Roots of Eternity

Chapter 38 - Loki's Last Trick

The wind howled as we made our way deeper into Malekith's stronghold. The oppressive air of Svartalfheim weighed heavily on my chest, making every breath feel labored. Loki led the way with his usual nonchalance, while Thor stayed close by my side, his ever-watchful eyes darting between the shadows.

"Are you sure you're alright, Helena?" Thor asked, his voice gentle yet firm. He always did that—tried to sound like a warrior but couldn't help letting his concern for me slip through.

I nodded, though I still felt the strain from conjuring the vines to hold off Malekith's forces. "I'm fine, Thor. I can handle it."

Thor frowned, his protective instinct in full force. "You don't need to push yourself so hard. There's no shame in stepping back."

Loki, overhearing, rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, please, Thor. She's not made of glass. Let the girl breathe for once."

Thor shot him a glare, but I stepped in before things could escalate. "I'm not fragile, Thor. I'm not a child anymore."

Thor paused, his lips pressed into a thin line. I knew he still saw me as his little sister, someone who needed to be shielded from the horrors of war. But this time, I was determined to prove him wrong.

"We're almost there," Loki said smoothly, interrupting the tense moment. His voice was calm, too calm for the chaos surrounding us. "Malekith will have the Aether nearby. I'd wager he won't be alone."

Thor turned to Loki, his expression hard and unyielding. "What are you playing at, Loki? You know this isn't just about you."

Loki's smirk faded slightly, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief moment before returning to Thor. "I'm not playing at anything, brother. I want Malekith dead as much as you do."

Thor's gaze hardened, clearly not convinced, but he let it go, turning his attention back to the task at hand. "Then let's end this."

We moved in silence for a while, the tension thick between the three of us. Loki had always been a mystery, a mix of charm and deceit that made it impossible to fully trust him. Even now, after everything, I couldn't be sure of his true motives. But I had seen a glimpse of something real in him when we lost Frigga. He had felt the loss, too. Whether or not he would admit it, he cared in his own way.

Finally, we reached the heart of the stronghold, where Malekith stood before the Aether, the dark energy swirling around him in a menacing cloud. He looked up as we approached, his cold, lifeless eyes narrowing in recognition.

"Thor, Odinson," Malekith said, his voice like ice. "Come to die with your realm, have you?"

Thor stepped forward, Mjolnir crackling with electricity. "Your fight is with me, Malekith. Leave Asgard out of this."

Malekith's lips curled into a sneer. "Asgard will fall. Just as all realms will fall to the power of the Aether."

Before Thor could respond, Loki stepped forward, his usual smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, Malekith, always so dramatic. You think the Aether will bring you the power you seek? You're more foolish than I thought."

Malekith's eyes flicked to Loki, and for a moment, I could see the calculation in his gaze. He knew Loki—knew that he was a trickster. But even Malekith couldn't predict what Loki would do next.

"I grow tired of your games, Loki," Malekith said coldly.

Loki tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Oh, but my games are just beginning."

Before any of us could react, Loki raised his hand and sent a blast of magic toward Thor, hitting him square in the chest. Thor staggered back, caught off guard, and I cried out, rushing to his side.

"Loki, what are you doing?" I shouted, my voice shaking with shock and betrayal.

Thor struggled to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. "Loki!"

Loki smirked, but there was something different in his eyes—something sad. "Sorry, brother. But I've always been unpredictable, haven't I?"

I felt my heart drop as Loki stepped forward, aligning himself with Malekith. I couldn't believe it. After everything, after all the times I had wanted to believe he could change, he was betraying us again.

"Loki, don't do this!" I pleaded, my voice breaking. "You don't have to side with him. You're not like this."

Loki's gaze flickered, but he didn't respond to me. Instead, he turned to Malekith, his smirk still in place. "Do what you need to do, Malekith. I'll deal with Thor."

Malekith's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he turned back to the Aether. Thor stood beside me, his fists clenched so tightly around Mjolnir that I could hear the leather of the handle creaking. "This ends now," Thor growled.

But just as Malekith reached for the Aether, Loki struck. In a blur of motion, he turned on Malekith, sending a bolt of magic into the Dark Elf's back, catching him off guard.

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, everything froze. Malekith staggered, caught off guard by Loki's betrayal. The Dark Elf turned, eyes blazing with fury, but it was too late. Thor leaped into action, sending Mjolnir crashing into Malekith's chest with a deafening crack of thunder.

The Aether swirled wildly, the dark energy lashing out in every direction. Loki, now revealed as our ally once more, was caught in the chaos. I watched in horror as a blast of energy struck him, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Loki!" I screamed, running toward him. I could hear Thor shouting behind me, but all I could think about was Loki, lying there, motionless.

I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands shaking as I reached out to touch his face. His eyes fluttered open, and for the first time, there was no smirk, no sarcasm—just pain.

"Helena," he whispered, his voice weak. "I... I told you I'd be unpredictable."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I shook my head, refusing to believe what was happening. "Don't. Don't you dare leave me, Loki. Not like this."

Loki's lips twitched into a faint smile. "It's alright, little sister. I made my choice."

Thor knelt beside me, his face a mixture of grief and anger. "Why, Loki? Why betray him only to save us?"

Loki's eyes flickered between us, and for a moment, the mask he always wore slipped away. "Because... because I couldn't let him win. Not after everything."

"Loki," I choked, tears spilling down my cheeks. "You can't leave. We... we need you."

Loki's hand reached up, brushing a strand of my grass-green hair away from my face. "You're strong, Helena. Stronger than you know. Don't let them make you think otherwise."

I held his hand, squeezing it tightly, refusing to let go. "Loki, please."

But he only smiled—a soft, sad smile—and his eyes drifted closed, the life fading from him as his hand slipped from mine.

I sobbed, my heart breaking all over again. First Frigga, now Loki. The pain was unbearable, and I felt Thor's arm wrap around me as he pulled me into a tight embrace, shielding me from the world as I cried.

Thor's voice was hoarse as he spoke. "He made his choice, Helena. He saved us. He saved you."

I nodded, though the grief in my chest made it hard to breathe. Loki was gone, and though he had died a hero, the loss was almost too much to bear.

We had won the battle, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we had lost something far greater.