Fix You (Loki Romance)

Chapter 19

You guys are gonna love this chapter. I can feel it already.

------------

Loki's POV

The door vibrated with the force of Thor's knocking. Loki opened his eyes and groaned, rolling out of bed. Ebony had begun her training in reformation yesterday. She had been so excited and he had just been happy to see someone as interested as he was. They'd stayed up late and he was suffering the consequences now. He trudged to the door and pulled it open. Thor smiled down at his bleary eyed brother. "Will you be ready soon?" Loki nodded and turned to get dressed.

Ebony raised her head and watched him curiously. He dressed and leaned down on the bed. She gave him a quick kiss and a sleepy smile. "Go back to sleep, love." He murmured. "I'll be home a bit late tonight, alright?" She nodded and rolled back under the covers. He closed the door behind him and followed Thor to the stables. Svein ran after him and handed him a small bag of bread and cold meats. Loki thanked the quiet servant and mounted the horse prepared for him. He smiled at a still sleeping Sleipnir and rode out.

They traveled until early afternoon and finally reached their destination. A village to the east had discovered a massive silver deposit not far from them. They were willing to offer it up as part of the economic recovery project but they wanted to be sure there would be specific benefits and securities for themselves.

Thor went as Odin's spokesman, Loki as the level-headed advisor. They suffered through a long day of negotiations and arguments. It was late evening by the time they were back on the road. Loki slumped on his horse's back. He just wanted to go home, take a long bath and go to sleep.

Thor was just as tired so thankfully, he stayed quiet. Loki sighed with relief as they reached the city. He looked around at the shops closing and the people chatting out in the setting sun. Baldr was just opening his tavern as they passed. He smiled sympathetically. Loki waved weakly. Baldr reciprocated the gesture. "Evening, my lords." He said.

"Evening, Navid." They mumbled. They were just about to turn onto the road to the palace when a cry went up in the streets. Loki and Thor turned sharply. A black mist swirled in the middle of the street, shrinking until it formed the image of a man. The figure's features grew apparent as it lunged for Baldr, the first man it saw. It grabbed him by the throat. Thor snapped the reins and charged towards them. Loki slid to the ground and teleported to Baldr's side. The man's brown eyes beheld him with confusion and pain.

The stranger held a small sliver of ice up to Baldr's throat, snarling vivaciously at him. Loki slipped a knife from his sleeve and drove it into the assailant's arm. The ice fell away, melting on the cobblestones. He backed away and the cowl of the hood rose slowly as he glared at Loki. Thor's shout echoed behind them and he rushed the man but he was thrown to the ground with only a flick of the assailant's wrist. The man glided slowly towards Loki.

"You." He said, his voice quivering with barely restrained anger. Loki braced himself and was about to lash out when the man pulled his hood back. A collective gasp went around and Loki found himself staring into a mirror image. The man sneered at him. "You banish me to some dark and unfamiliar realm, take my place, marry my love! You claim my child as your own and fool all of these imbeciles into trusting you. What was your plan? To simply live my life or to destroy it?" Loki stared at his twin, struck dumb. He felt his mind frantically trying to make sense of what it was seeing and hearing. "Answer me!" The twin roared.

Loki's eyes hardened and he tightened his grip on the knife. Whatever this was, whoever this imposter claimed to be, he would not go any farther. "Who are you to say I do these things? You come to my home, attack my people, and then accuse me of this treachery!"