Harry had been correct the previous night, and at times like this, he wished he wasn't. The ghoul he had eliminated was not the only one. He awoke with his magic alerting him to the looming threat. Soon enough, he spotted four more ghouls, meandering around the barrier. They seemed to be searching for something, as if they could sense something about them but couldn't pinpoint its location.
Viridian green eyes followed them like a pray, ready to attack, and protect if they managed to find their position. The small foal next to his body was thankfully still asleep, but he could feel her head slowly moving against his flank. It would not be long now before she would wake up.
If it had only been two creatures, he could certainly have managed to take them out without any problems, but against four, there was no chance. Especially not if he both needed to fight them and, at the same time, protect the foal. So the best he could do was to wait for them to move on, and try not to make any sudden noises or movements.
Harry sensed the filly stirring and, as she reached her arms toward his side, he rested his head over her slender torso, cautioning her gently. Nova let out a soft, surprised noise, lifting her head to peer over his back, followed by a quiet squeak. That tiny sound was enough to catch the attention of one of the nearby ghouls, causing it to pause and glance their way.
Harry pressed himself tightly against the filly, never taking his eyes off the threat ahead. The closest ghoul turned their way, sniffing the air with its decaying nose, and took a step nearer. In the first light of dawn, Harry could see its hideously half-decomposed face more clearly. The forest remained slightly moist from the chilly spring night, with a thin mist hovering above the ground.
The usual forest sounds were absent, replaced by the eerie noises of the ghouls; there was no birdsong, no rustling of small creatures in the underbrush, not even a whisper of wind. Everything was motionless. Harry felt the filly's frame trembling as the ghoul drew nearer. It swayed towards them, its scent growing stronger, and Harry had to suppress the urge to snort as the stench clung unpleasantly in his nostrils.
A thick, oily black substance oozed down the ghoul's chin, its stench intensifying into an overpowering assault on the senses. Were ghouls venomous? Harry had absolutely no idea, and he did not want to test that theory. Time dragged on, feeling like an endless, torturous stretch, before the ghoul finally halted and began to retreat with agonizing slowness. They lingered in the clearing afterward, Harry's protective embrace still tightly enveloping the trembling foal. Her face was buried deep in his fur, her breaths ragged and uneven. With painstaking caution, Harry began to loosen his grip, and the moment his head lifted, the protective barrier around them shattered like fragile glass.
Nova gazed up at him from the ground, her doe-like eyes fixed on him as he shook himself and stretched his stiff body. Harry glanced down at her when she remained still and gently nudged her with his large head. She needed to get up so that they could move on. Although it was still early, he wanted to reunite her with her herd as soon as possible, given the numerous dangerous creatures lurking in the forest.
Gradually, Nova rose to her feet, her legs shaking as she kept a firm grip on his fur. Harry let out a soft, rumbling noise and gently nuzzled her, causing her to giggle, which was exactly his intention. A child shouldn't wear such a frightened expression.
They began their journey back to the centaur's usual dwelling, with Nova occasionally hopping nervously beside him. She stayed as close as possible without getting in his way or being stepped on. Her wings fluttered nervously, lightly brushing against his side at every unfamiliar noise that emerged around them. Once the dark creatures departed, life returned.
Harry hadn't realized the depth of the forest they had entered until they had been walking for at least an hour. Fortunately, they hadn't come across any more dangerous creatures. As Harry proceeded in his form, his mind drifted to the most recent memory or dream, which was distinct from previous ones. This time, it wasn't from Harald's viewpoint but from Loki's.
It felt a little strange, he had just gotten used to Harald's memories, and now this happened. Was it because something linked them together, more than the mark? And what had happened to the mark in the memory? Could Harald be injured or, worse, possibly dead? Is that why he was here now?
Harry could still remember how the burning phantom feeling spread across his right side. It annoyed him that his dream had been interrupted when it had; he wanted to know what happened. Which in itself was amusing, as he only a few weeks ago wished they would just disappear, and let him be. But now, it hurt him to see the pure desperation reflected on Loki's face when he understood something had happened. It cut into his very soul, and that disturbed him.
Harry suddenly felt his magic pulsate, and he halted. The filly by his side stood obediently still, and Harry could feel the earth below them start to tremble. Hearing the noise of galloping hooves, he turned his head towards it, his ears focusing intently in that direction. He moved forward slightly, ensuring the foal remained close behind him as a protective measure, in case it was another herd approaching.
Soon he spotted the familiar figures of the centaur herd they had been searching for, and he felt a small sense of relief. Nova let out a loud wail, and charged towards them as Harry allowed her to proceed.
" Sire! Carrier! "
The flock's response was swift. Harry shifted out of his animagus form and stood up, observing the Reunion. He overheard Nova explaining the events, as the adults busily attended to her with hugs, gentle touches, laughter, and some choice words from a few of the elders.
A centaur patted Nova on the head, and Harry could really see the relief on his face as he did that. The palomino centaur then turned and met Harry's gaze fully.
"Mr. Potter, we meet again," he said and did something that Harry had never seen one of the proud centaurs do; he bowed to him!.
It made him almost too embarrassed to respond because these creatures never bowed to anyone! Pride was literary in their blood. But Harry quickly turned his head in return as a sign of respect, "Firenze, may the stars shine brightly upon this meeting, my friend."
When he invited the centaur herd to live on his land years ago, he requested they teach him some of their ways. Centaurs, proud and intelligent, were recognized as sentient beings—not quite human, but far from mindless creatures. Unlike hags or vampires, they refused to be grouped with such beings.
"And to you, my friend," the half-human, half-horse answered. "we are you forever grateful."
" Please, get up. You do not have to bow to me. I just did what anyone would have done" Harry told hom, his hand out like he tried to force the centaur up from his position.
"You still protected Nova, and tended to her injuries. It's something we'll always remember," remarked the palomino, placing a hand on his beaming daughter's head as she trotted over to him. Harry noticed the rest of the flock standing taller, their expressions now resolute yet noticeably lighter.
"Our meeting was predetermined in the stars, Mr. Potter. But as a thank you for the effort you made for my heard, but specifically me, I ask you to accept my gift "Harry opened his mouth to protest. But the centaur raised his hand" you will be able to ask three questions of your choice , and I will answer them as far as I can "Frienze said and looked down on the young man who saved the life of his youngest. He also could not help but see the changes the young Lord had undergone since their last meeting.
Harry wanted to protest again but stifled the protest and stiffly nodded. He had to choose his fights, and this one, he would not win without insult their generosity. He had helpt his daughter. " I accept your gift, and thanking you for your wisdom."
Firenze nodded pleased and turned around, "Come on, let's return. You both must be hungry."
Harry gazed at the blonde centaur, who was beginning to move away. He had the opportunity to ask three questions without expecting anything in return. The centaur in question was one naturally endowed with the ability to interpret the stars, and he had the insights into past events and future occurrences that Harry needed.
But,Harry had no idea where to start. How could he only choose three questions, when he had a thousand? As they walked back to the colony main area, Harry continued to talk with Nova or one of the adult centaurs. Some of them were very insecure around him; others were more outspoken and welcoming.
Gradually, the forest started to open up, leading into a birch grove with grass carpeting the ground. Sunlight filtered through the broad leaves sprouting from the branches. As time passed, bigger trees intertwined, creating structures resembling houses. These appeared like open houses and other slightly more twisting formations, with the ground decorated in soft moss or rugs.
In the center of the small village, a bigger fire pit was gradually being filled with old logs and twigs. Surrounding the pit were several large containers holding dried herbs ready to be crushed and processed. At the far end of the table, various bows and spears were neatly arranged. He noticed some centaurs approaching, and the last three foals joyfully bounded over to greet their rediscovered member.
Harry was placed on a stump, and a silver mare named Aera gave him a plate with different kinds of fruit, berries, and mushrooms on it. He was once again thanked for his efforts, and a blush spread across his cheeks and neck for all the attention he gained. Firenze came walking up next to him with a smile and held out a goblet of water, whish Harry accepted and took a sip from it,"Thank you."
The centaur bent his head slightly and let the young man eat and drink in peace but remained at his side. Harry could hear Nova telling her whole story to her sister and friends, and he held back the smile of how she magnified everything. He followed them with her eyes as she enthusiastically began to gesture and jump around and make growling noises.
Harry stifled a laugh and popped some nuts into his mouth as his stomach growled with hunger. It turned out he was hungrier than he had initially thought. Although he wasn't particularly focused on food due to his upbringing, he had improved a bit. Still, he often needed reminders to eat, or else he'd lose track of both time and meals. It was somewhat ironic because lately, he hadn't been able to eat much anyway, due to his dreams and the changes he was experiencing. Harry paused and gazed thoughtfully at the mushroom. Could his former professor have insights into what was happening to him? That was the most pressing issue at the moment.
"Ask your question, Mr. Potter "Harry looked up into the sapphire blue eyes, he did not even understand why he was surprised anymore.
"Firenze, what's happening to me? Why am I going through all these changes?" Should he be concerned? Scared? Should he seek help at the hospital for what had happened? It was as if the journalists were eagerly anticipating this moment—the Boy Who Lived undergoing bizarre transformations, perhaps even more dangerous than before. Was he the next Dark Lord? The most unsettling part was that Harry could envision the entire UK wizarding community turning against him. If their cherished newspaper claimed it, then it must be true….
Firenze nodded as if he had expekted the question, " Have you ever heard about creature inheritage, Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded hesitantly. Hadn't Fleur said something about her being part veela? " Yeah, I think so, like veela's and vampire, right?"
The centaur nodded, "Yes, among other things. It's not just about mixing a bit of creature blood into the Wizards' lineage. This dates back several generations, to a time when magical beings were more common and constantly seeking ways to enhance their abilities," said Frienze, crossing his arms over his well-defined chest.
"This led to the emergence of several superior bloodlines and a new form of magic. However, nothing was revealed until the magic-user attained their full magical maturity at around 18 years old. At that point, the creature magic would activate, resulting in a significant increase in their magical abilities and often changes in their appearance, depending on the creature they were connected to," he explained, glancing at the foals that had settled down and begun eating.
"I do not understand what it has to do with me or my changes," Harry replied honestly, he put away the plate; the appetite gone. "The potters do not have any creature blood in their line"
Firenze looked down on him again and hummed low, "Some creature heritage takes time to develop because it requires a more stable core and density. To answer your question, Mr. Potter. You have a creature inherited, not the Potters "
Harry frowned, "What? but I'm a Potter"
Frience hummed as he considered how to clarify it for the human. "Yes, you are human by blood. However, by soul, you are something different. Likely something akin to the fae, or elves as they appear in your myths, given your very humanoid transformations. Yet, the magic within you is denser and wilder at its core."
Harry looked a little confused, "I thought fae were extinct eons ago? before Merlins time?"
" Yes, and no."
Harry just wanted to hit his head on a trunk in irritation. When he received an answer to one question, 20 new ones showed up, and the cryptic centaur definitely did not help. Was it so difficult to give him straight answers?
Firenze appeared amused by the young man's impatience. "It seems you have a greater purpose in life related to those memories," he said, causing Harry to look curiously at the centaur. "Yes, I am aware of them, it is written in the stars. There's a reason you haven't been able to access them until now, which leads us to the second question."
This time Harry did not have to hesitate. He knew exactly what he wanted to know, " Why me ?"
"That's certainly a significant question, but a more important one is, why shouldn't it be you?" The palomino centaur adjusted its stance, "For centuries, the stars have foretold the coming of the destined one, but the person you were, the one you recall in your memories, was not fit to assume the title and the responsibilities it carried."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Frienze held up a hand and silenced whatever protests he could think of, "what does number three tell you, Mr. Potter?"
" Huh ?" the question made Harry stumble over his thoughts again; the number three? There was nothing special about the number three, was there?
Firenze glanced at his daughter as she approached, carrying her own gift for her rescuer. Nova beamed and presented a feather along with something resembling golden horsehair. "Harry, this is for you," she said with a smile, extending them towards him, "may I braid them into your hair?"
Harry looked a little surprised and Firenze gave off a low laugh "it's a lucky amulet, horsehair from her tail, and a hippogriff's first mowing feather as a lucky charm and an excellent protection." explained the elder, and Harry nodded and smiled a little.
"It would be an honor Nova," the filly smiled happily, and when Harry was already in a perfect position for her to tinker with his long hair without problems. The hair was now below his shoulder blades, and she started comb it with gentle fingers, which became more and more courageous when she started grooming his hair.
"Okay, as I mentioned, the number 3 represents everything," Firenze explained. "It signifies growth and magic, resulting from the combination of two other elements. This number is brimming with energy and potential. It marks the beginning, middle, and end. We track time through our past, present, and future. Even the sun has three phases: dawn, noon, and dusk. Similarly, we experience life through birth, living, and... death."
A cold feeling shot through Harry's body and made the hair on his arms and neck rise , and it was not thanks to the little fingers that braided the horsehair and feather into his hair.
"Voldemort was obsessed with magic number 7. But death, it loves the number 3, it's a sacred number for them."
Harry looked down at his hands resting in his lap, his mind racing with thoughts. What did he know about the number three? It was Hermione who had delved into numerology and runes, not him. Taking a deep breath, Harry closed his eyes. If this was related to death, what should he consider about these paths? The most straightforward connection was the three objects that made up the Deathly Hallows, a starting point. Then there were the three Peverell brothers. The symbol of the Invisibility Cloak was a triangle with three corners, encompassing both the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone. As Harry's thoughts continued to unfold, his heart began to race. In prophecy, he was born to those who had defied their enemy three times.
Harry's hands trembled uncontrollably, though he couldn't quite discern the cause. It might have been the adrenaline coursing through him, or perhaps the icy grip of fear chilling his core. As a member of the golden trio, he was supposed to feel invincible, yet his stomach churned with such intensity that nausea threatened to overwhelm him. He swallowed hard, determined not to give in to the urge to vomit again after managing to hold it back for several days. Despite everything, he found himself seeking solace in the sensation of Nova's fingers gently weaving through his hair, though even that grounding touch couldn't fully settle the turmoil within him.
"I notice you've started to grasp its profound significance," Firenze said deliberately. "Throughout your life, Harry, you've been part of a grander scheme. The person you remember yourself being is you, yet also isn't. To truly become a master of death, you must embrace death three times."
Meet death …. three times.
Harry felt sick. He wanted to scream out the overwhelming emotions crashing over him—anger, sadness, and perhaps something even deeper and darker—but for now, he restrained himself. He bottled up the feelings, letting them suffocate within.
He had survived the killing curse, one of the tree unforgiveble, but that did not count as it was his mothers sacrefise that had saved him. The only encounter with death he could think of was during the battle at Hogwarts, where he willingly sacrificed himself for others. He had come to terms with his destiny, accepting his death.
But, then how was he the master of death now?, having already passed the test that death had set before him. But how? he had only died one time, and yet he had gain the titel.
A chill seized his heart, as it was said, if he'd faced death once in this life, he must have faced it as Harald twice. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his breath came in uneven gasps, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead and neck as he fought to suppress the nausea.
Harry had recently come to terms with the fact that these were memories he had—visions of a previous life and the existence of a soulmate. He glanced at his right arm, where a floral tattoo wound its way up from his elbow to his bicep. The colors were muted, but the flowers were alive, unlike in Loki's last memory where they had wilted and died. The presence of these living flowers signified that Loki was alive too.
Loki was real and alive, somewhere. But it did not feel right either. Harry caressed his fingers over the pale petals; in his memories, they had been vibrant blue, soft purple, and golden yellow. These, on his arms, were like an old washed-out sheet, like the colors had been washed away. Still alive but not healthy. Harry had one last question to ask, a problem he had to know the answer to but was terrified of the answer itself.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Only a soft whispering sound left his throat at first, and he moistened his dry lips. He had to know.
"my soul s-soulmate is he… i-is he ..?"
Firenze suddenly looked down at him, unblinking. The silence made it pretty clear that either he did not know or he knew and dreaded to tell him. Harry could feel parts of his soul begin to fall apart, a pain he had never experienced, not even during the cruciate curse had it hurt so much. It was like inhaling needles, and the slightest touch cut deep into his legs.
"What I can see, he is alive," the palomino said low, but something in his eyes was almost like pity; why was that?" but I have see the edge of darkness, and madness surrounding his soul."
So not well… not well at all. A sharp feeling made Harry jerk away and bend forward only to gasp for air. It suddenly felt as if something was clogging his airways as a giant hand hugged his throat. He tried to draw oxygen down to his lungs, which suddenly screamed for the need for oxygen. A metallic taste of blood what the last drop that made his stomach turn inside out and Harry could not keep its content down. He threw himself to the side and vomited up the little food he had managed to eat.
Why had he never thought of that before ?. His memories of Loki were pushed into his field of vision, and his stomach vomited once more. He felt someone hold his long hair away from his face as he emptied the last of the pungent liquid. The pain in his chest and the suffocation feeling was suddenly too much for him to handle. And before Harry could do anything about it, he had collapsed and the darkness welcomed him like an old friend.
.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.💓.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝. .⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.💓.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," said King Freye, Harald's father, as he personally led the small crowd os asguardians. "We have tried everything, but he is getting worse quickly, now I fear the worse"
As they moved quickly alongside the king, Freya inquired, "How serious is the situation?" They didn't pause at the doorway, which the guards promptly opened for them, leading into a room that felt noticeably more oppressive than the area outside.
"He is still alive, although we're uncertain how much longer he will remain so. A few of our top curse breakers and healers are working on him. I've notified my brother, but I'm unsure of when he will arrive. In the meantime, they are keeping him stable, but the magic isn't affecting the curse."
Loki made an effort to focus on the conversation around him, truly he did. Yet his heart continued to pound painfully in his chest, and his right arm felt as if it were engulfed in relentless flames. He would do anything for his soulmate; there was nothing he wouldn't give up. Harald was his beacon, his anchor when his emotions raged like a turbulent sea and he was swept away in the chaos it caused. Harald was his center, a center that had suddenly been ripped from him because someone failed to keep him safe. He should have been here protecting him! Loki felt an overwhelming urge to scream and smash every nearby object.
Loki could no longer sense him; there was no comforting warmth or tingling in his chest with each heartbeat, no awareness of his emotions or thoughts. It was as though the connection was void, as if the darkness had swallowed all the surrounding light and vitality, leaving an empty void, as though it was drawing him in.
Loki inhaled deeply, bracing himself for what lay ahead. He was ready to do whatever was necessary to rescue Harald. If sacrificing his own life was required, then he would accept that fate. He was determined to do anything for his little light. However, the moment he stepped through the door and laid eyes on Harald, he was paralyzed. The breath left his lungs, and a chilling numbness washed over him.
The royal red sheets sharply contrasted with the small figure nestled within them. Although Harald was small in stature, he appeared like a mere child in the vast expanse of the bed—vulnerable and shattered. His skin was almost translucent and his face twisted in agony, exacerbated the frailty of his already delicate body.
Loki could feel how the mark burned again at the same time as Haralds jerked under the covers. Pain was good; it meant that there was still something holding them together, that there was still hope. Slowly he went further into the room, and his gaze was- as if anything- nailed to the little creature in front of him; he barely dared to blink because he was afraid he would disappear from his view.
Loki could see the narrow veins under Haralds pale skin; it was almost as if he could see straight through them to the muscles on the underside. The previously lively midnight black hair was now gathered in a thick braid over his shoulder, still and lifeless. Whether it was due to sweat or something else, he did not know. But one thing he knew, Harald's hair never stayed in place. Loki forced himself to breathe; he was here now; there was still time.
"Who did this?" Loki barely recognized his voice, his hand was just above Harald's but he did not dare touch him. It felt like just a light touch would break his skin, and it was wrong, so, so wrong.
King Freyr sighed, and it looked like decades had passed on his face in a mear hour that had passed. "We suspect that someone sealed his magic with a powerful spell, a sealing curse of the sort."
"What?" Loki gasped in disbelief, feeling his heart plummet into his stomach. Anything but this! "Then break the seal!" Weren't they supposed to be experts at handling seals? Harald frequently boasted about this skill and was always eager to challenge Loki with it in various scenarios.
"We have tried. The one who created the seal is powerful. It pains me to say even better than my knowledge on the subject. Harald could have broken it, but without his magic ... " it was impossible, the words remained unsaid and he shook his head.
"Do we know who is to blame?" asked Thor, who had remained surprisingly calm and in the background, something that was very unusual for the otherwise big clown who loved to be at the center.
The king was silent for a good while, only looking down at his son, his eyes filled with guilt and sorrow. "Yes, we recognized the magic," the king softly said, bowing his head slightly in shame, "it is my sister. We have already sent out our best warriors to search for her "
"Then point me into their direction, and I will personally lead them in their search for this witch," Thor said with a voice filled with anger and begging for revenge, for this was his brother-to-be, and no one messed with his family, blood or not.
Loki stared down at his lover's still body and bit hard on the inside of his cheek. He put his hand on Harad's chest, which rose slowly. He tried to ignore the cold feeling that spread along his arm and closed his eyes to concentrate. Slowly he let his magic flow down towards Haralds; the awful empty feeling invaded him as soon as he touched it. Suddenly it felt as if his magic was quickly beginning to sucked out of him. It was as if he suddenly became stuck in a vortex and a pulling sensation at his navel made him jerk with a strong gasp and quickly broke the abnormal connection.
He could feel his eyes burning hot, and the air became heavier when they realized that his attempt to break the seal had failed. Loki wanted to growl in pure anger; he would not give up, but what could he do? The magic was literary being sucked out off its vessel.
" Loki , love? How long do we have? " Freya rested her hand on Harald's forehead; she felt the sorrow and panic tearing at her like a hungry wolf at her son's chosen one.
"Hardly any time at all! fuck! " Loki swore fiercely and ripped from his mother's touch and backed away. He shook his hand vigorously through his hair. Whatever sealed Harald's magic, it sucked life out of him, already now he could feel how his body struggled to even function as far as it could. His body had already begun to shut down.
"Lo .. ki?" The hoarse rough voice made everyone fall silent in the room, and their eyes fell on the owner.
Loki was quickly back by his side and he now let his hand gently touch the cold sweaty cheek of his little light. The feeling was so wrong, so sick and Loki had to hold down his reflex to pull his hand away. There was not an ounce of magic moving over his skin, he felt nothing coming from him and it was about to kill Harald.
Harald was the embodiment of magic; without it, he wouldn't exist. Loki, on the other hand, was different. While Harald was pure, untamed magic, Loki was merely a vessel that could harness and wield its energy. This situation felt like a punishment for Loki's failures. He should have ensured Harald's safety from the outset and never left his side. If he had stayed, none of this would have occurred. But now it had, and Loki felt utterly powerless—a feeling he despised. He couldn't even save the one who meant everything to him, his entire world. If he couldn't protect Harald, what purpose did he serve?
"..You came." Harald wispreds, his breath was wet as he let the air out.
"Of course I came, I can not even leave you for a week, and you get in trouble" Loki let his fingers caress the cold sweaty cheek because no matter how abnormal it felt, he needed to feel the contact.
Harald laughed softly, but the laughter was quickly replaced by a heavy cough that made him grimace in a second of pain before his features were smoothed out. The dull eyes looked at him again, and he tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace than anything else.
"True ... you should never leave me again… ever. When we married, I will tie you to me."
Loki's saliva got stuck in his throat, and he tried to swallow the lump that forms there "never again, you will never get rid of me, ever."
Freya put her hand on her youngest son's shoulder but said nothing, and the rest of the people withdrew to give the young couple some privacy. Suddenly a new hard cough tore through the already weak body, and Loki hurried forward to help him sit up. All the people in the room were as if forgotten in distress over his little one .
Harald barely had any strength left even to sit still, but Loki was quickly there by his side and supported him. But the coughing soon stopped and Loki could see the red drops of blood that adorned Harald's hand, like small rosebuds on a young bush.
Harald tried to tell him that everything would be fine, that he could do without magic. But no words came out of him. If there was one thing he did not do, it was to lie, especially not to Loki . He rested his head against the warm arm that stood right next to him while he took several agitated breaths and felt someone wipe away the red liquid.
Harald knew a lot about what was happening; he could feel how his energy and magic were sucked out of him and how his inside burned from the loss. He could not remember exactly what had happened but, something had hit him in chest, a pendal? and soon afterward, an intense pain had spread through his body. Harald felt an unnatural cold sweep against his sweaty skin and tremors spread through his body.
"is it cold here?"
Loki carefully wrapped his little mate in his arms as he laid his hand on his forehead; he closed his own eyes when he felt the fever that was raging inside of him. "No love, you burning up,"
Harald took the chance to bury his face into his mate's neck and breathe in his unique scent, calming himself. " Please , hold me," he mumbled, and he did not have to ask twice before the warm, familiar body of his beloved was around him. He felt so exhausted, and the worst thing was that he could no longer feel Loki in his magic. He was gone entirely, but at the same time he was right next to him. It felt unnatural and so wrong.
"Come one little one, you have to fight this with me"
"Who said I stopped fighting?" Harald murmurs low into his chest. "And who are you calling little?"
Loki chuckled low, "No one"
"there you go."
"cheeky"
Harald snickered but was soon attacked by another coughing fit that soon subdued. Loki slowly wiped the blood away from his cheek and held back his tears as he rested his head against his and vanished the last blood with his magic. Harald was breathing profusely and had closed his eyes and was trying to concentrate on getting oxygen down. but had difficulty making a simple movement. He closed his eyes in a new kind of panic that grabbed him as he could not breath, it was like he was slipping under water.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, look at me, breath," Loki said as he gripped softly around Harald's cheek, forcing his gaze up to his" Breath, love."He began to take deep breaths himself to stimulate the movement, in and out slowly, in and out. Loki could feel his hand convulsively hugging Harald's damp tunic as it rested over his heart.
Loki jerked when he felt a pair of cold fingers put on his hand. " I love…you " Harald whispered as his breathing stabilized.
There was still a low gurgling undertone in his that worried Loki. "I can not lose you, Harald, you are the light that keeps my darkness at bay …. I can not lose you. I can not… ... I love you too much"
"I…know, but we both know… that time is running out " Harald squeezed his hand that was placed over his heart before letting his fingers look up at Lokis ' head and pulling them through the silky shoulder-length hair. He pressed his forehead hard against Loki's and closed his eyes.
" Do not ... do not say that," Loki's voice was now low, almost a whisper under his breath.
" I …. Harald took a deep breath. The oxygen burned on the way down as if a thousand needles scraped up his insides, and he grimaced, "I will not give up, but I can feel it, Loki, I can feel the hole in my core, sucking the magic away, and I can not do… anything…. about it "
" But I can, " Loki murmured as Harald nodded.
The burning sensation increased tenfold when he let his magic seep into Harald. Loki could see the problem; he saw chains embracing a black hole. It almost seemed as if light, in this case all magic, was sucked into it and just disappeared, and the feeling that spread around Loki could only be described as horrible. Loki gasped as the spell forced him out, and he felt the fatigue grip him. It almost felt like he had run several laps around Asgard non-stop with Thor chasing behind him.
Harald lay still, his hand still wrapped in his hair and holding such a firm grip on his head that he could handle at the moment. From Loki's expression, he could see that he had again failed to break the curse yet again, and he tried not to feel discured. He didn't want to die; he wasn't ready.
"I remember the first time I ever felt your energy," Harald said softly, letting his fingers slowly make circles in Loki's scalp, "it was so strong and powerful, even though you were poisoned and lay there, waiting for death." he mumured with a smile, remembering the young man he had saved. " I remember how the feeling felt - wrong- , as if you were not meant to be embraced by death yet. And I was right, it was not your time to go and that feeling was constant there all the time I took care of you."
Loki put his arms around the fragile body and held him closer. "And it's not your time to go either, stop talking like it is" Loki replied and turned his head slightly and kissed his wrist.
Harald smiled weakly and leaned his forehead against his "I'm not; I get the same feeling now, Loki,"
It made the other black-haired man quickly open his eyes and stare into the dark greens in sheer surprise, " what ?"
"You heard me perfectly the first time, oldy." Harald said with a low laugh, "I get the same feeling like that day, that it is not my time to face death. I trust you, I know that if anyone can fix this, it's you"
Loki felt burning tears threatening to fall and he narrowed his eyes. He could feel how a proud feeling grew within him, his strong phenomenal mate. He didn't back down, not even when it looked terrible, and here Loki lay grieving because he was not strong enough or could handle it. Since when had he ever doubted his own ability! He was Prince Loki of Asgard, the god of chaos, lies, and magic.
"Don't let me go," Harald whispered as he pressed his forehead harder against his, but his eyes stirred firmly into his, "fight it"
"I do! " Loki growled harshly" do you think you want to suffer like this? Do you think this is how I want to see you? I try, but I do not know what to do, this is magic I have not even encountered except what you have shown me and it has also taken time for me to breakthrough! And we do not have time ... " Loki jerked out of the loose grip that Harald had on him and sat up in bed.
He was angry, and he was just as terrified. He could feel the pressure weighing down his senses, and he could not concentrate enough to force the energy, and time was running out. Always the time. He felt crushed underneath it all, and his chest ached like the bleeding hole that was around Harald's core. The only warning he received that something suddenly was wrong was a firm grip on his hand and Loki's gaze immediately turned to his little lover. But what he saw caused his whole world to fall apart. Harald's eyes were wildly wide open and his mouth wide open.
Harald had not been prepared for this attack to come so close to the other. He had tried to take a deep breath to say that Loki was wrong. But it was as if his lungs and nearby muscles ended up functioning completely. It quickly turned into a full-blown coughing fit as he tried to force the air out of him while he could not get anything down. Harald tried to catch his breath between the fits but he could not get enough oxygen down, and his vision was going dark, his head was spinning and he could feel cold hands on him and his mates voice trying to calm him down. But he could not, his voice sounded like he was miles away and he was inside at a bowl at the same time. He was rolled onto his side as blood started to sip out of his mouth, only for it to cover his chin and chest with each new cough.
But he could not breathe.
Panic gripped Loki as he scooped up his mate in his arms and pulled himself behind him so that his back was to his chest. His arms were tightly wrapped around the shaking body that was desperately trying to get air, but with each breath his throat was filled with blood that now was bubbling from his mouth. Somewhere to the side Loki could see others trying to help, holding out a towel to soak up the blood, having potions and water ready to soothe his little mate. But Loki turned it all out.
He put his hand against Harald's throat. Loki could feel the Adam's apple desperately sinking up and down and the wildly pounding pulse beat against his fingers when the coughing tore at Harald, but nothin got down thanks to the blood. He forced his magic to focus on banishing only the blood that closed his airways and instantly Harald could breathe again . He drew in several painfully deep breaths as he was still struggling with the blood coming back up fast. It was like a significant vessel in his lungs had broken.
Loki's grip around Harald's neck was unyielding, infused with a fierce determination. Each time the suffocating sensation of drowning engulfed Harald, it vanished just as swiftly, leaving him gasping for air. Every ragged breath he managed to draw burned like molten fire through his frail body.
Loki held him firmly, propped against his chest, as Harald inclined his head slightly, allowing his forehead to rest against Loki's neck. Loki could feel the laborious breaths his fragile mate managed to take, not only from the faint puffs of air ghosting over his sweat-slicked throat but also where his hand still pressed against Harald's neck. Each breath was strained and agonizingly light, yet they were there, and he was still alive.
Loki hadn't realized the extent of his own trembling until he felt a faint, almost ghostly touch on the hand that gently encircled Harald's neck. He attempted to open his eyes, but his vision remained a blurred and unfocused haze, no matter how much he blinked. The icy hand brushed against his cheek, and only then did he realize that it was tears obscuring his sight.
Despite the weakness in his grasp, Harald managed to entwine their fingers, desperately needing to hold onto that connection, however fragile it might be. It was a small gesture but it meant everything to Loki in that moment. To know that even in this terrifying situation, Harald still trusted him and sought comfort in him.
Harald's coughing had subsided for now but he was still struggling to breathe properly. His body trembled with fear and exhaustion as Loki held him close. He could feel Loki's heartbeat against his back and it gave him some sense of calm amidst the chaos.
Loki felt a surge of protectiveness towards Harald at that moment. He wanted nothing more than to make sure his mate was safe and well.
Harald's head spun as if caught in a relentless storm. Each labored breath dragged him back to the present, each one more difficult than the last. He could feel Loki's arms wrapped tightly around his trembling form, his grip firm and unyielding. It was a silent vow, a promise that no one else would lay a hand on his soulmate now.
Harald's lips parted in an attempt to speak, but no words emerged, only a strangled, choking sound that echoed his struggle. His chest heaved with each raspy breath as he leaned heavily against Loki's chest for support. Harald's lips parted in an attempt to speak, but no words emerged, only a strangled, choking sound that echoed his struggle.
No, no, no. Loki struggled to stop his trembling, but the words repeated endlessly in his mind. This situation was becoming all too real and distressingly quickly. He couldn't bear the thought of losing him, his precious light. Yet, he couldn't concentrate, couldn't channel his magic without it falling apart. He was powerless, unsure of how to save Harald, his world, his beloved. It seemed he'd be the reason for Harald's demise, simply because he lacked the strength to break the spell.
Harald frantically struggled to draw a breath, but his body refused to even initiate a cough. His eyes widened in terror as a choking, gurgling noise escaped him. Loki hurriedly placed his hand around Harald's neck again, attempting to clear the blood, but unlike before, it proved futile. Each time he cleared some of the fluid, it quickly replenished, and the more blood he removed, the less there was to sustain the rest of Harald's body.
Harald's eyelids began to droop, heavy with exhaustion, as the energy to remain awake seeped away from him like water from a cracked vessel. His entire body slackened against Loki's chest, surrendering to the inevitable pull of oblivion. The last vestiges of vitality drained from his being, leaving behind an empty shell. His chest no longer rose and fell with the rhythm of breath, his heart no longer beat its steady cadence.
"No!" Loki shouted, his voice full of anguish. "No, don't you dare! I won't allow it, do you hear me? You promised it wasn't your time." Both of Loki's hands pressed firmly over Harald's heart, where the magic core resided.
The black, empty sphere wrapped in shimmering purple chains taunted him. He ignored the feeling of Harald's dead weight in his arms and blocked out all the surrounding voices to focus entirely. He unleashed all his remaining magic and energy against the seal, indifferent to the consequences for himself. He relentlessly hurled his power at the chains, repeatedly striking them until he noticed a small crack forming, which expanded more with each attack.
Loki had to push himself to the brink of exhaustion to finally break through the thick layer of magic that encased Harald's magic. But with one final burst of energy, he succeeded. The chains shattered into millions of pieces, freeing Harald from its prison.
Furniture was pushed away harshly at the wave of magic, and windows exploded outwards by the immense force thrown in from both of them. Loki desperately held on to Harald's magical core and drove in his energy, forcing the core to absorb it.
A blinding light erupted from within Harald's chest as his magic surged outward. It seemed to fill every corner of the room before dispersing into tiny sparks that drifted toward Loki like fireflies on a summer night. With each spark that touched him, Loki felt strength and warmth flow back into Harald's body.
Suddenly, Harald's magic surged around them, an overwhelming flood of warmth and satisfaction. Their breaths synchronized perfectly, their magic entwining with an unbreakable force, a shared energy vibrating fiercely through their bodies. It bound them together on a profound level, deeper than anything they had ever experienced. From this moment, they were literally one and the same, fused in an inseparable union.
Loki opened his eyes and blinked to focus. He turned his attention back to Harald and saw that color had returned to his cheeks. Haralds chest rose and fell once again as he took in deep breaths. Slowly but surely, life returned to him. Loki could see his mates black hair moving in the pulsating energy that was still flowing from both of them. He could feel the light but steady breaths against his arms and he thanked the nine that his beloved was still alive.
Tears flowed freely from Loki's eyes as he held onto Harald tightly like a lifeline. "You're alive," he whispered shakily.
However, something seemed off. Loki blinked repeatedly, attempting to clear the dark green from his sight. Yet, it remained. Hesitantly, he relaxed his hold just enough to clearly see what had unexpectedly appeared before him. Though Harald lay limp in his embrace, it was not this that caused his mother to gasp or prompted the fae king to offer a silent prayer in awe.
The real reason was what lay between Loki's chest and Harald's back. He gazed at the enormous feathered wings that spread out majestically from Harald's back. He allowed his magic to envelop the untamed energy that erupted from Harald's body as the wings gently flapped at their side.
From the very beginning, they were soul mates because their magic needed each other for balance. They depended on one another to function. Now, more than ever, he sensed Harald's magic surging like an avalanche. Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks as he managed his partner's magic to prevent it from spiraling out of control. He succeeded. The magic intertwined with his own, like warm, gentle flames that could potentially burst and expand. But he kept it contained, kept Harald secure. Loki murmured endearing words as he kissed Harald's sweat-dampened black hair.
"I knew you could do it" Harald told him with a raspy but smug voice
Loki could not help laughing; luckily, one of them believed that. He was convinced that the stress of the ordeal had given him gray hairs. Unable to respond, Loki felt the weight of his own exhaustion as the tension dissipated. Without any objections, they both slipped into a deep, restorative sleep, utterly drained both physically and magically, yet still alive.
A/N:
It's now it's happening, folks! This is the middle, the turning point, and now we are starting to move towards the avengers ' movie and the present.