The Infinity Stone

15

The journey back to the Palace, had been rather difficult. The two had a lot they wanted to say, but spoke of nothing. Even so, Loki would not let Aria out of his grasp, he had been extremely clingy today, for him anyway, but even more so now. " Are you okay?" He finally spoke out, his voice sounding rasped from not speaking much before hand. 

" I think, maybe. I don't know." She said, looking at the ground in utter defeat. That had been her first battle, the first time she used her power to that extent, first time seeing a Frost Giant, and killing one at that. All she did know, was that she was exhausted, and wanted to go home. 

" How are you doing?" She inreturn asked him, but was met with silence. Once they were away from prying ears, she would bring up what had happened before between him and the Jotun. 

Obeying the Allfathers command, the two checked in on the warriors, Aria was able to relax a little seeing that they all were healing up nicely. They all sat before an excited fire, still battered and shell-shocked from the events of the day. Hogun began to heal Fandral's wound with healing stones, and Volstagg looked at the skin on his arm. It was healing, but still blackened from the touch of the Frost Giant. Loki watched him, then turned to stare at his own arm, where the Giant too touched him. But instead of meeting the same fate as Volstagg, he was meet with a different one, worse even. 

" You should have seen yourself Aria, the bravest of us all if I had to say. How did manage to ease my burn? It worked wonders! Why have you only used it now?" Volstagg asked, this had actually been the first time any of the four had asked her a direct question. 

" I'm afraid that it's not all wonderful once you hear the mechanics of it all. But I'm glad I was able to aid you." Trying to spare him from further information, she tried to distract him from further questions.
" Oh come on, it can't be any worse than what we saw today." 

She wasn't really in the mood to be tested patience wise, she too was still recovering from the day. " I manipulated your brain into think there was no pain in that arm. I don't use it often, because at times the side effects can be worse than its purpose. Don't worry, you will be fine. Your injury was only minor." As she was giving a brief explanation, she could see his face grow concern, which was why she didn't want to say anything in the first place. 

" Thank you for shielding me when I was impaled." Fandral said, glancing at said wound. Aria not wanting to talk much, only nodded her head so she wouldn't come off as too rude.
" And when we were surrounded with mist." Hogun added. 

" We should have never let him go." I did try to tell you all...

" There was no stopping him," Sif tried reassuring Volstagg.
" There's no point in blaming yourselves," Aria chimed in. 

" At least he's only banished, not dead. Which is what we'd all be if that guard hadn't told Odin where we'd gone," Fandral pointed out, trying to find the good in the situation.
" How did the guard even know?" Volstagg asked no one in particular. Aria glanced at Loki, who still had his eyes glued to his arm.  

" I told him." 

The four looked at Loki, as if he had betrayed all of them. " What?" Fandral spat out in disbelief.
" I told him to go to Odin after we'd left. Though he should be flogged for taking so long." 

" You told the guard?" Volstagg now asked accusingly.
" Stop. If he hadn't we'd all be dead. He saved our lives too," Aria said slightly threateningly. " And Thor's. I had no idea father would banish him for what he did." Loki finished off.

" Loki, you're the only one who can help Thor now. You must go to the Allfather and convince him to change his mind!" Sif pleaded out to him, for him to help bring Thor back from banishment.
  " And if I do, then what? I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He's arrogant. He's reckless. He's dangerous. You saw how he was today. if the what Asgard needs from its king?" The others exchanged glances, feeling torn. They all knew that Loki made several good points. He stood up and left the room.