Silenced (A Loki fanfiction)

Chapter 23

Leidi

Malekith grins at us once the Aether is inside of him, "This power, it's incredible. It's more than that of what it was created with." He looks at me and steps forward, "You, my child, have made a futile attempt to make a fool of me. I believe a punishment is in order."

Loki shoves me behind him roughly. Malekith clicks his tongue, "Leidi, dear, you've found yourself a bodyguard. Or did you two meet in a brothel? Is he your new lover?" My eyes widen at his lie. Well not completely. But he's much more than that.

Unfortunately, Loki doesn't know that. He looks at me, confused, "What is he talking about? Your new lover? New?" I pinch the bridge of my nose, "Loki, he's just trying to get in your head." I hate lying to him.

Malekith motions to his army before entering his own ship. Half of the soldiers go with him. Half stay behind with Algrim.

"Loki," I say, "I need a weapon, love." "Which love am I?" He says making a sword appear out of thin air. "Oh dear, do you really buy into what he says? You put more faith in Malekith the Accursed than you do me? Loki," tears begin forming in my eyes.

He doesn't meet my eyes before shoving the sword at me roughly, cutting my finger slightly. I hiss and pull my finger away. Loki turns and grabs my hand, "I'm so sorry, Leidi. I've been awful haven't I?"

I remain silent. "If I don't make it," Loki starts. I cover his mouth with my hand, "don't ever say that. Nothing will happen to you." He grabs my hand and plants a kiss on my knuckles, before turning to the approaching mob of elves.

The elves run towards us, at arms. The battle is short. The elves are easily taken down. Thor is knocked down by Algrim, who begins pounding him into the ground. I'm about to interfere, when Loki goes up behind him and stabs one of the elves' swords through his chest, the blade poking out visible.

The elf angrily turns to Loki, but before he can react, I shut my eyes and swing my sword in his direction, hearing a horrific slicing noise. I open one eye just in time to see Algrim's head fall off of his body and land on the ground with an audible thud. His body crumples shortly after.

Loki looks at me with shock, but I don't pay much attention. I'm too horrified by my own handiwork. The sword falls from my hand and tears stream down my face. Loki grabs my hand reassuringly. I turn and bury my head in his chest.

"Shsh. It's alright," he whispers. "No it's not," I sob, "I just beheaded someone! Killing people is one thing, but decapitating? I feel horrible." "You didn't mean to," he says softly. I pull back, "Yes I did and that's why it's so awful. He had every intention of harming you."

Loki says nothing. Silent tears slip from his eyes. "Uhm, if you two are done, we still have an, um, elf problem," Thor clears his throat.

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By the time we get to Midgard, the convergence has already begun. Jane and her scientist friends plotted the middle of the convergence.

It's beautiful, if it weren't for the fact that this may be the end of the world. Thor holds off the army while me and Loki and I try getting closer to Malekith.

An army of elves overwhelm us. "Go Leidi! I'll hold them off!" Loki yells, taking out the elves. I nod and run toward Malekith. He lifts his arm toward the aligning realms.

I don't waste time, tackling Malekith to the ground. He swings his arms at me, landing one hit square in my jaw. I land a punch in his face. Then two and three and four. I keep punching him until blood drips down his chin.

He pushes my shoulders and knocks me off of him. I struggle to get up, and when I do, Malekith wraps his pale fingers around my neck, lifting my feet off the ground. I kick at him uselessly and vision starts going black at the edges. I gasp for air.

"AETHER!!" I scream not knowing what else to do, "I'M SORRY! SORRY I ABANDONED YOU! I'M SORRY!" Malekith looks utterly confused before saying, "Do you really mean it? We can be together?" His voice is warped, just as the Aether's voice was. "YES, AETHER! I REALLY MEAN IT!" I shout. Tears streak my face. Malekith releases me before holding his head in pain.

He lets out a blood curdling scream. I back away slightly. He grabs my ankle and I fall, hitting my head on the hard Midgardian ground. I cry out in pain. "Do not hurt her!" But this time it isn't Loki. He's far too occupied with the army. The voice came from Malekith.

The Aether forces itself out of his body and back in. Malekith screams in agony. "Everything I did, I did for you. Goodbye, Leidi," the Aether's voice rings out one final time before Malekith disintegrates. And the Aether goes with him. I get up slowly, and tears flow freely.

Malekith is gone. And so it the Aether. It died, protecting me. I back away from where Malekith once stood. I back into Loki's chest. His hands grip my shoulders. I turn and throw my arms around. I sob loudly, sounding like a dying bilgesnipe.

Loki strokes my hair gently whispering reassuring words. "We won," he says softly. "I know," I mumble against his armor.

Thor and Jane come running, and they join the embrace. There is silence between us. "You've done great, Leidi. We're proud of you," Thor puts his hands on my shoulder. I smile halfheartedly. "Well what do you do when you've seen the convergence and saved the Nine Realms?" Jane says.

"What?" I say. "You celebrate!" Thor exclaims. Loki chuckles and shakes his head, "Are we going hunting?" "No, my brother, we are going to Jane's home, to try some Midgardian traditions."

I wrinkle my nose, "We're going to live like Midgardians?" "Yes, we are," Thor says, "Don't worry, it's not bad." Loki and I exchange a glance and I shrug. "Why not?"