My Sweet Flame

Chapter 19. Loss of a Brother, Loss of a Friend

We stepped out of the Bifrost, and Loki immediately took my hands, examining them.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"Yes, Loki, I'm fine. Are you-" I began to answer, but was interrupted by the Allfather.

"Do you realize what you've done? What you've started?"

"I was protecting my home!" Thor told him.

"You cannot even protect your friends! How can you hope to protect the kingdom!" The Allfather fired at him. "Get him to the healing room, Now!" He barked at the Warriors. I then noticed that Fandral was hurt.

"There won't be a kingdom to protect if you are afraid to act." Thor told him, "The Jotuns must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you."

Loki took a deep breath.

"That is pride and vanity talking, not leadership. You've forgotten everything I taught you about a warrior's patience."

"While you wait and be patient, the Nine Realms laugh at us! The old ways are done. You stand giving speeches while Asgard falls." Thor growled at him.

"You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy!" Odin shouted.

"And you are an old man and a fool!" Thor fired back.

The Allfather looked down and his tone softened, "Yes. I was a fool, to think you were ready."

Loki took a few steps forward onto the staircase, "Father-" He pleaded.

Odin made a strange noise and pointed at him menacingly, clearly wanting him to be silent. I grabbed Loki's arm, pulling him back again,

"Loki, don't" I pleaded, barely audible. I wrapped my other arm around his that I had grabbed, clutching him in anticipation of the outcome of the events.

"Thor Odinson." The Allfather began, "You have betrayed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of War."

His voice rose as he picked up his staff and thrust it into the Bifrost. Odin walked down the steps and ripped off a piece of Thor's armor.

"You are unworthy of these realms!"

He ripped Thor's cape from him, "You are unworthy of your title!"

His voice continued to rise, "You are unworthy," He paused, "Of the loved ones you have betrayed."

He turned back the staff which opened the Bifrost. "I now take from you, your power." Mjolnir flew to his hand. I gasped, realizing what the Allfather was going to do.

"In the name of my father," I looked on in horror and sadness as Thor's armor began to dissipate, "and his father, and his father before, I Odin Allfather, Cast You Out!"

A beam of light erupted from Mjolnir, pushing Thor through the air and into the Bifrost.

Loki looked to the Allfather, horror on his face and tears threatening to leave his eyes, as he broke free of my grasp on his arm and ran to the side of the opening. Odin whispered something to the hammer, before hurling it into the Bifrost after him. I felt tears forming in my eyes; I had no urge to stop them as they began to fall.

The Allfather pulled his staff from the Bifrost and left the golden dome without a word.

As the droplets fell down my cheeks, and the sobs began to rack my body, my legs gave out. I dropped to my knees and sat on my feet, sobbing for the loss of one of my closest friends.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I set mine on top of it, grasping it, for I already knew who it belonged to. I stood up, never letting go of Loki's hand, as I swiftly turned to hug him. After a long period of the two of us standing there, wrapped in each others arms and letting go of silent sobs, I pulled away from him.

I took a deep breath as I rested my hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned into my touch. I moved my thumb to wipe the tears from his cheek, and then moved to do the same on the other. I brought my hands down and gave him a short hug. As I pulled away, Loki pulled my face back, connecting his lips with mine. I felt his thumbs wipe the tears from my cheeks and the sides of my eyes. I pulled away from him and opened my eyes.

"Come, we need to see how fare our friends after the battle." I smiled at him as I led him out of the dome and began down the Bifrost. I glanced back at Heimdall, who merely nodded solemnly because of the events who had just taken place. I looked on ahead of us,

"Loki, What are we going to do?" I sighed.