Eyra burst into Loki's chambers, startling him from the book he was engrossed in. "Loki!"
"What?! What is it?!" His voice sounded panicked as he leapt up and ran to her side, inspecting her for any sign of harm. "Are you alright?! What happened?!"
Eyra laughed and took both of his hands in hers. "Calm down! Nothing is wrong! I just..." She bit her lip and looked at him uncertainly. "I was just talking to Bryn..."
"Oh," Loki's brow furrowed as the rest of his body relaxed in relief. "What were you talking about?"
She took a deep breath. "Well...you mentioned once running away to Midgard, and...I was thinking...well...would you still consider that an option? Temporarily, of course."
He gaped at her for a moment before his face broke into a bright grin. "Yes! Yes, of course! I hadn't mentioned it again because I feared you were completely against the idea, but...of course! Do you think..."
Eyra nodded with only the slightest trace of nervousness. "I think we should do it."
"And Bryn? He is aware?"
"And fully supportive," Eyra confirmed with a smile. Loki suddenly threw his arms around her and lifted her off of the ground, whooping in titillation. She shrieked with laughter as he spun her around and around the room.
"Midgard," he breathed as he set her back on her feet, shaking his head in wonderment. "Just think of the adventures we are to have. All of the incredible opportunities out there. And I am to share each amazing experience with you. Do you know, I am fairly certain that there is not a thing in the nine realms that could make me happier than that prospect."
Eyra blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss which he eagerly returned. After a moment, she let out a small sigh. "You need to alert your mother," she murmured against his lips. Loki simply groaned and tightened his grip around her waist. Eyra giggled and pulled away from him. "There will be plenty of time for that later," she scolded playfully. "Now go! We have to get ready!"
Loki pouted at her but obeyed reluctantly. Not, however, before stealing one last kiss, making Eyra laugh as he winked at her and strutted smugly out of the room. She shook her head in amusement after he had left, wondering how in the world she had gotten so lucky.
24 hours later
Eyra looked up from the bag she was packing to see Loki slip through the door to her chambers. "Is everything set?" She strode forward until she came to stand in front of him, heart hammering as she thought of the seriousness of what they were about to do.
Loki nodded. "I cannot find Mother, so I assume that she is preparing everything on her end. I have given her both of our letters to Thor, and she is planning on explaining things to him in greater detail when we are gone. The last of the servants go to bed in six hours time, and then," His face split into an excited visage. "We leave for Midgard."
"This is mad," Eyra whispered with a laugh. "Absolutely, howling-at-the-moon insane! Are we actually doing this?"
Loki's eyes gleamed. "Most definitely. In just a matter of hours, Darling, we will be free. Just the two of us. We can do whatever we wish."
Eyra suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest, but it quickly receded. Shaking her head, she ignored it and stepped forward to wrap her arms around Loki's waist and rest her head on his chest. "I've been doing some reading," she told him with a content sigh. He 'hmmm'ed in response as his arms encircled her body, his fingers running delicately through her hair. She smiled at the feeling and continued. "I told you once that I had always wanted to help people. You know, to do some good in the world."
"Of course," Loki murmured.
"There are several places on Midgard where there is much need for help and assistance from outsiders. There are children who are starving and sick and alone. Do you suppose we could spend some time there?"
Loki pulled back to cup her face in his hands, gazing down at her adoringly. "Of course, my Darling. That is your dream, after all, is it not? So, I will not have it any other way."
Tears sprang into her eyes at his words. "Thank you," she whispered, once again ignoring the stabbing in her chest. "I love you. So much."
"I love you too," he smiled sincerely. "More than anything." He bent down and pressed his lips against hers briefly before pulling away reluctantly. "I do have a bit more packing to do, and it appears as though you do as well."
Eyra sighed but nodded in agreement, frowning as a sensation of breathlessness began to overwhelm her. "I suppose we must finish that. I'll see you in a few hours then?"
"Of course," Loki beamed, walking towards the door. "Until then, Darling."
Eyra waved at him as he left, closing the door behind him. She turned back to her bags but had to catch herself on her bedpost as the room began to spin around her. She gagged as a wave of nausea hit her, and, holding one hand to her head and the other to her stomach, she staggered toward the washroom, gasping for breath at this point. She leaned against the wall and slid to the ground, feeling her breathing ease slightly and her head clear as she forced herself to breathe deeply and evenly.
After a moment, she slowly stood up again, a soft whimper escaping her lips as the sensations quickly intensified again. She stumbled out the door, realizing she needed help, and stayed close to the wall in hopes of using it to support herself as she struggled to make her way down the hall. A violent cough forced its way from her throat, and she stared in bewilderment at the red flecks which now dotted the hand she'd used to cover it.
That was the last thing Eyra saw before she felt herself falling forward, and the world went black.
Loki hummed cheerfully to himself as he threw various clothing items and knick knacks into his bags. He thought it strange that he felt so lighthearted. Sure, he was going on the adventure of a lifetime with the most amazing girl to ever enter his life, but it was also a great risk, and it meant that he was leaving his beloved mother behind for an undetermined amount of time. He shrugged it off, however, thinking it useless to overthink things at this point.
A knock sounded at his door, and he practically danced his way over to answer it. "Mother!" He smiled widely, but it quickly faltered as he took note of the distraught look on her face. "What...what is it?"
"Come quickly," she ordered, voice wavering as she struggled to maintain some form of composure. "It's Eyra."
All color drained from Loki's face as he stared at her, not fully processing what she was implying. "What do you mean? Is she okay? What's wrong with her?"
Tears filled Frigga's eyes as she took her son's hands, wondering how in the world to tell him that the love of his life was dying. "There isn't much time," she finally told him gently. "She took ill suddenly. They've done everything they can, but..." Loki continued to stare at her, mind still refusing to make sense of what he was hearing. "Loki," Frigga urged tearfully. "You must go to her. She's...she's...asking for you. Come. Please."
In a daze, Loki allowed his mother to lead him to the healing rooms. As they entered, the first thing he saw was a devastated looking Bryn, who was sitting to the side of a bed and holding tightly to a small frail hand. Loki's eyes were instantly drawn to the girl to whom it was attached. A pale girl whose hair was drenched with sweat. A girl whose breath whistled painfully with each rise and fall of her chest. A girl who could not possibly be his darling Eyra.
And yet, he knew it to be her. He somehow forced his legs to move until he collapsed to his knees by her side, feeling his heart tighten agonizingly as he took in the sight of her. "Eyra," he choked out, grasping her hand as tears spilled from his eyes. How had this happened? He had been with her less than four hours before, and she had seemed in perfectly good health.
Eyra slowly turned her head to look at him, eyes lidded and pupils dilated. "Loki?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper. "I'm...I'm sorry..."
"Shhhhh," he shook his head. "Don't you dare apologize. This is all my fault. I should never have left you alone."
"There's nothing...you could have done..."
"Oh, my love," Loki wept, struggling to come up with words adequate to express what he was feeling. "How will I go on?"
"You must..." Eyra coughed, a small trail of blood falling from the corner of her mouth. "For me...Promise me...that you will try...find someone else...to bring you...joy..."
All of Loki's reserve broke at that, and he leaned his forehead against her hand, shoulders shaking with sobs. "Eyra...please, no...I would do anything for you, but...please...do not ask this of me..."
Eyra opened her mouth to respond, but was suddenly overcome with a fit of violent coughing. Her body clenched in pain, and she let out a small cry of agony. When she finally managed to stop her convulsions, she looked weakly between Loki and Bryn, the only two men left alive who she cared about, and labored to speak her last words. "I...I love...you..."
Bryn's face was soaked with tears as he pressed his hand to her cheek. "I love you too, Eyra-Bear. Tell Az and Papa hello for me, will you?"
She smiled at him wearily and turned back to Loki, whose face reflected the torment coursing through his entire being. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much." The corners of Eyra's mouth turned upward once more before her eyes slid shut, her final breath escaping her lips as both men felt her hands go limp in their own.
Loki could do no more than stare down at her still frame, feeling himself go numb with shock. Just like that, she was gone. His Eyra, who was kind and strong and good, and who looked out at the universe and saw the good she could do for it. His Eyra, who never passed up an opportunity to tease him, but was always there to tell him how much she loved him. His Eyra, who loved to sing and dance and laugh and enjoy life. His Eyra, who held more emotion and love and passion in her little finger than most people possessed in their entire bodies. His Eyra, who would never laugh or dance or kiss him ever again. His Eyra, who would never get to see Midgard, to provide for its people as she had always wanted to do. His Eyra, who, in an instant, was taken from his life with scarcely the chance to say a proper goodbye.
Agony suddenly tore its way through his body, and he stood abruptly, fighting to keep his expression from betraying the depth of pain he felt at this loss. His whole body trembled as he walked quickly from the room, refusing to meet the gaze of anyone present. Frigga watched her son go, tears streaming down her face as she thought bitterly of how this story had to end, and wishing with all her heart that she could tell him the secrets that she knew.
A/N: Please don't kill me! There may yet be some happiness in store for poor Loki. I guess we will just have to see! ;)
Also, I apologize that it took me so long to post this chapter. My brother's appendix ruptured, so I've been either at work or at the hospital with him for the past few days, hardly giving me any opportunity to write!
LilweenGalatrass: Aw man, seriously? No fair! I can't wait to see it myself! And thanks for the lack of spoilers, I appreciate it! ;) Well, not exactly what you were expecting, I think, but I guess that's a good thing, right? Maybe? No? Alright... :) Thank you for reviewing!
Okumura Ichigo: Well...it looks like all those fears came true... :/ I'm so sorry for any emotional pain that I've caused you!
Deductions-of-Sherlolly: What?! You saw it too?! You darn Europeans! ;P I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!
2lazy2log in: Wow, thanks so much! Hopefully this came as a bit of a shock to you! ;)
chyanne200: What grand escape? Oops. Too soon? Sorry...
dukechick79: Well, you were certainly right about something else being planned! And it is definitely a good thing that you can appreciate a bit of drama. ;) Unfortunately, I'm not much of a major smut writer, sooooo...sorry about that. ;)
anon: Aw, shucks, YOU are the awesomest for your reviews! Did I pique your interest even further?
TigerInTheMoonlight: Well, I'm sure glad that you discovered it! Probably not the best first update for you, so sorry about that haha. Thanks for your positive review!
Ani the Fangirl: Does he? I don't know! Maybe or maybe not! ;P
snowflake2410: Well! That was certainly the most colorful review I've gotten so far! Ahaha! Inghard is definitely a piece of work, but hopefully he gets his just desserts in the end! I'm so glad that you are enjoying this, and thanks a million for your review!
Littlekitty567: Wow, thank you so much! I really appreciate your positivity, and it makes me so happy to hear that you are enjoying it! That is what keeps me going! Hopefully this chapter took a turn you weren't really expecting haha. Thanks again!
SarahELupin: YAS! Thank you! Hopefully you don't hate me too much after this...
GirlofGallifrey: Well, I love your name, for starters...Aside from that, thank you so, so much! That was such a great review to read, especially because I was just having an awful day when I got it! It cheered me up so much, so thank you for that! I really love Bryn as well. I've always wanted to have an older brother, and that tends to come out whenever I write something haha. And, of course, everyone hates Inghard. He's just such a big, dumb, bully. Haha thanks again for your wonderful review!
ZabuzasGirl: Well, it wasn't exactly immediately, but hopefully still soon enough for you! It's so great to hear that you are enjoying this, and thank you so much for your review!