Loki, the Prince of Two Realms

by Death's Scribe

Time has passed and Loki has come to accept his Jotun heritage. His family is safe and all is well. But with a historical Jotun delegation called by the new Frozen Realms King, can Loki bring his two worlds together or will unforeseen forces rip his whole life apart?

6. Chapter 6

Hi Guys!

Long time no see!

First I apologise for the year long absence. I tried to come back to the story but live and just feeling a lack of motivation just killed everything for me. But I'm here and I'm determined to finish the story. I'm not someone that likes to leave things incomplete so I'm forging ahead and I've managed to get some writing for this under my belt before posting again.

As always thanks to everyone who has faved and reviewed the story, especially with no new material. I love hearing for anyone who is enjoying the work so please continue, it feeds my motivation.

I hope your enjoy this new chapter and fingers crossed I should have a new one for you all soon, without the year long absence.

Cheers!

DS

Disclaimer: I do not own Thor or the Avengers or any other of the many Marvel properties

6

"Are you insane?"

"Just hear me out, Brother."

"No, no Thor you don't get it," Loki said. "Travelling through Yggdrasil isn't easy. It's dangerous, very dangerous. The last time I did I nearly got myself and my friends killed."

Thor sighed, running a hand through his hair, briefly checking around the alcove to be sure that no one had heard their heated conversation. Loki simply glared up at his Brother, arms crossed in a blatant show of defiance.

"Look, I understand why you would be nervous."

"I'm not nervous, I just know the type of consequences that could happen."

"But I need your help Loki," Thor said. "Father's not thinking straight. He's blinded by grief."

"Can you blame him?" Loki hissed. "What with Mother -"

"I Know, I know. But still, he is not thinking this through. We cannot risk the Dark Elves coming back to Asgard, it would place our people in danger. We were lucky that last time they focused mainly on the palace. What if next time they land in one of the villages further from the capital? Our warriors wouldn't reach them before Malekith and his horde killed them. We cannot take that risk. I cannot."

Loki shook his head. "You can't know that for sure."

"Any possibility is something I cannot risk."

Loki sighed, as much as he would have liked to disagree, he couldn't. Thor's point was a valid one. He'd seen the destruction Malekith and his Dark Elves had caused and that was only to the palace. He knew what Malekith himself was capable of. He only needed to remember Mother.

"Why do you want to know how to travel Yggdrasil anyway?" Loki asked. "It's not as though you can use my method."

Thor bit his lip. "You heard what I proposed to Father. I still believe that it is the best course of action."

"So, you're going to go against Father's orders?"

"If I must, to protect our people."

"Or is it to protect your Midgardian?"

"Loki."

"What? It's a valid question," Loki snapped. "Would you be going through all this trouble if the Aether was inside anyone else? Or is the reason you care so much is because you don't want to lose your little mortal."

Loki watched as his Brother puffed up. He looked ready to yell at Loki. The Young Prince didn't care. He had a right to be angry at Thor's Midgardian. It was and probably would remain his firm belief if she hadn't come, if she had stayed on her little planet than his Mother wouldn't have been hurt.

A long deep breath brought his focus back to Thor. His Brother's face was still awash with anger, but it seemed as though he was trying his best to hold it back.

"I understand why you are upset at Jane."

"Upset?" Loki scoffed. "Oh, I think I'm passed upset."

"But it was not her fault. Mother didn't help Jane because she was important to me. She did it to protect the Nine Realms. To stop Malekith from gaining control of the Aether. Loki this is much more important than your feelings. This is the fate of the realms."

Loki turned his head away. As much as it galled, Thor had a point. His Mother was a fine and upstanding woman. Brave. Regal. She was a Queen and had always taken her role seriously. Loki knew that she would have defended anyone from Malekith. But that didn't mean Loki had to like it, nor treat the Midgardian with respect. In his mind, she would always be partly to blame. Especially if Mother ...

"Fine, setting aside the point about the Midgardian. Why ask me for help? Unless it has escaped your notice, I am but a child. You shouldn't be getting me involved in your treasonous escapades."

Thor snorted. "Don't pull that on me Brother. You have gone against both Father and Mother long before I ever have. Besides I know how talented you are at seidr. I may not have always said so, but I do greatly admire your skill and I know you can and will be capable of great things. You are the only one I could ask to help me. We are Brothers after all."

Loki had to fight hard not to blush. He had been getting used to Thor's praise, it was something his Brother had been working on for two years now. But he was still unable to stop the involuntary reactions.

"Plus, I doubt you would be able to keep your nose out of it. You always were curious."

"Thor."

The Crown Prince chuckled a little at the whine before it vanished, making way for a frown. "If you can get us to the Dark World, do you think there might be a cure for Mother?"

Loki startled at the question. "I…I don't know. From what I understand the home of the Dark Elves was mostly destroyed."

"But there could be something," Thor said, eyes brightening at the idea. "Leftovers of their civilisation. Malekith had to come from somewhere, he had ships with him when he invaded. It would make sense for them to have an antidote there. And if we are successful in luring Malekith, we could get onto his ship and simply find the cure. He must keep some around, for emergencies."

It was a far-fetched idea. Not something Loki would normally feel comfortable putting hope in. But with his Mother's condition, hope was the only thing he had to cling to, no matter how feeble.

"It's a possibility," Loki agreed. "Alright fine. I'll help you. But no pulling out and trying to send me back to my quarters. I'm your partner in this. We're equal. You can't treat me like a child when you've asked for my help as a warrior."

"That might be difficult Loki, you are still so young."

"Then good luck finding any other seidr wielder willing to help you."

"Alright, alright," Thor said, grabbing hold of Loki's arm to stop him from marching out of their hiding spot. "I'll try my best. But you must listen to my orders. It's not about me being better than you Loki, it's about keeping you safe. I wouldn't ever have considered coming to you if things were not so dire. But these are the cards we have been dealt, though I will still try to ensure you remain in as little danger as possible."

Loki hummed. It would be the best he was probably going to get from his Brother. Thor wouldn't have even talked to him if he had any other options, but time was critical. If Thor was right Malekith could return at any time and Mother's condition was deteriorating. Loki may be young, but he was the best option. Plus, Thor would have a hard time keeping him away.

"Fine, deal."

Loki held out his hand and Thor clasped his wrist, Loki fixing his own fingers around Thor's own in a firm shake. Upon release Loki said.

"There's still the issue of you going against Father's commands."

"Which is why I need your help. Father locked down the Bifrost and Heimdall will not go against his word even if he agrees with me. So, you are my only option. You have to send me through Yggdrasil."

"It's not that simple Thor, I can't just take you through Yggdrasil."

"Why not, you've done it before."

"Yes, but it was involuntary," Loki explained. "The first time was a fluke, brought on by panic and instinct. The second time I merely recreated that feeling. But now even if I could do that, I still wouldn't be able to travel."

"Why?"

"Mother." Thor raised an eyebrow. "Mother blocked my seidr, remember? It was my punishment for the Midgard mess. She said because I used it so frivolously that I didn't have the luxury to abuse it."

Loki still remembered the lecture his Mother had given him. She'd had the courtesy of waiting a week before laying into him. Fully recounting all the things he'd done wrong or could have done better. Along with a loud and long scolding on the responsibilities of seidr and how Loki had clearly shown he was not ready to understand exactly what that meant. At the time Loki had been petulant, angry. He understood his seidr. He respected it, if he maybe took it a little for granted. The time with the blockers had increased his appreciation for those who did not have access to the power he wielded so carelessly. The time it took to get simple tasks finished was something he did not remember doing since he was a small child and his power had yet to show itself. He wondered if his Mother would ever be able to lecture him again. No doubt she would if she knew the conversation her two sons were having.

"Even if the seals are weakened, I still won't have the power I would need to get into Yggdrasil."

Thor cursed, "there has to be a way."

"There might be," Loki hummed thoughtfully. "Skywalking isn't the only way to travel Yggdrasil. It's the best and least time consuming but other seidr wielders have been able to tread the branches, but they've needed an object of power."

"Object of power? What's that?"

Loki shrugged. "No idea. That information isn't accessible, at least not to me."

"I could get you the right books from the royal library," Thor said but Loki shook his head.

"Did you really think I let a thing like accessibility stop me Thor? I already looked at all the books in Asgard about travelling between realms, I needed to when I was researching about Skywalking. The idea's behind using an object of power are talked of in great length, but nowhere is it listed what those objects are or could be. Maybe if we were in Vanaheim I might have been able to dig up something. Their seidr knowledge is vaster than Asgard's."

Thor slumped against the wall, "then we have nothing."

"We could ask someone."

"Who?"

"There are plenty of seidr wielders in Asgard that are well travelled. If we could find one of them, they could point us in the right direction."

"It could take us days to track down a seidr wielder with the knowledge we seek," Thor said. "We don't have that kind of time. Malekith could return any minute."

"We might not have a choice. I don't know about you, but we don't exactly have a knowledgeable seidr wielder just hanging around. I doubt the Jotun delegations seidr user would know much, being trapped on Jotunheim for so long. Who else can we ask?"

Thor growled, leaning back against the wall. The two Brothers contemplated in silence a moment. Loki thinking furiously if maybe one of his tutors might know something. Thor suddenly stilled. His eyes widening. He glanced at Loki, then looked away.

"There might be someone in the palace who we could ask."

"Who?"

"You're not going to like it."

"We don't have many options for me to be picky."

"You really won't like it. By Bor's balls even I don't, but they're our only option and I'm sure we would be able to -"

"Thor who are you talking about?"

Thor scratched his bread, eyes unable to meet those bright green orbs. "Amora. The Enchantress is imprisoned beneath our feet. If anyone would have knowledge the likes of which we seek. It would be her."

---

Loki steeled his nerve as he waited hidden just out of sight at the entrance to the dungeons. A large steel and wooden door protected by a collection of seidr enchantments and two guards posted outside. It was normally not a place that the Young Prince would frequent, but Amora lay beyond and the knowledge he wanted.

Thor had been right; he hadn't liked the idea of seeking out Amora, at all. The Witch was someone Loki never thought he would have to think about again. He hadn't even gone to her trial, wanting to wash the memory of the former enchantress away. But now, with time ticking and the prospect of Asgard under threat, Loki would have to face her once again.

A shift behind him signalled that Thor was ready. Taking a breath Loki focused on his seidr and with a flick of his wrist summoned a shaky illusion of Tyr. It wasn't his best work, the image wasn't as crisp as he normally would have been able to achieve, nor did it move as smoothly. But with his Mother's blockers in place, as weak as they were becoming, it was quite a feat.

Loki directed the illusion, so it appeared to have walked around the corridor, Tyr's grizzled face twisted into an expression of frustrated anger that Loki was familiar with.

"Guards!"

"Y…yes General!"

"I have need of you."

"But sir, we should not leave our post," one guard said. "The prisoners -"

"Are secure. The seidr wielders have already reinforced the cells. This will only take a moment."

The pair of guards shared a look. Loki sighed, pushing a little more seidr into his creation so that it's face screwed up and he bellowed. "Now!"

"Yes General!"

The clank of armour and the guards followed the Tyr illusion away from the door. Loki set a series of instructions into his creation. Programming it so it made the guards shift some heavy equipment Loki had had Thor set out, so it would cover their tracks and give the illusion and excuse to leave the guards alone, thus letting Loki dispel it.

They waited until the guards were far enough way. Thor pushed himself out of their hiding place, crossing to the dungeon door.

"How do we get in?" Loki asked, eyes flicking over the door in curiosity. The dungeons were one of the places he had never been into. He could feel the seidr soaked into the door. It was obviously meant to work as a lock, which was probably a failsafe if something happened to the guards. Loki was just about to start examining it when Thor reached into his belt, pulling free a small knife which he swiped across his palm.

"Thor?"

"It's alright Loki," Thor said. Stepping up to the door he placed his hand on the wood. Loki felt the seidr flare, then the familiar click of a lock and Thor pushed the door open. "The door has been spelled so that it will only open to certain people's signature." He waved his blood splattered hand, which Loki could see was already healing. A side effect of the seidr in the door possibly.

Loki raised an eyebrow and Thor grinned. "Father had my signature added to all of the security protocols last year."

"Bet he'll regret that."

"Most likely."

They moved on. Thor taking the lead as they went down a steep set of stairs before emerging into the dungeon itself. It was a surprisingly clean place. White walls with the usual ornate designs that decorated most places in the palace. The cells themselves were set back into the wall. Loki could see the dark shapes of the prisoners moving around inside, the front of the cells seemingly free or any bars. But Loki knew that a powerful barrier was there, he could just make out a golden glow around the edges, the seidr humming with intent.

Loki felt Thor's hand land on his shoulder. He glanced at his Brother, who was watching him carefully. The Crown Prince hadn't wanted him to come down to the dungeons, but Loki had argued that Thor wouldn't have been able to get in without him. It would have been highly suspicious if Thor had simply demanded to be let into the dungeons for no reason. It would have gotten back to Father and then their whole plan would have come down around their ears before they could have even begun. Loki and his illusions were vital to them remaining undetected in their treason.

Allowing Thor to angle himself so that he was partly blocking Loki from view, they moved through the dungeon. Their presence didn't remain unnoticed for long. The prisoners quick to sense something knew.

"What's this?"

"The Crown Prince?"

"Coming to pay us all another visit, your Highness? Want to introduce me to your hammer?"

A round of cackling had Loki shivering.

"Brought a little friend with him."

"Who's the boy?"

"Little thing."

"The little Prince."

"Oh, how interesting, does he want to play too?"

Thor growled, the hand on Loki's shoulder clenching. "Thor?" Loki looked up at his Brother, face a wash with a feral rage that Loki was unfamiliar with.

"Ignore them, Loki. Come."

Thor quickened their pace, but it didn't stop the catcalls. Loki felt his skin prickle, the sensation of his Brother's restrained lightening putting him even more on edge.

"You should keep your mouths shut. I don't want to have to put up with the smell of charred flesh when the Prince fries you."

The soft voice shattered the calls of the other prisoners. Most froze where they stood, eyes flickering away, while others scuttled back into the shadows of their cells. Loki felt his own heart hammer. It grew as they pulled up beside another cell. It was further back than the others and the barrier, which had been strong of the other cells, radiated seidr around this one. Loki wondered if extra protections and failsafe had been woven in. With the skill and power of the occupant Loki wouldn't have been surprised. The interior was white, a ledge that had a thin, folded blanket on top was in one area, while another had a white screen which hid the toilet from view. The rest was just blank empty space, or it would have been if it wasn't for the Asgardian sat in the middle. Her blonde hair a mess of split ends and tangles. Usual beautiful face a sunken shell, her skin drab and pale which was only made worse with her grey prison clothes, shirt and trousers which hung from her thin frame.

Amora stared at them, blue eyes still managing to shine with a manic gleam as she smiled at them.

"Hello darling."

"Amora," Thor acknowledge.

"I never thought you would come to see me," Amora said, head moving slightly so that she could fix her eyes on Loki, who sucked in a breath, but managed to keep his outward appearance calm. "Though I would have appreciated it if you had come alone."

"We need information."

"And you think I have it? I'm flattered."

"You will co-operate Amora."

The Witch giggled. "Oh Thor, you always were blunt. It's endearing, but also highly annoying."

"Amora."

"What will you do if I refuse?" she asked, leaning forward from her position on the floor. "Lock me in another cell? Torture me? Kill me?"

"I will do what I must."

"You don't have the guts Thor," Amora sneered, that smile morphing into something sinister. "You'd never kill me."

"He might not, but what about me?" the words were out before Loki could stop them. Panic welled as Amora put her attention onto him, that look of murderous rage making Loki glad for the barrier that separated them.

"Little Prince," Amora snarled. "I had hoped never to see your face again. Unless I was clawing it off."

"The feeling is mutual, Witch," Loki eased himself away a little from his Brother. It would not do well to give Amora the impression that he was hiding behind his Brother, even though that was the thing he wanted to do the most. "Sadly, my Brother has far more compassion that I."

"You call this compassion?" Amora flicked a delicate had at her cell.

"Locked away for eternity or ripped limb from limb and left to suffer as long as possible until you died in agony? Yes, I would call this compassion."

Amora laughed, a broken thing. Wheezing and harsh, so unlike the light giggle she was once known for. "Always knew you were a vicious little thing."

"Then you'll have an idea of what I'm wiling to do to get the information we need." Loki lifted his hand and allowed what little seidr he could to dance across his fingers. He was grateful that his Tyr illusion had already run its course, otherwise the display would have been far more difficult to pull off.

Amora's eyes flicked to his seidr, for a brief second Loki saw a look of longing cross her face before it fell back into an apathetic mask.

"Say I believe that you would kill me. What makes you think that I have the answers you seek?"

"Oh, I have little doubt that you will."

Amora laughed, "well now you have me intrigued." Resting an elbow on her knee she cradled her chin in her hand as she leaned forward. "Go ahead, what is the puzzle you would have me solve."

Loki glanced at Thor, who cleared his throat before saying. "I would have you tell us a way to cross Yggdrasil."

"Yggdrasil?" Amora frowned. "I would think you would have no problems with that, what with the little Prince's special talents."

"We're in need of another way."

Amora's lips twisted into a smirk, gleaming eyes flicking to Loki. "And why can't the young Prince travel across Yggdrasil anymore? Something happen to your seidr?"

"That's none of your business."

Amora's smirk didn't waver but she didn't push the issue. Instead, she tapped a delicate finger against her cheek. "There aren't many ways to cross Yggdrasil. Only three if my memory serves me right. The least and hardly ever heard of is to Skywalk, but that is apparently out of your reach. The second is to use an object of power."

"Where can we find one of those?" Thor asked.

"Oh darling, you'd struggle to get anyone to relinquish any that they held," Amora said. "Objects of power are difficult things to attain. From what I know there are less than ten on Asgard and none of the seidr wielders who own them would ever be willing to part from them, even for a loan."

"But I'm their Prince. Surely if I was to explain -"

"It would make little difference to them. seidr wielders can be such flighty creatures," Amora shot a glance at Loki. "And deeply possessive of what they consider theirs. Besides, objects of power are fragile, you can only get so many uses out of them before they will shatter. They will not hand them over to you, even if you were to order them."

Thor visibly deflated, no doubt worrying what his meant for his Midgardian. Loki sucked in a breath.

"What of the third option?"

Amora grinned. "Ah, the third option. That one is a little more tricky, though simple in its approach."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the third option is simply using the hidden pathways to navigate the fringes of Yggdrasil. They don't take you onto the tree itself, but you can travel between the realms easily by ship as long as you know the way."

"There are secret paths through Yggdrasil?" Loki asked, excitement creeping into his voice. It was the first he had heard of such a thing, even with all his research.

"Indeed, though you need to know where to look for them."

"I'm assuming you know."

"Of course."

"Tell us."

"Ah, ah, ah," Amora wagged a finger. "I don't think I will."

"Amora."

"I know you said you would kill me if I didn't talk, but I think we can take that option off the table. You need me for my knowledge, something I know you won't find anywhere else."

"What do you mean?" Thor asked. "Other seidr wielders -"

"Will not know of any pathways even if they know they exist," Amora said. "I may not be able to Skywalk, but navigating the secret pathways was something that I studied to compensate for that. It doesn't offer as many options as Skywalking, but for those with the power and skill it works just as well. And as far as I remember, no one on Asgard apart from the King and Queen can match my seidr in power and skill."

Loki bit his lip, trying his best not to scowl at Amora's smug smile. The Witch was right she was, once upon a time, seen as one of the greatest seidr wielders of her generation. No doubt, if she hadn't have gone mad and tried to kill the royal family, she would have been asked to be one of Loki's tutors.

Thor scrawled, muscled arms crossing over his chest. "What do you want? Freedom?"

"Oh what a dream, but one I doubt even with your dire situation you would give me," Amora said. "No, freedom is something I know I won't get, but," she fluidly tucked her legs beneath her and stood. Even with a year in a cell, the time had not yet sapped away her elegance. She crossed to the glowing seidr shield, leaning as close as she dared. "I'll take a kiss from you Thor."

Loki recoiled and even Thor looked mildly disgusted. "What possible need could you have of that?" Loki asked.

"A girl gets lonely," Amora said. "She needs thing to think of to pass the time and …" her eyes flicked to Thor as he cleared his throat angrily. "You'll figure the second part out when your older. Although," she smirked and roved her bright blue eyes over Thor hungrily. "I've always wanted to have a kiss from you, my darling."

Thor paled and Loki wasn't sure if he was going to be sick or not. "I will not -"

"He'll do it," Loki said, to Amora's delight and Thor's obvious horror.

"Brother!"

"It's just a kiss Thor."

"That is not the point. I cannot just go around kissing …" he trailed, sending Amora a hard glare even as she grinned at him.

Loki waved a hand, "you kiss that Midgardian often. Amora, insane though she is, is no less fair of face. It will be no hardship."

"Would you do it?"

"If it would get me the information I needed," Loki argued, even while his stomach gave a lurch of discomfort. He didn't see the fascination of kissing girls, of kissing anyone really. Girls were complicated and yelled at you, at least that was Loki's experience with Sigyn. Who'd want to go around kissing them. Thor's face was still stony. Loki sighed, "we came here for a reason Thor," he pressed. "Think about you're Midgardian. Think about Jane."

Loki saw the way his Brother tensed and the realisation, the acceptance wash over his whole body. Loki held in a smirk. It was cruel, but he was never one to be above a little manipulation, he was a little trickster after all.

"Very well," Thor said, turning to Amora who had remained near the seidr shield, watching the pair of them avidly. "One kiss, then you will tell us the location pathway."

"You have my word and bond," Amora inclined her head. Thor clenched his fists, took once last look at Loki then marched to the seidr shield. Placing his hand on the wall beside the cell, Loki saw a display light up. He couldn't see what Thor did with it but he knew what it was. The cells, while protected by seidr, were not over seen by a seidr wilder. A seidr crystal would be embedded into the wall, one that was charged and maintenance by a seidr wielder but was not under their control. Instead, it would be connected to a complex panel, made of finely engineered mechanics. Loki wondered what the Man of Iron's face was look like if he ever saw some of the technology of Asgard. From how the man acted around himself and Thor, the Midgardian probably thought the Golden Realm was still in the dark ages, what with the Asgardians being the inspiration for the Viking myths. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Asgard held many technological wonders, just because they preferred to use swords, axes and horses didn't mean they blind to the advances of technology.

Thor's hands paused and he looked Amora dead in the eye. "I will only lower a portion of the shield," he said. "If you try anything, you know what will happen."

"Oh, I'm well aware that you're just itching to use your hammer on me," Amora smirked causing Thor to blush. "But I won't push my luck. I want my kiss."

Thor swallowed, sucked in a breath, then pressed the panel. The shield disappeared, though only around Amora and just from her head to her waist. That didn't stop the enchantress from thrusting her hands through the gap, grasping Thor around the shoulders and pulling him into a deep and harsh kiss.

Loki was sure he could hear the air being sucked out of his Brother's lungs. He didn't have time to think about pulling back, all he could do it seemed was hold on while Amora took what she wanted. Loki wrinkled his nose, the scene doing much to convey why it was a bad idea to kiss girls. The miss continued for much longer than Loki anticipated, though that was more down to Amora than Thor. It took the Crown Prince grasping the enchantresses form arms and physically pushing her from him to break the kiss. Amora clung on though, arms looped around Thor's neck. She bent to his ear, the action causing him to still.

"Thor?" Loki asked with concern. He stepped forward, but Thor pushed Amora way before Loki could think to summon a spell. The woman fell on her back, a high-pitched giggle erupting from her mouth. "Thor?"

"It's nothing," Thor said. Slamming his hand on the panel, the gap in the seidr shield seamlessly moulding back into place. "I have what we need. Let's go."

Loki would have pushed for an answer, but Thor grasped his shoulder and marched him through the dungeons, Amora's laughter echoing in their wake.

Loki said nothing as they made their way up the stairs and out of the dungeons. The pair making sure to distract the guards once more so they could make a clean escape. Once they had made it as far as the guest wing Loki turned on his Brother.

"What did she do to you?"

"Nothing."

"Then what did she say?" Loki asked. "You froze, I saw you. She must have said something."

Thor wasn't looking at him, eyes far away. He shook his head. "It was nothing, merely telling me where the pathway was, it shocked me."

Loki pursed his lips. He couldn't sense a lie, but nor did he believe it was the whole truth either. But with the look on Thor's face he wasn't going to get much else out of his Brother right now.

"Very well, the pathway then. Did Amora tell you its location?"

"Aye," Thor rubbed a hand through his hair. "That she did. I find it hard to believe her, but I cannot deny that it does ring with some truth."

"Where?"

"The Great Remains."

Loki gaped, "truly?"

"That is what she said."

"The Great Remains are not to be ventured into by anyone. Father forbid it when …"

"I know, but you must agree that it makes some sense for a thing such as that to be there. The Great Remains are all that is left of where our Realm was once part of a much greater construct. It is also where the seidr of the Realm is the most unstable. If a pathway was to be anywhere, it would be there."

Loki frowned but agreed. The Great Remains were a place that was whispered about by many on Asgard and avoided by all. Jagged cliffs and peaks dominate the area, reaching higher than the tallest spires that make up the central city of Asgard. It is said strange plants and even wildlife can be found there, though from what Loki knows, it is barren of near anything green. The unstable seidr of the area making growing anything a challenge. Asgardians stay well clear of the area for miles around, none wanting to be too close.

"You are right, it does make an odd sort of sense."

"But how can we get there? We cannot walk?"

"A transport maybe?" Thor mused.

"And when Father asks where we are going?"

"Out to check the far-reaching towns and villages."

"He will have already sent men."

"Then what do you suggest Loki?" Thor growled. "Please, think of something as Jane continues to wither away with the Aether inside her while you shut down any plan that I can think of."

"Then think of better -"

"Pardon me Princes of Asgard but I may be able to offer some assistance."

Both Princes startled at the rumbling voice. Turning to look along the corridor they found a door ajar. As it opened wider Loki felt his stomach drop as King Helblindi stepped out.

It was Thor who recovered first out of the pair, managing to perform a shaky bow. "King Helblindi, I don't know what you overheard -"

"That you plan to travel to the Great Remains, I think you called them. And something to do with a woman named Jane who has the Aether inside of her."

Thor stilled, but not for long. He lunged across to King Helblindi, pushing the Jotun King back through the door he came through.

"Thor!" Loki exclaimed, swiftly following in his wake, though making sure to shut the door behind him. The room he entered was one of the may guests suits that dominated that part of the palace. Loki noted the larger furnishing and cooler temperature, but it was quickly over road by the sight of Thor pushing the large Jotun King up against the wall. Even dwarfed in size, Thor was still appeared menacing, Loki even though he caught a sizzle of electricity flashing over the Crowned Prince's skin.

"Thor stop it. Calm down."

"You will be wary of what you say, King Helblindi," Thor said, ignoring his little Brother, eyes fixed on the impassive face of the Jotun. "Those words you heard were not for your ears."

"Perhaps then you should have had more care then to talk of such things in a corridor where anyone can hear."

Loki saw Thor's face pinch and before his Brother could make the situation worse he stepped in. "Forgive my Brother, King Helblindi, he is oft known to act without thinking. What you heard was nothing of import, just wild tales that were being spread, true there is a woman named Jane, but the Aether -"

A deep chuckle cut through anymore of what Loki could say. Surprisingly, it is was not derisive, nor particularly threatening, it almost sounded fond.

"Prince Loki, there is no need for you to cover this, although from what I hear your silver tongue would have little trouble convincing me of whatever tale you sought to weave." Loki blushed at the amused smile sent his way, then King Helblindi turned back to Thor. "Your words revealed much, but I have my own ways of discovering things. I was already aware of the Midgardian Jane, sequestered away at the order of King Odin. But now it is revealed she has the Aether within her, things have become much clearer."

"You already knew of Jane?" Thor asked.

"Indeed, Prince Thor, I also meant what I said before. I do believe that I can help you with your problem."

Thor didn't move, hands still holding Helblindi up against the wall. The Jotun's arms were down by his sides, palms open in an unthreatening gesture. Loki eyed the Jotun shrewdly. He didn't know what the King of Jotunheim's ploy was and that was disturbing to the Young Prince. He was usually good at sniffing out deceit, but the Jotun King did not smell of lies and they didn't have many options.

"Let him go Thor."

"Loki."

"If he was going to do anything against us, he wouldn't have revealed himself. Besides, its not becoming for a Crown Prince to threaten the King of another Realm."

Thor grunted but reluctantly pulled away. Helblindi eased himself gently from the wall, brushing his furs down as Thor stepped back to stand by Loki's side.

"Thank you, Prince Loki," Helblindi said, the smile he sent Loki's way full of far too much warmth to be simple thanks.

"Save your thanks," Loki narrowed his eyes suspiciously in leu of Helblindi's kind words. "You said you could help us.

"Indeed. As I understand it, you wish to get to, what you call, the Great Remains but fear that you will be stopped by King Odin."

"Aye," Thor said. "Our Father has made it clear his views on this matter. While I am inclined to believe he is doing what he thinks best for Asgard, I feel that with our Mother's … condition, he has lost his head somewhat."

Heblindi bowed his head, "that is understandable, the potential loss of a mate is not something I would wish on anyone. However, you do have a point Prince Thor. The Dark Elves will return. Laufey King may have been many things, but he ensured that I, as Crown Prince, knew the history of the Nine Realms. I've been told of King Bor's campaign and like yourself believed the Aether to be destroyed. If what you say is true and the Lady Jane you speak of does possess the Aether inside her, Malekith will return for it and he will kill anyone who gets in his way."

"I agree, which is why we must get Jane out of Asgard," Thor said.

"We cannot simply walk out of the door Brother," Loki shook his head. "Father will know something is wrong, he won't want anyone to leave the city."

"Maybe not everyone, Prince Loki," Helblindi said.

"What do you mean?"

"It is true that King Odin's orders are absolute for Asgardians, but I am not Asgardian and considering the circumstances, it would make sense for my delegation to return home for a time, to be sure that the Dark Elves have not made a move on Jotunheim in my absence. It would be remiss of me not to invite the Princes to see me off on my journey, after all, we are a delegation in hopes of creating a better peace between our two realms."

Loki gaped at the Jotun king, who smirked back at him. It was so simple, so simple yet so brilliant. King Helblindi had every right to leave Asgard, he was a King, a King who stood on equal ground to Odin. Plus, Odin would want the Jotun's out of Asgard, one more thing he wouldn't have to worry about.

"That could work," Thor said, Loki nodded.

"Yes, it could, but what of your delegation?"

"Thyrm and Angrboða will follow my orders. I'm sure Thyrm will be more then ready to get one over on Odin AllFather."

"But why offer this to us in the first place? Why do you want to help us?"

Helblindi stared at Loki who found it difficult to read the Jotun's expression but for one brief movement Loki was sure he saw a hint of longing cross over that chiselled face. "I simply see the threat to the Nine Realms Malekith is. I wish to help in any way I can."

Loki sent the King a doubtful look, but Thor spoke before he could enquire further. "If you are prepared to offer your aid, then we will take it."

"Thor."

"What choice do we have Brother?" Thor said, cutting through Loki's protests. "You said yourself it would be difficult for the two of us to disappear. But if we were requested by the King of Jotunheim to escort him home."

Thor didn't need to say anymore, Loki was well aware that it was a good plan. A plan that would get them exactly what they wanted with minimal fuss. Of course, there was the risk of the mortal being found missing, but that was a minor detail. They had a way, a legitimate way to escape the palace right under Father's nose.

"Alright," Loki sighed, ignoring Thor's grin and Helblindi's smile. "What do we need for this?"