Silenced (A Loki fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Leidi

It's been 2 days. Tomorrow is the last day of my life. Tomorrow, I die a shameful death. For aiding a prisoner.

A fanfare sounds as the All-Father enters the room, with the queen on his arm. They look solemn.

I stand up. I may be a prisoner, but I do not respect them any less.

I suddenly become aware of the way I look. I'm wearing the green tunic from when I was taken away. It's torn and falls off of my shoulder. My hair is greasy and tangled. My green eyes are bloodshot. My lips are cracked. I haven't showered in a while.

The queen smiles warmly at me. Probably to reassure me. To assure me that it will be fine.

But it won't. I'm going to die. I'm gonna be killed publicly. I'm never going to see Loki again. I'll never see Volstagg or Hogun or Fandral or Sif or Thor.

Thor. He's done so much for me. He was my first friend. He asked nothing of me. He kept my jotunn secret. He let me visit Loki. He introduced me to an earth desert called 'poptarts'.

And what do I do? I refused to listen to him. I brought up the touchy subject of Loki in front of him. At the breakfast table.

The cell bars lift themselves. The queen motions for me to come out. I do as she says and hesitantly approach them.

What if they've moved up my execution? What if this is the end? What if today is the day of my death?

The queen rests a hand on the top of my filthy head. She doesn't pull it back even though I know she's disgusted by the amount of grease.

"You are not going to be executed," I nearly fall over with relief. "I'm sorry, what?" I ask.

Why are they letting me go? I thought I was a traitor.

"You've done Loki good over the past few weeks. I see a small change in him," the queen says, "We've decided to release him into your care. I trust that you will care for him."

I smile a little. I wasn't gonna die. I was given a second chance. And on top of that, Loki will be released.

"You may go see him and free him of his bonds," the All-Father mumbles. He must not be entirely happy with the decision.

I bow respectfully, but the queen lifts me from my position. "Go to him," she whispers.

I nod and head towards Loki's cell.

____________________________________

I run down the stairs, happier than I'd ever been in my life. I don't hesitate out of fear of giving the All-Father the chance to change his mind.

Loki sits, leaning on he wall. Tears stream from his face. The guards open the cell and let me in. He looks up and his sadness seems to end.

He gets up and folds me into his arms, stroking my greasy hair. His silent tears still streaming. I'd hug back, but my arms are pinned to my sides.

"Loki," I say, trying to escape his vice-like grip. He releases me immediately. I brush the tears from his face, some of my own forming.

I was gonna be dead. Then I wasn't. It was too fast. He wipes my tears in return. He cups my face with his hands. His eyes ask so many questions, yet they are silent.

I take his face in my hand and pull it down, towards me, pulling out a pair of scissors. I was going to do it with a dagger, but this is easier.

He closes his eyes and relaxes, sitting down. I poke the scissors under the first string. I gently begin pulling at the thread.

Loki winces every time the thread passed through his lips. The reverse of sealing them. I mutter an apology every time he recoils in pain.

After a few minutes or so, the string is finally out. "Leidi," he says. The first thing he said out loud since he was silenced.

His lips are stained with blood and so are my hands. As he spoke, some of the blood covered his teeth.

He leaned forward and buried his head in he crook of my neck. I put my arms around him. "Thank you," he says.

"Don't thank me. I was merely doing my job as a friend," I reply softly.

"It is my honor to be your friend, Leidi," he said. "And I you, Loki," I say.