The warrior swallowed hard. There was no turning back. It was his only chance. His chance to save Loki, and he was not going to miss it. So he stepped closer to the icy throne where Laufey sat, bowed.
- King Laufey!- Fandral's voice cracked.
Laufey eyed him with curiously.- I, ugh, I... I am...- he stuttered.- I'm Fandral of Asgard!- the Warrior licked his dry lips.
- Of Asgard...- Laufey repeated. His lips curled into a grin. The Warrior gulped.- You must be truly desperate to come to me for help...- Laufey said thoughtfully.
Fandral bit his lip; he needed to be very careful. One wrong word and... He took a deep breath, pulling himself together.
- As punishment for his... for his crimes against Midgard Loki Od... Laufeyson... will stand "trial"! After... After that trial your... your son... Loki will be executed.
- My... My... w-what?- Laufey stuttered.
- Your Majesty... He means a lot to me.- Fandral bowed his head.- I- I beg you...
- Enough.- Laufey rose from his throne.
- He's your son! You can't abandon him just like you have abandoned him when he...- the warrior trailed off.- when he...
- Watch your tongue. You are talking to The King!- A shiver ran down Fandral's spine. Norns, he should not have come!
- Please!- he fell to his knees.- You have to help! He... Please! He is your son! I...
- I said, enough. Bring me the tesseract.
- You... You are going to help?- Fandral asked, disbelieving.- You... You really...
- Yes I am.- Laufey said, slowly walking towards Fandral.- No one...- he hissed.-No one dares to touch Loki, as long as I am alive! Neither Odin, nor his spoiled, stupid son. No one will ever hurt Loki.- the steadiness, the calmness in Laufey's voice frightened Fandral.- Bring me the Tesseract!- he demanded.- And then I'll see... I'll see what I can do... Off you go!
- I... Thank you, Your Majesty.- Fandral bowed. "Well it went like clockwork."- he thought, relieved. Almost. Just as he was about to leave Laufey stopped him!
- You said he means a lot to you. Why?-
"Oh, no, there it is!"- Fandral panicked.
- We grew up together... We're friends.- he sighed. Friends! He bit his lower lip.
- Hmm...- Laufey studied his face.- You can leave!- He said after a long silence.- The negotiation might be... deadlocked, due to Odin's stubbornness. At the very best which is... unlikely to happen, Loki will be acquitted!- the Jotun continued.
- And, at worst?- Fandral asked, faintly.
- At worst - the war.- Laufey answered.- Make sure Loki is safe! Make sure he is out of Odin's reach and come back with the tesseract. I'll deal with Odin myself.
[Later. Asgard.]
- Safe, out of Odin's reach. Safe... Safe... Odin's reach. Damn.- Fandral muttered under his breath.- Safe. Out of Odin's...
- Fandral? Where have you been, mate?
- H-Hogun.- he gasped, turning around sharply.- Just needed some... Fresh air!
- Fresh air?- Hogun said, thoughtfully.- Why don't we go to my room? Fandral?
***
- And, where have you been?- he asked, looking at Fandral with concern.- Fan...
- Jotunhiem.- Fandral said, in a hushed voice. No one must hear them.- And I... I went there to... I... I talked to Laufey...
- You did what?!- Hogun hissed and his eyes went wide.- You... What came over you!? W-What are you thinking about?!
- Doesn't matter. Laufey agreed to help. He told me to find a safe place to Loki.- Fandral sighed, heavily.- And bring the Tesseract to Laufey... He said, he'd deal with Odin himself, but where am I even supposed to... to find a safe place? How am I supposed to steal the Tesseract? It is... It's just impossible, to say the least!
- Do you think it's wise to give Laufey...
- What other choice do I have, Hogun?!
- Odin keeps the Tesseract in the vault.- Hogun said with a sigh.- As for the safe place. Midgard; the most logical choice.
- Logical? Loki killed their people, tried to enslave them... It is not logical at all!
And the moment the people of Midgard find out that Loki... That Loki is there...
- The people in Midgard are quite easy-going. Look, if something goes wrong...
If Laufey fails, just before the execution we... you'll take the Tesseract, take Loki and disappear! And in this case... Of all the words! No one will ever find you on Midgard. No one will think you are that dumb. A-and VICTORY! Brilliant, huh?
- It's not too bad!- Fandral said, grimly.
- Fandral! What is it between the two of you?- Hogun asked. Fandral was silent.
- I... I wish I knew!- he said, eventually.
- You have always been terrible when it came to lying.- Hogun said, shaking his head.- You know but you don't have the courage to admit it to yourself. You still love him, don't you?- he smiled weakly.
- I... I don't... I... Well... Maybe. Maybe!
Hogun, whatever I feel, I... I only know, that I don't want Loki to die.- Fandral's voice cracked.- Loki does matter to me! And... it's hard to believe... I can... I can understand Loki's actions, more or less but Thor... Thor, who doted on his baby brother, who was so protective towards him... I can't believe, he's really... Gods!
I... I will go to bed now! Thank's mate!- yet another lie. Fandral wasn't going to sleep, no, he needed to see Loki again...
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FanfictionLoki is sentenced to death. Fandral falls into despair. He cries and yells and begs the All-Father to spare the Trickster. All his efforts are in vain... or are they not?
