Loki and Ingrid 16

Here goes:

Make me Proud

“I’d better be going to the palace,” says Thor, “I should check on affairs—the tesseract, the people, Sif…then it’s back to Midgard for me. Like I promised.”

          “Seriously, brother, you’re still going on about Jane?” Loki looks ever-so-slightly annoyed, but mostly weary.

          “I promised her I would return, and it’s been nearly two years. Promises aren’t made to be broken.”

          “And how do you expect to keep up this long-distance relationship, Thor? There are plenty of good Asgardian women to choose from.”

          “I do not know. I am not ready to be King.”

          “Father wants you to be king. I personally don’t see the rush.”

          “You still want it, don’t you?”

          “Give us some time, brother. Please?”

          “I will, as long as I can. I don’t know when they’ll ask me what to do with you…”

          “Father won’t believe me. That anyone like Thanos would seek such power…he won’t believe it…he never listens to me!”

          “I will return.”

          “Hopefully before two years!” shouts Loki, through the trees to a rapidly departing Thor.

          “Ingrid!” Loki is beside me instantly, seeing I’m conscious after travelling, after everything. Everything still hurts, and I may never feel the same again. The bruising from lying on the floor, the blood from Nova’s blows in the fight, all of it feels the same. “Ingrid, are you okay?”

          “Loki,” I whisper, as he begins examining me, concernedly. I don’t want to open my eyes, don’t want to come back to reality.

          “We’re home on Asgard. In the forest.”

          “I know. I saw you and Thor—”

          “I can’t believe he came back.”

          “He wouldn’t leave you! You know that!”

          “What happened here?” Loki is examining the scarring on the side of my face from my fight with Nova.

          “She threw a knife when I fought her that time she was trying to kill you. I was so caught up in the fight that I didn’t notice—”

          “That looks bad.”

          “It’s fine, really,” I say, everything aching, as I try to sit up.

          “You need medical attention—”

          “We can’t go back to the palace yet. You’re going to be in trouble!” For a moment, it sounds like we are children, reporting to Odin that Loki stole some grapes from the King’s table. But I know what this really means. He committed horrible crimes… “I can try to appeal to your father.”

          “Are you mad?”

          “But I can’t go back to the palace yet. I don’t think I can walk…”

          “It’s not urgent…just…I can’t believe he came back—I thought I was going to lose you, Ingrid.”

          “I’m sorry. I don’t remember. All I remember was pain—and you were about to give away Thor’s location, that’s all—”   

          “Nova…she said she would kill us both, slowly, then she made me watch—she was called away and I tried to disable it, but she had the trigger…”

          “Did she come back? I don’t remember!”

          “Ingrid, your suffering was so great—”

          “It’s over now.”

          “I know. I’m sorry. You begged me to end it…the knife I hid in my sleeve.”

          I remember now, his face. “No, Ingrid!”

          “Were you going to do it?”

          “I tried to stop it, Ingrid. I touched your face, I tried to take it—”

          “I didn’t feel anything. Did you?”

          “Yes, I felt it.”

          “I’m sorry.”

          “It’s okay. Anything to lessen your suffering.”

          “No, Loki—”

          “I was going to die anyway when Nova got back—I’m sorry I didn’t cave earlier—I might have stopped it—”

          “No, we must keep the stones away from Thanos! And Thor—you couldn’t betray him again, he is your brother!”

          “Yes, Ingrid. I was trying to protect the stones, and my brother. And I succeeded. Now, close your eyes and just rest.”

          “I can’t! Everything hurts—”

          “Shhh. Just try to relax.”

          I close my eyes, still feeling the ache of everything cutting through, no matter how numb I have become. I can feel his hand on my scars from Nova’s knife, then a soft warmth issuing from it, warming my entire body. Before I know it, I am asleep.

---

I wake up, feeling nothing remaining but a dull ache from earlier. I place my hand to where Nova’s knife pierced my skin and feel nothing. It’s all gone. Where am I? Am I dead? I open my eyes to see none other than Lady Sif fussing over me.

          “Thor! She’s awake!” Sif exclaims in a singsongy voice, “She’s awake!”

          “You’re in a good mood, Sif,” says Thor, “Even with my pledge to see Jane.”

          “Stop it, Thor! You know you want me!” Sif elbows him playfully, as Thor dodges.

          “Where’s Loki?” I whisper.

          “He’ll be back, don’t worry,” says Thor, “He went to go get something.”

          “Oh, okay. What happened?”

          “What’s up? Canute put me on watch duty again!”

          “Calder? What are you doing here?”

          “I’m your brother, dork—ow!”

          “Be gentle with her, she’s been tortured!” snaps Sif, all too loudly.

          “So, you believe us?”I say breathlessly, “I thought no one—”

          “I believe you,” says Calder, “But too bad you keep hanging out with the Frost Giant—”

          “What?” I say, taken aback, by my brother’s sudden hatred towards Loki.

          “Our parents—murdered by their race! Why I’m training to be a palace guard—”

          “I love her.”

          “Loki?” I try to sit up, my head still spinning from everything that happened.

          “Let me see her!”

          “Not a chance!” Calder tries to stop Loki from coming to me, but Thor intervenes, “Calder, I command you to let him pass!”

          “Loki! You’re still here?”

          “We’ve avoided father so far. Here’s your book.”

          “What?” I stare at the book in his hands, worn out, with several pages clearly missing.

          “I’m very done with it, Ingrid. No more secret notes.”

          “Why did you…you wanted to die!”

          “I was naïve. I never knew true pain until Thanos—”

          “Who, your crazy Frost Giant?” asks Calder snapping at Loki.

          “If I had wished for death before—”

          “I need a moment alone with him,” I say, “I have questions.”

          “Not a chance!” calls Calder, as Thor pulls him off his feet with Mjolnir, Sif following behind on foot, “Wait for me!”

          “I know. I wanted it to end, anything I wanted to die,” I say, “I just wanted it to end—”

          “You told me to kill you. That’s what you wanted….”

          “Loki? How did you—?”

          “It’s a challenging spell, reserved for the most skilled. I really shouldn’t be practicing healing magic at my level, but you looked ill.”

          “Thank you, Loki,” I whisper, “It feels a lot better now. Not perfect, but a lot better.”          

          “You shouldn’t have fought Nova. Although even I admit you had guts.”

          “Thank you,” I say, “I couldn’t let her just kill you!”

          “Nor could I, you.”

          “You said I asked for death?”

          “My knife, Ingrid.”

          “Were you—?”

          “You’re the world to me, Ingrid. I couldn’t let you suffer—I was about to do it—” his voice falters as he pulls me close. “But you’re here now, and you’re alive. That’s what matters.”

---

“So that’s your punishment? Banished to the dungeons?” My voice is raw from the pleading and the appeal.

          “An eternity—well as long as Father is king. No visitors, nothing.”

          “I’ll find a way—”

          “No, Ingrid,” says Loki, catching my hands. “Please. I don’t want anything to happen to you…”

          “It’s fine. I’ll find a way.”       

          “And when does this punishment begin?”

          “Tomorrow.” He opens the door to the small room where Thor and Frigga are waiting.

          “I’m sorry I couldn’t make a better appeal. I’ll take it up with father later—”

          “After you see Jane, brother?”

          “Stop going on about it, Loki!”

          “This is no time to argue, my sons.” Queen Frigga is sitting on the bed, dressed in golden robes, like the sun.

          “Mother—” Loki starts.

          “I tried to make an appeal, but that Allfather’s decision is his own, and I cannot go against his wishes.”

          “I understand,” says Loki, letting her hold him gently, as if he were a child, “But I want to know—do you believe me? That it wasn’t me who did those things on Midgard—”

          “You let the giants in, Loki—betrayed Thor and sent the destroyer…”

          “That I did. And I am sorry. Can you forgive me?”

          “If it would help,” I add, “I saw him. On Midgard. His mind was not his own.”

          “Tell me about it, Loki.”

          “I—when I fell of the bridge, I fell into a realm, where dwells a being by the name of Thanos. He tortured me—wanted to use me, for me to work for him, and I refused. He wouldn’t have it. I was in so much pain—then Ingrid found my puzzle, your ancient locket of legend—yes, I dared to wield it, I’m sorry, and she saw me. She thought she was responsible because I was telling her—resisting him, and she destroyed it, transporting herself and Thor to the realm. I made a deal with Thanos to protect them—”

          “Her,” intercuts Thor, but no one pays him heed.

          “And he controlled my mind on Midgard, lying to me about Thor, and Ingrid and everyone. Then Ingrid came, and broke me out of it, reminding me of Laufey, and Jotunheim, but it was too late. I had already caused irreparable destruction. Then the three of us were on our way back to Asgard with the tesseract—we were intercepted by Thanos’ daughter, Nova, and Thor left with the tesseract. We refused to tell where the stones were, and she tortured us, a pain beyond anything I have ever felt, then she vowed to kill us—and she tried to kill Ingrid…Thor came back and brought us to Asgard. I was about to disclose his location to get them to stop hurting her—I couldn’t watch. Do you believe me?”

          “That would have to be an elaborate story to make up, I’m afraid,” adds Thor.

          “I was there. I felt it. He used his healing magic—that’s why I don’t show scars…” I add.

          “I believe you, Loki,” says Queen Frigga quietly, “And no matter what Odin says, I am so proud of you. And I hope that’s all you will need.”