Emprise [Fólkvangr End, Book 2][Loki Fanfiction]

Chapter Thirty - Rek

Author's Note: Happy New Year to all you lovely people. May it be a year of prosperity, happiness and love. I certainly love you! Here is the final chapter of Emprise, presented with no commercial interruption. See the end of the chapter for more notes. xo

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Chapter Thirty - Rek

 "Where were you?" Loki asks, jogging up to catch up with me. I am clutching a column for dear life, ducked behind it. I mean, I am also using it as a vantage point to scan the sky, but mostly it is supporting the unstable weight of my body. 

"I've been here," I say quietly. Loki is still standing close behind me and so I turn and look at him.

He frowns. "Is that blood?"

"Oh, um...maybe?" I wet my fingertips with my spit and wipe away the rest of the now dried blood from my nose. I wince ever so slightly. Why am I lying to him? Well, no, I'm not lying, I'm just sort of skirting around a major truth.

Loki is still frowning but he does not push it. I resume scanning the sky. I'm squinting, unfortunately having the disadvantage of only one useful eye. But still, I see nothing in the sky. So where are the projectiles coming from? 

"Did you get the men assembled?"

"Mhm." I give up looking and turn fully to Loki. There has not been another explosion for over ten minutes, which has me worried. "Frey went off to gather a few more men from the village right outside the gates who he said he knew would fight. But the rest of the rebels are armed to the best of our capabilities and ready to fight. It won't be a neat fight, by any stretch of the imagination, but regardless, their sheer numbers and brute force are our best ally. Ronan is waiting for us back at the steps, where Frey will meet us as well with the rest of the reinforcements. Most of Odin's men have been positioned in the back quarter of the castle, as well as along the north-west wall. I had Frey's men mixed in with the guards and soldiers already in formation. Hogun has been sent to the southern-most tower with several archers where he will have a good vantage point. Heimdall is keeping me updated, but so far something has been blocking his vision. Of course. Not surprised when it comes to Thanos. And um...oh! Sif and Volstagg will be joining us and Ronan as soon as we head over there."

"We should go then," Loki says, laying his hand gently upon my shoulder. He cups my chin for a fleeting moment and looks to say something but clearly decides against it. I pick my helmet up from where it was resting beside me in the dirt and place it on my head. I am vividly aware of my hair trailing down my back. 

"Wait," I say and Loki turns. I pull my dagger from my boot and hold it out towards him. He looks confused. I point towards my hair with the tip of the dagger. "It's gotta go, I'm afraid. No time for a haircut like a battle, right?"

Loki, still seemingly mildly puzzled, but saying nothing about it, takes the dagger from my hand. I take off my helmet and Loki's fingers graze the base of my neck. He wraps his hand around my hair and I feel the cool metal of the dagger briefly against my skin before he uses it efficiently to chop my hair off, letting the length of it fall to the ground. I suck in a breath as I feel it tickle my neck and I turn back around to Loki, who hands me the dagger. 

"Let's do this." I smile at him with certain determination. He smiles back before he tucks my short hair behind my ear and then reaches down, taking my helmet from my hands. He places it carefully over my head and then kisses the metal brow of the helmet. I tuck my dagger back into my boot and he takes my hand as we dart over to the rendezvous where Sif, Volstagg and Ronan are bound to be waiting for us.