Loki: Storm of Swords

Chapter 74 - The God of Mischief Does Not Kill?

Loki knew the time for his escape had to be now. He could feel the dark magic of Surtur getting closer and stronger. The increase in the Fire Giant's power informed the sorcerer that his minions were arriving. He was getting stronger by the second and Loki had to act before he caused the deaths of everyone who resisted him in Westeros. Loki had to make his escape 'public'. If it did not look like he was rebelling against Daenerys, his scheme would not work. Loki made a show of blasting the door off its hinges. The Unsullied outside turned with their spears in their hands, but Loki just batted the weapons aside. They swung the reverse end, and Loki slid underneath, sending out a wave of magic that tumbled them to the floor, unconscious. Loki stood up and quickly made his way down the hall, conjuring up two knives. Several more Unsullied appeared at the end of the hall and Loki got ready to throw his knives until he realized that he was more likely to kill somebody with those weapons than he was with others. Loki growled at the self-imposed restrictions and made the blades disappear just as the Unsullied charged, their spears pointed right at him. Loki did a running spin flip over them. He landed on the other side of them and slammed his hand on the floor. A thick sheet of ice spread out and their legs went out from under them. Loki was already making another break down the hall, this time seeing Daahrio Naharis and Ser Jorah Mormont between him and his exit.

"Stop there, traitor!" Ser Jorah ordered, his sword pointed at the Hand.

"Wannabe," Loki murmured as he summoned one of his fighting staves. He brought it up in time to stop both Ser Jorah's broad sword, and Daahrio's scimitar.

"Such a shame! I actually liked you," Daahrio commented.

"Don't care," was Loki's retort as he brought his staff up, disconnecting their weapons. He swung around, knocking Ser Jorah to the ground and parrying Daahrio's blade. He finally jabbed up quickly, hitting the Second Son leader right between the eyes with the end of his staff. Daahrio's head snapped back and he fell to the floor, stiff as a board. Loki winced as he imagined the headache he would have when he woke up. He knew Ser Jorah had risen behind him and ducked sliding back behind the knight. When Ser Jorah turned to face him, Loki slammed his stave into his stomach and solar plexus, driving all the air out of him. He hit the ground and Loki stepped over him and Daahrio Naharis. "Protect the queen," he whispered as he kept moving. It was a crack of lightning outside that made Loki stop and he caught sight of Thor. The God of Thunder was standing there, holding Mjolnir, and looking stereotypically confused.

"Loki! What is the meaning of this?" he challenged.

"I thought it was obvious," Loki retorted as he kept his staff lowered, but visible. "I'm not to be accused of a crime I did not commit and condemn my family to shame."

"And I won't let that happen either, but there has to be another way. You cannot flee or that will only make others believe that you are guilty. Don't leave, Loki! Stay! Together, we can-!" Thor started to say before Loki interrupted him.

"Don't you get it?! There is no 'us'! There's only you! There's only ever been you!" Loki screamed back. Thor's brow furrowed and he got a hurt expression on his face.

"Why must you keep bringing this up?" he queried.

"Because it stays relevant," Loki fired back. "Until you admit that it has only been about you all these centuries and confess your own failings as a brother, will I let it drop."

"My failings?"

"Yes, you idiot! Your failings!" Loki yelled, charging and bringing his staff up. Thor knew that it would stand no chance against Mjolnir. But then, Loki knew that too. As Mjolnir collided with the staff and shattered it, Loki had already released it and slid by Thor, a dagger in his hand. Thor staggered, dropping Mjolnir to the ground and clutching his side. Loki stood up from where he had knelt on the floor and blood dripped off the tip of his blade. Thor looked down and saw blood dribbling onto the floor from between his fingers. He turned to look at Loki, a look of pure disbelief on his face.

"How could you do this to me again? Why do you do this to me?" Thor queried as he sank to his knees. Loki took his blade and cleaned the blood off on his sleeve, sheathing it a second later.

"Because you're still the lovable idiot I called brother," Loki answered, and unless Thor was dreaming, he detected a hint of affection there. Thor toppled over and Loki continued on his path. He had just stepped into the courtyard where he was confronted by Daenerys and Drogon and many Unsullied. They all pointed their spears at him and Loki sighed. "What's a guy got to do just to leave?"

"That's just it; I can't let you leave," Daenerys responded and she stepped aside, allowing Drogon to step forward.

If I am indeed Targaryen, Drogon will be incapable of harming me, Loki thought. He advanced a couple of steps, keeping his emerald eyes firmly on the dragon. Drogon bared his fangs and Loki raised his hand towards the beast. "Smell my blood, dragon, and know who I am," Loki said and Drogon took the sniff. Kom til meg, Rhaegal. Søsken din blir frisk (Come to me, Rhaegal. Your sibling is getting fresh), he thought. Drogon withdrew when he sensed the Targaryen blood in Loki's veins just as Rhaegal landed, his tail encircling Loki and roaring at his elder sibling.

"Rhaegal! Stand down!" Daenerys ordered. Loki chuckled as he reached up and stroked Rhaegal's cheek.

"He doesn't answer to you anymore. You might his mother, but I'm his master," Loki said. "Rhaegal! Fly!" Loki commanded as he swung up into the saddle. The dragon breathed fire to drive the Unsullied away and took off with Loki on his back. Daenerys looked to Drogon and the dragon looked back at her.

"My Queen! Shouldn't we pursue?" an Unsullied asked in the Common Tongue.

"No, we cannot. Even if I could catch up to him on Drogon, we would not be able to kill our brothers," she responded. She simply stroked Drogon's snout and closed her eyes. Meanwhile, in the air...

Loki looked down over Kings Landing and sighed. He did not really like informing Daenerys that Rhaegal was entirely in his control, but he supposed she had to find out about it sooner or later. He patted the dragon's neck and whispered, "Jeg beklager, Rhaegal. Jeg vet at hun er din mor, men til slutt må barna vokse opp (I'm sorry, Rhaegal. I know she is your mother, but eventually the children must grow up)." Rhaegal snorted and kept on flying, going to the Bifrost landing site. Where Loki needed to go was not on Westeros.