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Chapter Text

"Men in anger strike those who wish them best."-Shakespeare

It had been two days since his thrashing.

Two days of feeling anger and shame.

Two days since he last saw their plan's maker.

   Two days of waiting for the truth. 

                                                            An apology maybe? For not knowing this would happen?                                                                                                                     

It never came.

The rightful king of Asgard grit his teeth and raised his fisted hand.

The mahogany door in front of him shined with an unnatural green glow and Thor remembered the protection runes and spells that Loki had most likely warded his room with.

Even in his anger, he wouldn't want to trip those traps.

Instead, he raised his voice and shouted, "LOKI! OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW!"

The door swung open quietly and Thor stepped in. Loki was stretched like a cat on his bed and was reading one of the countless volumes he had in his chambers. Thor snarled and that was enough to break him out of the reading enhanced stupor he had placed himself in. Probably sensing his mood, Loki stood up, hands put up in a placating manner.

"Whatever is the matter brother?"

"It has been two days since Baldur humiliated me in front of the people who were once my loyalest companions."

"It's 'most loyal' oaf and yes I'm aware. What do you want me to do? Apologize for not predicting this? I'm not a witch you know, I can't see the future."

"Then why do you dress like one? Anyways, you told me that you had to something. To Baldur. While I was the one "punished" for no reason, you were probably sleeping comfortably in your rooms!"

"DO NOT SPEAK WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW! I disguised myself and sneaked something into Baldur's drink while he and his cronies were busy watching you."

"So I was meant to be a distraction then? Of course, I didn't know this it's been two days since we last spoke! I thought my suffering had gone unnoticed."

"Your suffering?! Everything must revolve around you, shouldn't it?"

"ME?! Ever since I came here, it's only been about you! Oh look. I'm the one who was bullied, I'm the one who has a plan, I'm the one who's the only one who should know everything, I'm the one who went mad...Me,me,me!"

"....Bold words from somebody who's more self-centered than anyone I know. It's a wonder how a head that blown-up fit's on your body Thor!"

"I'm not more self-centered!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

Here Loki sighed. He truly wanted to tell Thor everything but the fear of Baldur using his mind tricks on his defenseless brother did not bode well for him. Suddenly, he got an idea.

"Wait. I can show it to you!", He held up his palm and moved forwards, intending to place it on Thor's forehead, but his brother caught his wrist and scowled. Humiliation, anger and grief felt over the past week acting as excellent kindlings to feed the fiery rage that he usually kept controlled.

"No. I trusted you before, even told you everything that happened to me yet you repay me by telling me half-plans and by showing me distrust....Don't deny it! I've gotten better at reading you. Until you can prove your claims to me and show me that your "brilliant" concoction worked, I will not assist you in your plans."

He turned around and stalked away, missing the stunned yet slightly awed look on his brother's face.

Loki paced in his chambers.

He had assumed that his half-plan would be enough to keep Thor content, but he clearly underestimated his brother.

He smiled a bittersweet smile. Time to make a list.

• Good- If Loki underestimated Thor, Baldur would've too. 
• Bad- He had told Thor that he had more evidence against Baldur but that was a lie. Centuries of searching only told him about the dark power that someone incredibly powerful had given Baldur, for an exchange of course.
• Good- Loki now was more powerful and if Thor's claims were correct, he too was now more powerful.
• Bad- Thor will not help him right now.
• Good- His brew was working and already he could sense the slight unease his people now slowly felt towards Baldur.
• Bad- Thor did not trust in his abilities.

Loki shook his head ruefully. All of his problems lay with one sulking, god of thunder. He couldn't fathom why his approval meant so much to him. 

Perhaps of that tiny bubble of hope he felt when he thought that perhaps Thor would not want to leave this dimension. If only.

He needed to clear his head. He looked back at the open balcony door and grinned. 

His fingers splayed and the door opened completely. He ran and then...

He jumped.

A man plummeted from the balcony, till he was out of view.

A raven rose instead, green eyes glowing.

But that was just a trick of the light. But there was a possibility that maybe, just maybe....

It was magic. 

The water in the fountain bubbled happily, it's neverending cycle not disturbed by the calloused hand threading its fingers through it.

Thor smiled as he took in the sight of his mother's gardens, the one that only a few had access to.

A red-haired gardner walked by him. He thought of his last conversation; he shouldn't have been so hard on his brother but he was frustrated that Loki did not trust him enough to tell him the truth and that he was being fed half-truths instead.

He thought of what he said about the brew that Loki had slipped into Baldur's drink. Thor now desperately wanted to check whether it was working and that all their scheming hadn't been for nothing.

His mind caught up with him and he suddenly stood up, startling the gardner near him.

It was a young red-haired woman, one who hastily bowed at him when he stood.

"My prince."

"Do not worry...Ah, what is your good name?"

"L-Lily your majesty. Like the purple flowers that grow here."

Thor didn't waste anytime on pleasantries.

"Lily, what do you have to say about the crown prince? Speak your mind, there is no one to punish you here."

Lily Grotdottir Froze.

Holy Norns! The Prince wants to listen to me!? Is this a trap? Prince Baldur is an heir worthy of the throne, he is so charismatic and all the girls fancy him. But, prince Thor wants something different. Baldur has been acting strangely...I never saw it! No one deserves the way he insults them, not even prince Loki. Oh Gods, prince Thor looks very handsome and princely...STOP IT! He's looking at me, what do I do?

Thor was a little concerned when the girl zoned out on him. Trying not to look awkward, he waved his hand in front of her vacant face.

Lily instantly awakened, stuttering apologies to the prince.

He smiled and waved them aside and then looked at with eager eyes.

Lily took a deep breath and the quite frank woman started speaking,

"Prince Baldur is charming and charismatic but I have noticed the way he leers at any woman that catches his fancy, even when his betrothed is standing next to him. He also seems quite angry sometimes and sneers at his followers and friends. The one time I talked to him I-"

Here she paused. Her mind suddenly blanked and her eyes misted over.

Thor wanted to groan from frustration and jump with joy.

He finally saw the wretched dark power in action again and saw how Lily managed to voice her doubts when midway, the mist created a sheen on her eyes. It was better than nothing. Loki's concoction was working!

He had to go tell his brother! 

That's when he heard the harsh, grating alarm call of unmistakenly, a raven.

With unexplainable dread, he followed it.

Loki was gliding over the chapel, his black folded when he decided to dive and loop.

His sharp sight picked out the individual people that littered the central plaza at this hour but he ignored them.

He let out a whoop of excitement and it came out as a lengthy caw.

He suddenly swooped down and made his way to the forest behind the palace, the one place where silence and solace were ensured. 

That is, unless half a dozen invisible would-be abductors stomped their way into the forest. Right where Loki was headed.

Fandral was not pleased.

His friend, the crown prince, Baldur had given him and other five warriors the job to go into the forest and do what?

Capture the most powerful seidr user in the nine realms. The one who could teleport far away from them after hearing them from miles away and who could turn them all into ducks while doing said activities.

When he voiced his doubts to Baldur, the prince was a little shocked that Fandral did not agree to his plan. He even looked...Worried.

The plan? To capture Loki and use a potion on him to erase him from the mind of every creature in the universe.

Fandral was deeply disturbed and wondered where Baldur even had such a mixture made. For reasons that escaped him, he agreed anyway.

The only mage user in their group was a twitchy, noble's son, an apprentice in magic. They had brought him along to shield them from Loki and also because he had probably the only runes and stones that could hold Loki long enough for them to administer the potion.

Fandral was becoming less pleased with his friend by the second.

The apprentice suddenly stopped. His eyes closed before jolting open.

"F-Fandral! The Pr-Prince is there.", He pointed at the sky where a blackbird flew all alone. Everyone squinted at the blur that was now lazily making its way to the forest. Right where they were standing.

Sif, his second in comand hissed and instructed everybody to hide in the shrubbery, in a loose ring.

The raven flew down and morphed into the young prince.

Unaware that the forest hid a less than welcome party for him.

Loki knew that something was wrong.

His seidr was screaming at him, urging him to run away.

But the prince was no coward. Daggers slipped into his hands, unnoticed as he turned in a circle, chanting under his breath.

Something flickered in his vision. He saw six, no, five people, armed, crouching behind the overgrown shrubs.

He also saw that arrow aimed at him. He saw when it let loose.

Fierro Floydsons eyes widened when his, the best archer in Asgard's, arrow missed its target.

The brat was just standing there, not even looking smug, just picking at his nails with his cursed daggers.

Fierro growled deep in his throat but Fandral shushed him. That sound was all Loki needed. Loki grinned and everyone shuddered.

The next thing Fierro knew, he was crying out in pain as a dagger embedded itself into his shoulder.

Everyone took that as an act of war and charged, only a meek apprentice and an immobile archer left in their dust.

All warriors jumped at him but he just stood there.

Sif moved first, bringing the flat of her sword upon his head with such force, that it would have rendered him unconscious.

A lazy flick of his hand and she was thrown back, screaming curses at him when she stuck to a tree, unable to move.

Two warriors, one male, one female, presumably siblings charged at him from opposite sides. Fandral was lurking near Sif, unsuccessfully trying to pry her out of its bark.

The girl swung low while her brother stabbed forwards, aiming for Loki's unprotected flank. He jumped and twirled as if dancing while they fell flat on their faces. The boy had accidentally stabbed his own arm when landing. The girl growled, sprung up and dropped her sword, her hand going for a mace strapped to her hip. 

Loki smirked and wiggled his fingers at her in a come hither motion. Each surveyed each other, one in a bored manner while the other practically glared.

Everyone had forgotten about the mage still hidden in the bushes.

He aimed his rune stones at the green-clad figure prowling his prey in the middle of the forest's clearing.

He let go.

Loki felt rather than saw the runes charging through the air at his back.

'How dishonorable', He bared his teeth and lept.

The girl staggered back but Loki didn't reach her. A small, black blur twisted out of the way and flapped its wings furiously trying to get away but it wasn't to be.

Something tugged at him, and he wiggled desperately, cursing his need for theater and drama at a crucial moment.

Suddenly, glowing threads surrounded him: forming in midair as he struggled to get away from the blackhole- like effect sucking him in. The threads glowed brighter and he felt tired, waned and his body began flying backward in earnest. A chuckle brought him out of his panic as the bushes moved aside and a man in purple robes stepped out, joining Fandral and the other girl as they regarded him curiously with silent mirth in their eyes but also...With slight pity and guilt.

He strained himself and finally opened his beak, letting out a shrill

By the nine Thor, for once in your life listen to me!

The net pulled at him, burning him and as his raven form shed, Loki could only watch as three of Baldur's gang moved in upon him, in mimicry of him stalking his prey and his eyes closed, leaden with the runes that burned his skin.

 Thor...Please.

Thor-an angry, overprotective brother who trusted his instincts chose that moment to appear at the forest's clearing.

He only had to see the limp figure in a glowing net and the three figures around it to understand. And to go full lightning.

Finally, some people to take out his anger on.

Even without Mjolnir humming in his hands, Thor made quick work of those who he found conscious. He made sure that the mage had a proper black eye.

He hurried to the net. Loki was writhing in it although his eyes were closed.

Thor lifted the net and tossed it somewhere. Loki's eyes snapped open the second the net was removed. He jolted up and had summoned throwing knives from somewhere.

Thor held up his hands, backing away for good measure.

                "I need more time."

                                                "You were given everything you wanted."

"Please! Those incompetent fools couldn't administer the potion." 

                                                "Even now the brothers live. I wanted the Jotun and yet another powerful person appears,                                                         protecting him!"

"Give me another chance! Asgardia is locked away, we can lock Thor away too!                                                                                     Or better yet, I-I can use Arjuna's arrow! It will always find its target and I can use it right now! T-To kill Thor."

                                                 "...Use it quickly then little prince. The sorcerer crafts an escape route."

"Happy now?", Grumbled Loki.

In front of them, the air shimmered and if Thor squinted, he could see the faint outline of Midgardian skyscrapers and buildings.

He laughed and playfully punched Loki's arm.

...Or he would have if a silver arrow didn't protrude from his chest. That was odd. Huh. He couldn't feel anything.

The last thing he saw before drifting off was the silent shout that left his brother's mouth

 the red that stained the grass and the silver, glinting at him in the moonlight.

She paced her cell, hands going down to claw at her manacles. She looked desperately at the three women who sat next to her. One wove serenely. One spun golden and green and red and black threads. One held up scissors.

The weaver shook her head.

"Not yet."