprise at Heimdall. He knew that Heimdall always supported his brother, but never did Loki think the gatekeeper would ever speak for him.
"I am bound by my oaths to my King, but, I, Heimdall can see that Loki will be instrumental in this quest."
Thor, Loki, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three stared wide-eyed at Heimdall.
"You have seen the beast?" Thor asked.
"I have… and you will need a great sorcerer with you to defeat it."
"Oh, I guess I'm the right person then," said Loki pleasantly. He knew not to say more. He really wanted to go on this quest. What sort of beast did Heimdall see? Loki was extremely curious now.
The guards exchanged glances. Their King gave them orders not to allow Loki to leave… but Lord Heimdall had perceived that the traitor was necessary for Prince Thor's quest against the beast.
Heimdall turned to the guards. "Let him pass…" then he turned to Thor, "What will you do if Loki were to betray you on this quest."
"I will kill him."
Loki decided to add, "And he'll have a lot of help doing that too," then motioned his head at the Warriors Three and Lady Sif standing behind the two.
The guards looked uncertain.
"Do not worry," said Heimdall to the guards, "I shall speak to our King."
The guards exchanged glances again, this time they nodded their heads at each other and then moved to the side, allowing Thor and Loki to enter the Bifrost, followed closely by the noble Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. Heimdall strode to the golden podium and placed his great sword into its slot at the center, activating the Bifrost. Bright rainbow-like lights began to shine in the Bifrost's circular gate. Thor, Loki, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three were pulled into the light and they traveled to Swerend, where their help was sorely needed.
They flew through the rainbow of lights, passing many other realms and worlds, traveling the cosmos in the blink of an eye. Then, they saw their destination – Swerend – an earth-like planet.
The Bifrost plunged into Swerend's atmosphere, creating an aurora in the skies. A large and wide beam of colorful light shot to the ground, just outside of a village of many wooden huts. The people of the village came out of their houses, while those already out, stopped what they were doing and gazed at the most unusual phenomenon.
The light died away revealing Thor, his black cape, lifted around him, Loki, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three.
The people of the village quickly ran and called after their chieftain. The Gods had just descended!
Sorry, my dear readers for not updating this story in many months. But, now I am back and I hope to be able to post regularly for this story.
What will Thor, Loki & company find on Swerend? What sort of monster will they fight and will Loki cause any mischief?
Find out in the next chapter!