Loki's Warrior

Chapter 1: The Trickster in the Dungeon

Blood drips down the blade of my dagger, pouring down my arm and falling in droplets onto the ground when it reaches my elbow. I finish off the last of the foul creatures that had attacked me, wiping beads of sweat off my forehead and gasping for breath.

    Wind blows my hair around my face, but i'm too exhausted to wipe it away. Dozens of bodies lay in piles around me, and the scent of war still lingers in the air. I had killed many before, but there was an overwhelming amount of significance that came with this particular band of slaughterings.

    Asgard was my home planet. I was working with Thor to take out smaller invasions within the Nine Realms, as he didn't quite trust me enough to take on more meaningful jobs. Some would call me his apprentice, but I didn't see it that way. I liked to consider us equals, but Thor's ego wouldn't allow that.

    Thor had been gone for days now fighting on Midgard, but I wasn't worried. I knew that he would come back without a scratch. Humans weren't skilled enough to hurt him.

    The Bi-Frost engulfs me, sending me back into the observatory. The golden building was very homely to me, as I was there often. Heimdall greets me with a small nod, though his eyes look slightly concerned.

    "You're covered in blood." He closes the Bi-Frost, pointing to my outfit as he pulls the sword from it's pedestal. His dark cloak sways in the slight breeze that enters the observatory through the gaping doorway. As odd as it may seem it was overwhelming to see such a familiar face smiling back instead of a monster ready to  kill me.

    "Yes. It was quite a day." My steel armor is plated in coats of dried red and brown blood, new dents and chips were becoming aware on my chestplate. "I suppose I should go down to the armory to get a new one." Heimdall smiles, remembering something.

    "Thor returned last night, he has something to tell you." My position stiffens out of shock.

    "Oh. I wasn't expecting him to return for a few days." Heimdall shrugs, stepping off of the podium. Excitement to see Thor fills me as I make my way to the palace, across the rainbow bridge. The waters underneath crash against the cliffs, turning the waves to salty foam, and on top of the cliffs Asgard sits elegantly.

    In all of the Nine Realms, this is the place I wanted to be. The familiar silver and gold city is buzzing with gossip, but I try not to get involved as I pass along the busy streets. Nobody really notices me, but I don't mind.

    Thor is already in the throne room waiting for me. He stands when he sees me, a smile written across his gruff face. My heart swells as the sight of him, wanting to catch him in a hug and never let go.

    "Y/n, you made it out alive." His deep Asgardian voice fills the room. He wasn't surprised that I was alive, just relieved. He had more trust in me than for me to just die on a battlefield like that.

    "Of course I did. You forget who I am." I can't help the smile that creeps onto my face.
    "You look awful." He approaches me, staring at my dirty armor. His face turns to disgust but quickly back to happiness.

    "Thanks." I roll my eyes. "I was fighting on a foreign planet for days. Did you really expect me to come back smelling of Midgardian roses?" I raise an eyebrow at him and he chuckles.

    "Of course not, but it would've been nice." I knew Thor loved Midgardian roses. Whenever we took a trip there he would always pick up a bouquet, but by the time be got back to Asgard they would die and turn brown.

    "Heimdall said you had news for me."

    "Yes, yes." He clears his throat like what he's about to say might be very heavy. "I wanted you to meet my brother." It takes a moment for me to register his words.