WHO IS READY FOR A REALLY IMPORTANT CHAPTER?????

Try not to hyperventilate at the end.... 

Anyway, love you all, sorry for leaving you for two weeks :( :( 

46 days until Age of Ultron!! 

<3 

Sierra

~Music~

The Trial of Loki (Thor: The Dark World soundtrack)

Realization and Escape (Tangled soundtrack)

The One That Got Away (The Civil Wars)

~Edit~ Me!

Chapter XVII

Thea only sees Videl once more before she leaves for Ardhigiza. This is when she, Odin, and Thor go with Archer, Linthria, and Lifolas to the front hall for departure. As hugs and handshakes are exchanged, Thea hangs back. She doesn't want to be noticed, especially by Odin. Now that Videl has brought it up, she realizes that she has always been a little wary of him for reasons she doesn't know. She still doesn't know. She doesn't know about anything.

Lifolas bids her farewell and Thea returns the gesture as casually as possible. She is shaking. She hasn't stopped shaking since Videl had taken her aside at the party, not for the next day either. Videl hadn't sought her out, and Thea had been more than grateful.

But then, Thea looks up and sees Videl, leaning against a column, looking out of place, not out of mind. He is casually looking around the room, but Thea easily notices that his gaze is split: between her and Odin. Odin, as per usual, is ignoring everyone, but Thea can't help but notice that he looks at her often. It makes her nervous. There is something about Odin, something that she can't place...

Her attention is snapped as someone approaches her. It's Videl.

He arches around her, blocking her view of Odin. He glances over his shoulder at the All-Father, who is now looking at him intensely. Videl turns back to Thea, and looks down at her with his hooded amber eyes.

"You need to be careful," he says in a low voice.

Thea looks away from him, at the ground, "Go away."  

He takes her chin in his hand and pulls her face up so that she's staring right into his eyes. She struggles slightly, but he ignores her, again looking over his shoulder at Odin. Odin has turned away.

He looks back at Thea, "I'm being serious."

"Why would you want to help me?" spits Thea, "You h-"

"Let's just say," says Videl, keeping his eyes on her, "That I have unfinished business with Loki."

"Don't you dare hurt him!" she exclaims.

"Keep your voice down!" he hisses.

"Then don't threaten Loki!"

"You need to stop being so attached to him," says Videl, "I'm warning you."

Thea actually stomps her foot in frustration, "Don't tell me what to do! I act whatever way I want to whoever I want! Loki has-"

"Okay, you're coming over here with me," says Videl, and before Thea can protest, he has pulled her away from the hubbub, into a secluded alcove with a waterfall off the stone wall and plants surrounding them.

"You're being-"

"All right, let me lay this out for you," says Videl harshly, shoving her into the alcove so hard that she stumbles. He doesn't help her up. "You came to Loki and all those nutcases when you were orphaned, you were alone, and you were scared. It-"

"I wasn't-"

"Shut up!" Videl looks angry, "You latched onto Loki like a leech, but you not only sucked out the kindness in him, but you sucked out your soul. He has you wrapped around his finger. Now, you can't possibly imagine him doing anything to hurt you or hurt anyone you love, can you?"

"Because he won't!" she exclaims frantically, "He won't, he won't, he won't!"

"Don't be an idiot!" snarls Videl. His voice turns mocking, "Did he make you feel better? Did he dry your tears? Did he help you sleep at night, you fool of a girl, you see what he did to you!"

"St-stop!" Thea chokes, covering her face with her hands, "Stop it!"

"You see? You're being a naive-"

"But why?" Thea is crying now, "You're not making sense! If he wants to hurt me, then he c-could have, he c-could have-

"See, this is your problem," Videl growls, and Thea can see his fangs bared, and resists the urge to cower away, "You think that he won't physically and technically hurt you. Well first of all, from what Myrinea tells me, he's going to."

"No!" Thea gasps. "He won't, he won't, he won-"

"Loki has plans for you, Thea," says Videl,"You can't possibly think that he hasn't had a reason for keeping you around for so long! You're an enigma of a mortal. Loki is curious with what you can do, and what you can do for him."

"No," she whispers, "I don't believe you!"

Shouts come from the gallery. Thor is calling for her.

"I need to g-go," stammers Thea, staggering backwards. She squeals slightly as Videl grabs her arm.

Videl pulls her up roughly so that their faces are so close, Thea can see her reflection in his amber eyes. "You can't trust anyone. Watch out for Odin. Watch out for Loki. But..." Videl's eyes narrow, "I'm repeating myself."

"I don't know-"

A flurry of wings, and Thea jumps as Wairua flies inside the alcove and alights on Videl's shoulder, looking down at her imperiously. Thea swallows hard.

Still holding on to her, Videl points up to the bird, "Wairua is now going to be looking after you from afar. Don't mention this to anyone, not even your precious Loki. Especially Loki."

"I don't need any stupid chick to babysit me!"

Wairua and Videl glare at her with equal levels of amber fury.

"Just get away from me!" Thea exclaims.

"You're being foolish," Videl's eyes narrow, "You're going to get yourself in trouble soon, and then won't you be regretting how you've treated me?"

"I doubt it," says Thea furiously, wiping her eyes.

"Fine," Videl snaps, "Fine." He pushes her towards the alcove exit. Wairua hoots, looking rather put-off, just like his master. "Keep acting like a spoiled brat, and you're going to end up a dead spoiled brat. And I won't be the one who kills you, you just watch."

He watches her, eyes now slits, and Thea feels a wave of trepidation come over her, a wave that worms its way right into her heart. Her lip trembling, she looks back at the Velah one last time and then runs out of the alcove.

Videl leans against the column of the alcove, and crosses his arms, watching Thea make her way back to Thor. Wairua hoots again, and Videl glances at him, his eyebrows arched, and his eyes still cat-like slits. He turns back to look at Thea who, at that precise moment, turns to look at him. There is fear in her eyes.

Videl looks back at Wairua. "Look after her."

Wairua hoots again, shortly.

"I know she called you a stupid chick. Suck it up, she's called me worse." He looks back at Thea, whose head is down, studying the pavers as she stands next to Odin. Then, he says in a low voice, "Good luck, Thea. You're going to need it, you stubborn monkey."

*

Back in Asgard, the first thing Thea does is run to her room, slamming the door behind her. She begins to pace, breathing hard, running her fingers through her hair. "No," she whispers, "It won't happen, it won't happen, it won't!"

She kicks the bedpost so hard, she wails and jumps back, holding her toes and hopping up and down. She collapses on the floor, crying, whispering one word over and over. "No, no, no, no."

*

"Ah, you've returned," says Loki, sweeping in from the throne room just as Thor does the same. "I can't say I've missed you."

Thor chuckles, "Have you ever missed me, brother?"

"Not enough for it to make much of a difference," says Loki, smiling.

"There is one person you did miss," says Thor wisely, "In fact, I'm surprised that she hasn't already found you."

Loki has already thought of this, "Where is she? You're right, she hasn't."

"She is probably tired," says Thor, "But first, I need to tell y-"

"Did anything happen to her in Ardhigiza? Did Videl-"

"Nothing happened in Ardhigiza that I could tell," says Thor (naively), "But brother, first there is something about Thea that I must discuss with you."

Loki raises an eyebrow, halfway out of the throne room, "What?"

"Thea will return to Earth either tomorrow or the next day."

Loki whirls.

"What?"

Thor raises an eyebrow

Loki looks angry, "She has barely been here a month!"

"A month is longer than we were supposed to keep her. Is it not obvious how much she misses her family?"

"Her family is with me," snaps Loki.

"Loki, do not be selfish. You know that you are not her only family, and to say so would not only be selfish, but it would also prove more than saddening for Thea."

"Brother, Asgard-"

"Asgard has given her what it needs. Now, she misses home, even though she tries to hide it. She misses those back home, and it would take only a fool to realize it."

Loki puts a hand to his forehead, "So you just expect me to let her go?"

"Yes, Loki. You've done what you can for her. You'll still see her on occasion, but her home is not in Asgard."

"Who could say that?" asks Loki, "Why can Asgard not be her home?"

"You know why that won't work," says Thor mournfully, "She is mortal, and we are not. It would be painful for all of us. And besides, her life has already changed drastically on Earth. To bring her here to keep her would be even more drastic, even if you are one small consolation."

The cogs in Loki's head are working. He narrows his eyes, but before he can say anything, Thor intervenes.

"I know plenty how much you care for Thea," he says, ignoring Loki's foul face, "And I often ask myself why. But you know as well as I do that Thea belongs on earth. Do you realize that? I know you do."

"I do," says Loki, still looking furious, "But that does little to console me."

"I believe there is only one person who can console you," says Thor, "And so I leave you now to go find her."

*

After dinner, which she had eaten by herself in her room with an excuse that she was tired, Thea resumes pacing. She isn't crying, but she is still shaking, trying to figure out all of the emotions that are flying through her head. The problem is, she can't think. She doesn't know what to think, or who to believe. She doesn't want to believe Videl, but all the same, there had been truth in his angry amber eyes. She knows that Videl wants revenge on Loki- for what, she isn't completely certain- but she doesn't think he would make something up. As for Loki, he had been disappearing, and she hadn't exactly wondered why until now...

The door opens, and Thea bangs her head on bed frame, because it is Loki.

"Hello, kitten," he says quietly, his hand still on the door.

For some reason, the nickname starts something in her heart, and she runs across the room, right into Loki's arms. He whirls her up, smiling. "It's only been two days. What are you going to do when you go back to Midgard, I wonder?"

Thea swallows, looking down into Loki's eyes, which are warm, but also mischievous, "When am I going back?"

Loki sets her back down on the ground, and his voice hardens somewhat "My brother has decided that you will be leaving Asgard within the next couple days. I assure you though, I would so much rather you remain here, with me."

"Really?" Thea squeaks. "Why?"

Loki frowns, "I should have thought you would know?"

"Um," says Thea, thinking frantically, "I don't know!"

He raises an eyebrow, turning around to look at her properly. He walks up to her, and frowns again as he looks down at her, "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Thea stammers, "Nothing is wrong! I'm f-fine!"

He takes her chin and lifts it up so that she has no choice but to lookup at him He raises an eyebrow and traces a finger down her cheek, "Your face is dry," he says quietly, "But your pretty green eyes are red and swollen. You have been crying, darling. Why?"

"I'm...I'm..." Thea stumbles with her words, "I'm just..."

"Just what?"

She swallows, not able to look away from him, "I'm just...I...I don't know if I want to go home."

Loki raises an eyebrow, "You don't want to go home? To Midgard, you mean?"

"Yeah," says Thea hurriedly, "I don't know...I don't know anything."

Loki's finger is still on Thea's cheek- it's cold. "You don't have to go back, you know. Just say the word, and I can make sure you stay here forever."

Forever.

Thea blinks, "But I want to go back."

Loki's face turns pained all of a sudden. He lets go of Thea and steps back. "So you do want to go to Midgard?"

"Um, I," says Thea, trying to figure out what to say, "I don't know...what...where to...where I want to go."

"Hm," says Loki. There is silence. In a moment though, he says, "Come with me, Thea."

She doesn't have much of a choice. She follows him down the short hall and out onto a massive balcony, made of marble. Loki sends the guard away, and, putting his arm around her shoulder, he leads her to the railing. "Look at this," he says quietly, gesturing to the beyond.

Thea can't help but widen her eyes. The view is the entirety of Asgard and more, glittering in the dying sunlight, beautiful and mysterious and grand.

"Asgard has many doors," says Loki, "And they are all open to you. Tell me the word, and this entire realm can belong to you."

"How?" asks Thea, "Odin is the king! And Thor's older than you, so you'll never get the throne."

"Really?" asks Loki, raising an eyebrow. There is a glint in his eyes that Thea cannot discern. "Is that so?"

Thea looks away from him and down at the marble railing.

Loki lowers his voice, "My darling, there are things that are happening that you cannot understand. These things happen for a reason, like the rising and falling of the sun. But I swear, if you stay here with me..." He loops his hand through her hair affectionately, "I can give you it all to you." He leans down so that they are eye to eye, "Stay here, and you can be my little princess."

Thea plays with her fingers. Something is wrong. Something isn't adding up. But with Loki looking at her, not suspecting a thing, not suspecting that she suspects a thing, she can hardly think. She knows that if she wants to get out of this, she needs to keep her wits about her.

She tries to keep her voice small and hopeful, "Really?"

"Of course," says Loki. He kisses the tip of her nose, and then stands up. Looking out towards the city, he says, "Is that not what most little girls want?"

She swallows, "But I'm not like most girls."

He chuckles, "You're right, kitten. Now Thea, I am not talking about this instant. There are certain...events that must occur first. But I assure you, my darling, if you stay with me, Asgard will one day be yours."

"Oh..." she says, "Yay?"

She's doing a terrible job at keeping calm, and she knows it.

Thankfully, Loki doesn't seem to notice. He continues, "It's getting late. You need to sleep, for tomorrow, or the next day, you will be leaving me. But only temporarily. Only temporarily."

When Thea looks up, that gleam is in his green eyes once again.

"Okay," she whispers.

"Thor does not want me to sleep with you any more," he tells her, "It is because you have learned to conquer the darkness around you. But if you should ever need me, I will always be here."

"Okay," she whispers again.

Loki stoops to kiss her cheek, "Good night, darling."

He leaves the balcony, first stopping to say something to the guard. Then, he's gone.

Thea leans against the railing, cradling her cheek in her hand. The lights of Asgard shimmer around her. As she looks around, a single tear trickles down her face, glittering in the moonlight.

She sees a flurry of movement in her peripheral vision, and turns quickly. A white shape had moved in one of the trees overhanging the balcony. Thea looks down, not wanting to see, and when she looks up, she is not surprised to see Wairua blinking slowly at her.

"Go away," says Thea lowly.

Wairua hoots and ruffles his feathers, then takes flight, swooping over her, brushing the top of her head ever so gently. As Thea watches the white owl soaring over Asgard, she makes a decision.

Running into her room, she makes certain that Loki isn't there before opening the trunk next to her bed, the trunk that she had tossed all of her belongings when she first arrived. Klaka whines next to her and nuzzles her arm.

Digging through Midgard clothes, some of her books, Bryce's baseball, and an assortment of oddities, Thea pets the top of Klaka's head and whispers, "I have to find out what's going on."

Klaka licks her, as if agreeing with her the way a small child would agree to anything, no matter the danger.

Thea reaches the bottom of the trunk and pulls it out, a silvery fabric that's both heavy and brilliantly light at the same time. Klaka yips, wagging his tail fiercely.

"I just have to," Thea whispers, holding the invisibility cloak in her trembling fingers.

*

Later that night, as the moon rises, Loki is awakened by someone walking in his room. Rolling over on his side, he yawns, "I thought I said you were to sleep alone?"

"I'm leaving soon," says Thea in a small voice, as if this explains everything. She stops at the edge of the bed and shuffles her feet nervously, as if kicking something.

He chuckles, "Well... all right, kitten. Come here."

Thea climbs up on the bed and curls up next to him. Loki wraps his arms around her, and tugs on of her blonde pigtails playfully. As Thea rests her head against his shoulder, and as Loki murmurs a song about mountain kings, she stares at the ceiling, deep in thought. Soon enough though, she is asleep, lulled by Loki's embrace and the ephemeral feeling of peace that has come over her.

As Loki held little Thea in his arms, neither of them could have guessed that this was the last time he would hold her for a very long time.

Perhaps forever.

*

The next morning, Thea wakes up with a start. Sitting up straight, she looks around her- Loki is already gone. Taking a deep breath, she stands and bends down. From underneath the bed, she takes out the invisibility cloak. Slipping it over her head, she walks out of the bedroom, walking right past the guard, the guard who had been posted by Loki to inform him of when she was awake.

Thea walks down the hall, making straight for the throne room. It is a dull day, and the rain pours down, thundering in her ears along with the lightning that temporarily brightens the halls. The air feels sticky with humidity, rain, and electricity, and builds trepidation deep within Thea's chest.

She peeks inside the throne room and sees Odin sitting on the marble throne, stiff and solemn, but also leaning lazily against the chair, speaking with a guard. He looks rather impatient. Thea slips inside and hides behind a gold pillar, even though she's invisible anyway.

"...Be off with you, if you please! My morning has been wasted enough with this infernal debate!" Odin is glaring at the guard, and Thea can't help but be intimidated. "Just tell the guards that the affair must be settled. The peace of the kingdom is in their hands, and I will not have it tarried with just because one bickered about the other."

The guard bows and hurries out of the room, looking relieved to be leaving. Thea doesn't blame him.

As the guard leaves, Thea sinks down against the pillar, watching Odin carefully. She can't help but feel relieved. He seems cranky, but completely normal...

And then Odin begins to change in a green mist. Before Thea's eyes, Loki appears, grinning mischievously.

Thea covers her mouth to stop a scream.

Thoughts whirl through her head. Loki! Loki is Odin? Or is Odin Loki? She can't understand. She can't understand any of it.

Loki surveys the empty throne room, holding Odin's scepter imperiously in his hand. His gaze tracks across the room, and past her- for a second, his eyes settle on precisely the spot where Thea is cowering, but then they move past.

Thea, not taking her wide eyes off Loki, moves towards the other side of the room as Loki stands up. She hardly dares to breathe as he walks past her, towards the exit to the throne room.

Thunder crackles.

Thea falls to the ground, careful to keep the cloak draped around her. She doesn't cry. She's too much in shock.

"Loki..." she whispers, "No...no, no no, no, no!"

The thoughts that whiz through her head try to assure her that she is wrong, that Videl is wrong, that everything is wrong. But if Odin is Loki... then where is Odin? And what has Loki been doing for this entire time? How does he have the throne? Does he have the throne? Is she imagining everything? What if-

"Well isn't this a surprise?"

Thea shrieks as someone yanks the invisibility cloak off of her. She whirls around and sees Loki standing over her, no longer looking at her with fondness. Now, he is looking at her with cold fury.

As Thea slowly stands up, Loki inspects the cloak that he is now holding in his fingers, "I have always suspected that you and young Jack might have had some help with your obnoxious pranks. It is so easy to sense your mischief, Thea. Especially when I found this under my bed this morning. But I thought I might see what sort of trouble you were planning before I acted. And now, I see that I was right."

Thea is breathing heavily, not taking her eyes off of Loki.

A slow smirk spreads across his face, and for the first time, Thea seems him as twisted and malevolent.

"So you have discovered my little secret, have you kitten?"

Thea swallows as thunder rumbles ominously.

"Well, this is a concern. What are we going to do about it?" He grins, but there is nothing playful in that grin.

Thea yelps as Loki seizes one of her blonde pigtails, still messy from sleep, and yanks her up.

She can't say a word. She's too frozen. She can't even cry.

But she can run.

And run she does, tearing herself from Loki's grip and beginning to flee. She grabs the golden handle to the throne room, "Help!" she exclaims, "Thor! Someone, please, it's Loki, he's, he's no, no, NO!"

Loki grabs her and yanks her back, throwing her to the ground so that Thea has the wind knocked out of her.

Lightning crackles again, and thunder shakes Thea's body almost as much as the fear, the cold blind fear the petrifies her body.

As Loki laughs, a harsh laugh, stalking back towards her, Thea screams.

 Uh oh.... 

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