Part II
Loki and Areena followed Sif out of the cell and Loki instinctively started walking to his left. His torture cell was to the left. But not now. He was going to be tortured anymore. The thought brought a smile to Loki's lips as he corrected his walking pattern and followed Areena to the right. The guards were unconscious. All of them.
"Norns, Sif! How long did this take you?" Areena queried as she continued walking.
"Longer than you. You took down 30 soldiers in 10 minutes. I took down 40 guards in 20 minutes" Sif said with a wild smile and Areena shrugged. Huh. These women could probably break Loki into two perfectly even pieces
"There are guards outside. They know that the king trusts you- or at least they think that. I lied to them and told them that Odin sent me. You need to pretend that you hate me, as for you- I need you to look like a guard" Sif informed and Areena laughed internally. Odin didn't trust her, he knew he couldn't keep powers away from a fucking princess. Areena was brought back to reality by a flash of green. Loki was now suddenly guard.
"Woah. You taught him well in 5 months!" Sif complimented and Loki smiled.
"Oh no darling, Loki has a natural gift in Seidr. If he had the chance to practice his magic properly, he'd be one of if not the most strongest mage amongst us!" Areena exclaimed as they reached the exit of the prison vault. Sif cleared her throat and grabbed Areena by the elbow. Loki who was now a guard took a deep breath. Every step he took, he was getting closer to freedom. He stared at the big golden doors of the prison grounds in awe before Sif knocked on them, alerting the guards to open the door.
As soon as the guards opened the door, Sif started behaving roughly with Areena. Loki gasped as he the light of freedom lit up his face. He never got the chance to be outside of the vault. He would take different secret routes to the garden and would leave the cell without ever leaving the prison vault. And now, to be outside after 1500 years felt surreal. Loki snapped back to reality and for a split second he forgot that everyone around him was seeing a guard. He immediately fixed his posture and ushered Sif politely to walk ahead and lead the way. None of the guards at the door seemed to question them. Areena glared at Sif pretending to hate her as Sif dragged her away. As soon as the two guards at the door were out of sight, Loki sighed in relief.
"We need to reach the Observatory. Thor awaits us there. Heimdall has found a way to draw dark magic without the All-father's knowledge. You will go to Midgard. After Heimdall uses all of that dark magic, the Bifrost will remain unusable for a while. Don't return. Leave. We can deal with Odin. And if that oaf named Thor tries to protest, slap him hard across the face, okay?" Sif said as she led Areena and Loki to the hidden exit of the palace. Loki turned back to his normal form and Areena changed into the armour she wore when she first arrived at the cell with a flash of green. Loki could've sworn he saw tears form in Sif's eyes and Areena immediately hugged her.
"Don't let him touch you, okay? He hurt Thor, he hurt Loki, he hurt me--i can't let him hurt you too" Areena said as she patted Sif's back.
"Tell the Idiots Three I'll miss them." Areena said with a sad smile and Sif blinked away the tears. Loki understood then that King Odin also hurt his own son, and Loki is terrified to know how he did it.
"It was nice meeting you, Lady Sif. I thank you deeply for your help" Loki said and Sif nodded with a small smile. With that, Areena and Loki started running.
They ran and ran to reach a place Areena called the Observatory. While running, Loki stared at the golden palace and city in awe. Then he looked down at the bridge he was on and realized it was rainbow. So Asgard was indeed a beautiful place. But Loki knew what lived beneath the golden palace. Hell. Somehow, Helheim found its way on Asgard. And the mere thought made Loki more excited to leave. After what seemed like an eternity of running, they reached the Observatory.
There stood a tall dark skinned man and a tall blonde man. The man with dark hair had huge golden armour and horns. The blonde man was wearing silver armour and had a big red cape. Loki gulped in fear as he slowly hid behind Areena's back like a child. But Areena was beaming. She immediately ran up to the blonde and hugged him tightly. The blonde man let out a loud, hearty laugh. His voice was deep and thick, Loki realized.
"Thor! I missed you!" Areena exclaimed as she hugged him and Loki relaxed. Okay--not a threat. That was Prince Thor. And although Loki trusted Areena, he couldn't fully trust the son of Odin.
"Oh, meet Loki!" Areena said happily as she pulled Loki by his wrist and brought him closer to Thor.
"Thor Odinson! Nice to meet you!" Thor beamed as he extended his hand and Loki nervously looked at Areena. Areena nodded with a smile and Loki reluctantly shook Thor's hand
"L-Loki L-Laufeyson" Loki managed to stutter out the words
"Areena explained your situation to me, don't worry, I'm here to help. This is the gatekeeper of the Bifrost and my trusted friend-Heimdall" Thor explained and Heimdall gave a curt nod. Apparently, no one beside Thor smiled on this planet.
"We shall leave for Midgard, but first- get him some Armour" Thor said with a smile and Areena nodded. She came closer to Loki
"What colors do you like?" Areena asked happily
"I don't- I mean the cell didn't have many colors--you know t-that." Loki replied nervously and Areena sighed. She knew exactly what he meant
"How about, green and yellow? I think it will compliment your hair and eyes" Areena said politely and Loki nodded
"Taa-daa!" Areena exclaimed after running her hands over Loki. A bright green light covered him before revealing his new clothes. He was wearing long green clothes and golden armour. A sword was tucked neatly in his pants. The clothes and armour were absolutely gorgeous. Loki smiled as he looked at the clothes. They hugged his body perfectly. His hair was now tucked into less of a mess behind his ears. Thor smiled as he looked Loki up and down
"Are you sure he is Jotun?" Thor asked with a grin
"I believe Odin put a spell on him, I can feel and sense magical energy when he is around. But anyways, enough about Loki's appearance, let's get out of here before Odin comes for out throats." Areena warned and Thor nodded vigorously.
"Heimdall, start the spell please" With that, Heimdall started murmuring some spell and drawing energy. Loki peeked out of the Observatory to stare at the golden palace one last time. He was trapped there and now he was going to be free. He smiled and Heimdall continued with his spell.
"How much longer Heimdall?" Thor asked anxiously
"Just a few more minutes, my prince" Heimdall replied and continued with his spell. Black energy gathered in his hands and he grunted a bit but other than that, he made no reaction. Just as the spell was about to come to an end, Odin along with a dozen soldiers burst into the Observatory
Loki gasped as he recognized the man who just burst in. That was the king. He was the one that trapped Loki in his cell. Loki took a shaky deep breath and backed up. Thor grabbed him and hid him behind his back. Loki flinched at the contact initially but then realized Thor was trying to help. Loki felt the tears form in his eyes as the king let out a loud, frustrated growl.
"Thor! You imbecile!" Odin yelled as he pointed a finger at Thor
"Father pl-please i-" Thor cut himself of in fear and Loki soon realized that Areena meant it when she said 'He hurt Thor'. Odin got close and slapped Thor across the face sending him to the ground
"HEY!" Areena yelled as she knelt down beside Thor
"You dare raise your voice at me Child!" Odin yelled out and Areena got up. She was the same height as him. Her eyes glowed bright yellow and Loki pushed himself to a corner
"I am Areena Royalblood, Godess of Control and I will not allow you to treat my friend like he has no importance!" Areena yelled out loudly and one of the soldiers that accompanied Odin grabbed Areena's arm. Areena turned to look at the man with such a vengeful expression, it sent shivers down Loki's spine. With a burst of yellow light, the soldier was sent flying out of the Observatory and onto the rainbow Bridge. Loki gasped as he watched the man lay immobile on the bridge
"King Odin of Asgard you have physically, mentally and verbally abused your own son for a thousand and seven hundred years! You waged war on Auraheim when all we ever wanted was peace! You locked me up! We have every reason to leave, be it with or without your PERMISSION!" Areena was screaming so loudly now that the ground was shaking. Just then, a venomous thought creeped into Loki's mind. Areena and Thor had reasons to leave Asgard, he didn't. What if they left him? What if they betrayed him. Loki started shaking as the waves of reality hit him.
"I-I-. Fine! You can leave, but I will b-banish you from Asgard!" Odin tried hard to intimidate Thor but Thor was smiling
"Thank the Norns! Heimdall, please continue!" Areena and Thor replied with a feeling of victory. Odin had a foul, defeated expression. But then, Odin's eye drifted to Loki and his face lit up in realization. Loki's whole body tensed as the King got close to him. But immediately, Thor again hid Loki behind his back and Areena placed a hand on Odin's shoulder.
"Back. Off." Areena warned with a death glare
"You both gave me reasons as to why you are to leave, what is his reason?" Odin asked with a smirk and Loki whimpered in fear. All the confidence he gained from fighting with Areena disappeared in an instant. Areena stayed silent for a long time before she smiled back
"You held him captive since he was a child and tortured him. What was his crime? When was his trial?" Areena asked with a grin and raised her eyebrow. Odin gulped as all the confidence left his face
"He-he is my prisoner!" Odin replied in a stuttering mess and Thor smiled. Even the All-father of the Nine Realms turned into a stuttering mess when Areena looked at him
"So? All of your prisoners have gone through trial and all are above the age of 750. Care to explain as to why Loki was in prison at the age of 300?" Areena asked as she slightly titled her head. Thor gasped as he clutched onto Loki tighter. He wasn't aware that his father could do such a foul thing but then again, it was his father.
"He--he is J-Jotun! He is da-dangerous!" Odin replied and just like that, the last string holding Loki together snapped.
"Dangerous! I was 300! I-I didn't even know my own na-name!" Loki stuttered out from behind Thor and Areena's heart broke.
"I don't care! I will not allow you to leave!" Odin exclaimed as he shot his eyes back at Areena
"Odin Borson, you and I both know holding me captive isn't an option. I am the woman who has ties with all of the nine realms. I spent some of my childhood doing charity in Vanaheim, I helped Asgard countless times, I made friends with the Midgardians, I fought against those who harmed the citizens of Alfheim and that is just scratching the surface! Locking me up would be a direct 'piss off' to all the nine realms. Norns, I even have connections with Helheim!" Areena yelled out and Odin looked incredibly shocked
"That is a b-bluff!" Odin stuttered again
"I asked you to let me leave with my friends politely, you refused. So now, I shall leave. I'm done with words. Heimdall, how much longer?" Areena asked in a stern voice
"Three more minutes" Heimdall said and Areena smirked
"I will stop you easily!" Odin yelled out an empty threat and Areena laughed
"I'd like to see you try!" Areena said before taking out her sword and the battle(not really) started. Thor extended his arm and a hammer flew into his grip. Loki stared in shock as the fight continued
Areena basically danced along the the soldiers. She slid across the floor and slashed from underneath. She got up quickly and made sure to finish the job. Areena was fast and swift and she didn't even use her magic. Thor was just as fast, but way more rougher. He smashed his hammer into the guards without any effort. The fight went by easily until one of the soldiers went for Loki. Loki dodged his attacks and immediately conjured a dagger. He slashed his dagger and the soldier found his place on the ground. But it was too late. Loki felt a sharp pain crawl up his spine. He realized that a soldier just stabebed him from the behind. Areena yelled out loudly before throwing a dagger at the soldier. Loki felt the blood seep into his new clothes. His vision blurred and his kness felt weak. In the faint distance of his vision, he saw Areena rush over to him. But time slowed down. Areena ran over to him but it looked like she was walking slowly. And just like that, Loki sipped from his consciousness and everything went black.
"Loki!" Areena screamed but Loki was already unconscious. His already pale face was turning paper white.
"My princess! The spell is ready!" Heimdall informed and Areena looked at Thor nervously. Thor understood her fear and picked up Loki bridal style while trying to be gentle. Loki laid limp in his arms and Thor could feel his bones stick out of his clothes. The three made their way to Heimdall. The soldiers were down. Odin rushed over to them to stop the spell, but he couldn't. And with a flash of blue, the trio was gone.