My Sweet Flame

Chapter 66. Family Reunion

I stood quickly, hearing familiar voices from behind me. Standing before me was Thor and a man whom I recognized as the doctor who saved me after the battle in New York.

"Stephen?" I asked, "Stephen Strange?"

"Hello again Y/N." He smiled.

His face dropped as Loki began to stand.

"You can handle him from here." The Doctor said.

"Yes, of course" Thor shook his hand. "Thank you very much for your help."

"Good luck." He said, glancing Loki.

"Handle me?" Loki said, stepping in front of me.

"Oh, here we go," I mumbled sarcastically.

"Who are you?" He drew his knives.

"Loki...." Thor warned softly.

"You think you're some kind of sorcerer? Don't think for one minute you second-rate -"

"Alright, Bye-Bye." Strange said, throwing the portal our way.

I nodded to Strange with a small smile before stepping through with Thor.

Loki crashed onto the ground on the other side as the sparks dissipated behind us. I turned, surveying the landscape around us. We were on a small plain of the tip of an island. Scanning the distance, I could see a mountain range.

"The Scandinavian Mountains?" I mumbled, "We're in Norway?"

Thor disappeared from my side, walking towards a figure close to the edge.

"Father?" I heard him say.

"Look at this place, it's beautiful." Odin's voice came.

I swiveled at his voice, locking eyes with Loki, who had now stood. I stepped towards him, quickly smoothing back a part of his hair that had fallen to the side. He nodded, both of us with blank expressions, before continuing towards the Allfather.

"Father, it's us." Thor continued.

"My sons," Loki looked over at him, surprised. "I have been waiting for you."

"I know, we've come to take you home."

"Home, yes." Odin replied, looking out at the waters as if in a trance. "Your mother, she calls me." He continued, "Do you hear it?"

"Loki, lift your magic." Thor said, anger swelling within him.

Loki shook his head. This wasn't him. The Allfather chuckled.

"Took me quite a while to break free of your spell," He said to Loki, "Frigga would have been proud." Loki's mouth gaped open in shock at his words. "Come sit with me, I don't have much time."

The three men turned, sitting on the rock behind them. I stood beside Loki, as it would have been inappropriate given that the Allfather was among us. For the first time, I noticed how weary he looked. He looked as though his time away from Asgard had made him tired and weak.

"I know we've failed you, but we can make this right." Thor told his father.

"I've failed you," Odin told his sons, "It is upon us, Ragnarok."

"No, I've stopped Ragnarok. I put an end to Surtur."

"No," Odin shook his head, "It has already begun. She is coming. My life was all that held her back, but my time has come. I cannot keep her away any longer."

"Father, who-who are you talking about?"

"Goddess of death." He said, "Hela...my firstborn....your sister."