Beyla ~ (Loki)

5.

"How could you have done this?" Frigga asks in tears.

"Do you understand what he set in motion? He's taken us to the brink of war!"

"But banishment? You would lose him forever? He's your son!"

"What would you have done?"

Frigga stands her ground, "I would not have exiled him to a world of mortals, stripped of his powers, to suffer alone. I would not have had the heart for such cruelty! Beyla hasn't been sent there yet, how do you expect him to survive?

"That is why I'm King. I, too, grieve the loss of our son. But there are some things that even I cannot undo."

"You can bring him back."

"No. His fate is in his own hands now."

~

Sif, Loki, Beyla, and the Warriors three, battered and shell-shocked, still reeling from the day's events. I sit close to Loki watching the large fire in the middle. Volstagg pipes up in the quiet room, "We should never have let him go." I shake my head. "There was no stopping him."

"At least he's only banished, not dead. Which is what we'd all be if that guard hadn't told Odin where we'd gone."

"How did the guard even know?" Loki stares off as his arms tense. "I told him."

"What?" We all looked at him shocked. "I told him to go to Odin after we'd left. Though he should be flogged for taking so long."

"You told the guard?" The warriors whine. "I saved our lives! And Thor's. I had no idea Father would banish him for what he did." Loki shrugs innocently. I place my hand on his chest. "You were looking out for the better."

"Loki, you're the only one who can help Thor now. You must go to the Allfather and convince him to change his mind!"

"And if I do, then what? I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He's arrogant. He's reckless. He's dangerous. You saw how he was today. Is that what Asgard needs from its King?" We exchange glances, torn.

Loki has a point.

He leaves the room in a heat. Hogun stares after him.

"He may speak about the good of Asgard, but he's always been jealous of Thor." I stare at Sif with wide eyes. "I beg your pardon?" She looks down upon me. "Oh, don't start. We all know you've broken the proposal. Why did Loki want you? Because of Thor." I shake my head standing. "We should be grateful to him. He did save our lives."

Hogun hums using the healing stones. "Laufey said there were traitors in the House of Odin." The others turn to look at him.

Fandral shakes his head, "Why is it every time you choose to speak, it has to be something dark and ominous?" "A master of magic could easily bring three Jotuns into Asgard. Beyla is good, but Loki is better." I shake my head in defense of my love.  "He would never." I turn around following Loki's heels quietly.

He walks into the Vault, sees the Casket of Ancient Winters sitting on its stand. He walks over to it slowly, reaches out, and lifts it between his forearms off its pedestal. As he does, a blueness spreads from his arms, across his body.

"Loki?" I gasp out as he transforms into one of the blue-skinned creatures. He looks over at her in shock. He turns away hiding. "Beyla, you shouldn't be here." I move to him, resting her hands on his cheeks feeling frosted blue skin.

"Stop!"

Loki and I turn, seeing Odin hurrying into the room, the Destroyer goes motionless, the latticework rejoining before it. Odin eyes Loki with dismay. He glances at Beyla who is concentrated on Loki.