The Weakness

11

"Loki!" Thor yelled, running into Odin's chambers. Frigga hugged him.

"I knew you'd return to us." She said. I walked into the doorway unnoticed and went to Odin's bedside.

"Why don't you tell her how you sent the Destroyer to kill our friends, to kill me?" Thor said.

"What?" Frigga asked in shock.

My brothers stood at Odin's sides while I stood at his head.

"Oh well I must have been enforcing Father's last command." Loki said.

"You're a talented liar, brother. Always have been."

"It's good to have you back. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim." Loki said. He raised the staff and fired at Thor, knocking him through the wall.

Loki ran from the room and I went to Frigga. I brought her to sit at Odin's bedside, then ran out the door as well.

I sprinted towards the Bifrost(which was a hell of a lot of work in armor) and found Loki activating it.

"Loki!" I yelled. He turned and looked past me.

"You can't stop it. The Bifrost will build until it rips Jotunheim apart." Loki said. I looked behind me to see Thor.

Stepping between the two, I faced Thor. "Don't you want Jotunheim gone?" I asked. "You said it yourself. They'll try again. Laufey almost killed father!" Thor tossed me aside and I hit my head on the wall of the Bifrost. Loki threw Thor back and he got to his feet again.

"Why have you done this?" I heard Thor ask. I shakily got to my feet and drew one of my swords.

"To prove to father that I am a worthy son!" Loki snapped. I shook the dizziness from my head and watched silently.

"When he wakes, I will have saved his life." Loki said. "I will have destroyed that race of monsters, and I will be the true heir to the throne!"

"You can't kill an entire race." Thor said.

"Why not?" Loki laughed dryly. "And what is this newfound love for the Frost Giants?" He stepped down and I backed into the wall of the Bifrost. Loki wasn't Loki. He was blinded by jealousy. Of Thor.

"You could've killed them all with your bare hands."

"I've changed."

"So have I." Loki hit Thor across the face with his staff. "Now fight me."I saw Thor slide across the floor and winced.

"Loki! Stop this!" I yelled. He ignored me.

"I never wanted the throne!" Loki yelled bitterly. "I only ever wanted to be your equal."

"I will not fight you, brother!" Thor yelled.

"I'm not your brother." Loki said. "I never was."

"Loki, this is madness." A memory flashed in my head, Loki telling Thor the exact line.

"Is it madness? Is it? IS IT?" Loki hissed. "Come on what happened to you on earth that turned you so soft? Don't tell me it was that woman?!" He nearly punched the words out. I stared at my brother silently. Thor did the same.

"Oh. It was!" Loki said. "Well maybe, when we're finished here, I'll pay her a visit myself!"

Thor and Loki flew at each other, their weapons colliding in a flash of sparks. I screamed as they fought it out, Loki slashing at Thor while he tried to regain his feet. When he did, their weapons clanged against each other, banging and making a load of noise. I crept along the wall of the Bifrost, trying to reach my siblings.

Thor slid across the floor again and Loki stabbed at his head. Thor moved just in time, causing Loki's staff to get stick in the floor. Loki swung around it, trying to kick at Thor.

Thor threw Loki across the room and flew after him. A beam of light collided with Mjolnir and they went sailing out into the bridge.

I ran after them, weaving under the frozen Bifrost. I saw Loki hanging over the side of the bridge and Thor standing above him. I ran towards them, but Thor pushed me back. I fingered the handle of one of my swords, glaring at Thor, but let it go and released my grip.

All of a sudden, Loki appeared behind Thor. He glanced at me, then turned to Thor and laughed, knocking him to the ground.

Loki multiplied and surrounded Thor. I struggled to get through them, but I couldn't.

"ENOUGH!" Thor yelled. Lightning destroyed all of the doubles and Loki landed on his back. He didn't get up. I ran over to him as Thor walked back to the Bifrost. I found my brother lying with Mjolinir placed on his chest.

I watched him struggle, and fail, to get up. He stared at me, his eyes filled with jealously, anger, and something else I couldn't decipher. His eyes moved from mine.

"Look at you." Loki called weakly. "The mighty Thor. With all your strength, and what good does it do you now, huh?" Loki cried out in pain and I knelt by his side. His breathing was ragged as he yelled. "You hear me brother?!? There's nothing you can do!" Mjolnir flew off of Loki's chest and landed in Thor's hand.

He slammed it into the bridge.

I watched, horrified, as he attempted to break away the Bifrost. Loki rose to a sitting position.

"What're you doing?" Loki yelled. "If you destroy the bridge you'll never see her again!" Thor continued to smash the bridge.

"Thor, stop and think!" I yelled. "Without the Bifrost, you can't protect her!" Loki got to his feet and approached Thor.

"Forgive me, Jane." Thor said. Loki jumped as he was striking.

A flash, and the force of a thousand armies slammed into me. I flew back and hit the bridge with great force, knocking the wind out of me. I got to my feet shakily and saw Odin standing at the broken edge of the bridge.

I ran to him and slid the last few feet on my knees. Looking down, I saw Thor and Loki dangling above an abyss.

Loki's eyes met mine. That's when I knew what that emotion was in his eyes.

"I could've done it, Father!" Loki said helplessly. His eyes moved away. "I could've done it! For you! For all of us." His eyes were filled with hurt now.

"No, Loki." Odin said. Loki narrowed his eyes and muttered something. A tear fell from my face as I stretched my arm towards my brothers.

"Loki, no-"

Loki let go of the staff.

"NOOOOO!"

I stared down. "Loki!" I screamed. "Loki!!! I...." My words trailed off and I collapsed into myself.

"No." I heard the soft word uttered by my 'father'. Hate filled my senses, and was quickly replaced by grief.

"LOKI!" I screamed, tears pouring down my face. "You swore you'd never leave me!!!!"

"Erin. Come, we must leave." Thor's voice said. I looked up at him, and for a split second, Loki's face replaced his. That emotion in his eyes. The last line he mumbled.

"I love you."

I never got to tell him. I ran to the edge and looked over the side. "I love you too." I said softly. Tears dripped down my face. I heard Thor fly away.

"Stop!" Odin yelled. I turned to him.

"Stop what?" I hissed. Odin looked at the ground where I stood. I glanced down. Ice had formed, and was spreading.

"That."

I glared up at the Allfather. "Why? Still want to control me? That's not happening anymore, father." I punched out the last word.

"I know. Because you will not be here to do it." Odin said. I crinkled my eyebrows, but Odin picked up his staff and touched the end to my chest.

"I, Odin Allfather, hereby send you to Midguard." He looked me directly in the eye. "You will learn, goddess of control." His face shimmered, and vanished. Along with everything else.