Sorry for being late, but I was so tired during the holidays, it took me a while to be able to do anything at all. I hope you'll still enjoy this chapter! :)

Guest : Thank you for your reviews! :D And yes, Eisa is the spy but her plan is a whole lot bigger! ;)

Mybonded : Thank you for your reviews! And I do love my cliffhangers, it makes things so intense! :3

Thank you to all who reviewed, favorited and followed! :D

FANFICTION

THE RISE OF LOKI, GOD OF MISCHIEF

CHAPTER XXIII : The Battle of the Red Cliffs

[Loki is sent spying on Jotunheim to find out the truth about the threat of war against the Mountain Giants. Teaming up with a seiðr user, Eisa, she tells him something is following him since his arrival in Jotunheim. After going through the Crossway and facing his worst fears, deepest wounds and memories they infiltrate the fortress of Utgard, they find out that the Giants want war more than ever and after killing the Mountain Giants' Prince, they escape. Odin and Fornjótr both prepare themselves for the battle to come. After escaping Hyrokkin, Loki learns that the spy is Eisa. He is found injured by Thor but at his waking, Loki and Thor realize that the All-Father doesn't know what to expect from the Jotunn army right when a trap is triggered.]

They looked down at the arrow that had just landed on the ground, everyone paling as they realized of what was happening.

"TAKE COVER!" Thor shouted as loudly as possible, turning towards the still resting troops.

His voice was drowned out by the hissing of thousands of arrows flying above their heads. They were under attack, trapped in the mountains. Immediately they heard the gasps and screams of pain from the soldiers as arrows hit them, their bodies falling on the ground with the clang of armour striking soil. The fastest warriors took their shields and lifted them up to protect their bodies but several still got hit from behind. The arrows were coming from everywhere. They were surrounded.

Thor lifted his hand, the power of Mjollnir vibrating before it flew into his grasp. The Crown Prince screamed in rage then flew off. He lifted up his arm, electricity sparkling around the hammer before he threw it down against the cliff, thunder falling down. It resonated through the whole mountain, a cloud of dust rising around the top of the cliff. Then they heard the rumbling of falling rocks mixed with screams of pain. Massive blocs fell from the cliff, landing close to the Asgardian troops, who tried to move away as far as possible. Many bodies of dead Mountain Giants were scattered in the middle of the rocks as Thor landed among his soldiers, shouting orders.

"SHIELDS UP!" He yelled.

He interrupted an arrow mid-flight with Mjollnir destroying it into splinters.

The soldiers moved quickly, trying to form ranks, lifting up their shields above their heads. Quickly, most troops were protected under or behind their shields, forming a giant shield around them.

Loki, the Warriors Three and Sif had observed Thor's actions and decisions from afar. The Maiden Warrior looked up in the mountains to locate the archers, but the trees and pines were more numerous than anywhere else in the mountains – which is probably why the giants hid there. Plus, the cloud of dust was making it impossible to see.

"What an idiot!" Loki grunted between his teeth, cursing Thor for making the task even more complicated.

"This isn't helping, Loki!" Fandral exclaimed.

"Respect your brother!" Volstagg added, lifting up his shield just before an arrow hit it.

The prince glared at him but didn't answer when an arrow hit the shield Sif had lifted up in front of Loki's face before it could kill him. He stared at her in disbelief but she kept her expression focus.

"We need to stay focus on the enemy. Stop fooling around!" she exclaimed to all of them.

"We need to take down the archers," Hogun said.

Sif nodded before turning her attention to Thor, who kept flying from one part of the cliff to another, destroying Mountain Giants.

"Thor!" she called.

He didn't seem to have heard anything, but after a short moment during which he grabbed three Mountain Giants he threw down to the ground, the Crown Prince flew back to his friends.

"We need to take down the archers before they decimate us all!" Fandral exclaimed.

"I agree, then we should split up and go up to–"

A deep rumbling suddenly echoed through the mountains, interrupting him. The group turned their heads upwards, from where the sounds were coming. The arrows suddenly stopped, proving that it wasn't coming from the Mountain Giants. Some soldiers looked up from behind their shields, everyone falling silent and wondering what was happening.

Then a colourful flash of light erupted on their right, hitting the ledge above the cliff. They heard a scream of rage as more troops they couldn't see from down in the ravine ran forward, right towards the Mountain Giants. The screams of agony resonated as some desperate Mountain Giants jumped off the cliff – towards a certain death but one they had chosen. On their left, the Bifröst beamed again, turning some trees into dust. The same battle cries sounded, all Jotunn archers trying to run away in vain.

"AHAH!" Thor exclaimed, hitting strongly Loki's shoulder.

The younger prince almost fell over from the slap and he felt his wound open again, a bitter-sweet taste invading his mouth as he threw a hard look at his brother that didn't escape Sif's vigilant gaze.

"I told you the All Father had a plan!" Thor continued.

Soon enough, the Asgardian troops that had come to the rescue had cornered every Mountain Giant and were killing them off either by pushing them off the cliff or by piercing them through. The cliffs were turning crimson from all the blood flowing down.

"Look!" Fandral exclaimed, pointing his sword at the top of a cliff.

They looked up and saw Orvar, on his horse, smiling and nodding at them.

"Orvar! The All Father did have a plan! He outsmarted the Mountain Giants!" Volstagg exclaimed as the last enemies were being taken prisoner.

Orvar pulled at his horse's reins while the new-coming troops carefully walked down the mountain paths to join the rest of the troops. Odin's general soon joined the princes and elite warriors.

"Orvar! How happy we are to see you!" Volstagg exclaimed, opening his arms and tackling the general into a forced hug.

"I'm happy to know you all safe and sound too – but you're strangling me!" Orvar said.

Volstagg laughed but let go of Orvar, hitting him on the shoulder to share his enthusiasm. The young general smiled at the group, eyes landing on Loki before his smile grew slightly wider.

"Prince Loki, we thought you dead!"

"Sorry to disappoint."

"Don't say such things, brother! It is a victory to celebrate!" Thor exclaimed, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder, "Our father did have a wise plan and we eliminated the Jotunn threat!"

Loki suddenly pulled away, slapping the back of his brother's hand. Thor blinked at Loki, not understanding why he would react so vehemently. Their friends fell silent, staring worriedly at the two princes.

"A victory?! The war isn't over, Thor!" Loki hissed before turning so suddenly towards Orvar that he started. "I need to speak to the All Father right away! Where is he?!"

"Loki, calm down," Fandral started, but the prince ignored him.

"The All Father can't be joining the war at the moment, but I am sure that whatever message you need to share with him can wait and–"

"No! It CAN'T wait! Why is it so hard to listen to me?!" Loki yelled.

Thor looked down, frowning. The Warrior Three and Lady Sif's expressions darkened, suddenly remembering the dreadful information Loki had shared with them before the attack.

Orvar swallowed but kept staring at the younger prince who continued, taking a step forward:

"If you have a messenger, you should send this message to the All Father: the war isn't solely against the Mountain Giants, but all of Jotunheim is leagued against us!"

The general's eyes grew wider before he frowned.

"What makes you think so, Your Highness?" he asked.

Loki was considering throttling him when Thor, sensing his anger and impatience, put a strong hand onto his shoulder and stepped forward.

"Believe my brother's words; he executed the mission he was sent for. Everything he says is true. The All Father needs to know this as soon as possible."

Orvar observed them a moment before nodding quickly.

"Heimdall is watching us right now, the message has probably already been given to the All Father – as well as news of our little victory. We may not have won the war yet, but the Mountain Giants' archers have been mostly annihilated. The few prisoners are being interrogated as we speak."

"Did the All Father send you? What are his orders?" Thor asked.

The general looked at the blond-haired man a short moment before speaking:

"What were yours?"

The confused look on the Crown Prince's face made Orvar sigh deeply before he continued:

"Unfortunately, he gave only a tiny part of his plan, we don't know what he is planning. We only know our missions. He had planned this attack on the Mountain Giants – which is the reason why he sent you to lead the main troops through these cursed mountains. He had hoped the Jotunns would try to trap the Asgardians on their way here and had outwitted them."

"But at what price?" Loki asked before sending a glance at the injured soldiers. "How many have already perished before even reaching the Plains of Sigrún?"

He paused, staring at his brother before speaking again:

"The All Father may be wise, and he may know how to win a war, but he doesn't know everything. He used us all as tools to trap the Mountain Giants – and only a few of them! The real battle is coming and we will be outnumbered!"

"The All Father didn't know all of Jotunheim would be the enemy – so yes, in the battlefield, we will be outnumbered after this sacrifice that could have been avoided," Sif said darkly, thinking about the families that were now broken forever because of this war.

Thor lowered his head, guilt washing over him. If he had thought more deeply about the path they were following, he could have opposed his father to avoid such a risk. Instead, he had blindly followed his orders, confident that his father was the All Father.

Orvar stared mostly at Loki when he spoke:

"The price, Prince Loki, is the same as in all wars: sacrifice. Many died today, and many more will, but we will keep fighting for Asgard. It is our duty," he said firmly.

"Sir!"

They turned towards the Einheri that had just arrived, standing a few meters away from his princes and the bravest warriors of Asgard.

"What is it?" Orvar asked, frowning.

"We have counted the dead and injured from both sides, sir!" the Einheri exclaimed.

"Share it with us then," Fandral said hurriedly.

The young soldier looked down at the paper in his hand, reading out loud the information.

"The Mountain Giants have three hundred and seventy-eight killed and twenty kept prisoner."

He paused, swallowing before announcing the other numbers.

"As for the Asgardian troops that departed under your lead, Your Highness…" he started, glancing at Thor before continuing, "One-hundred and seventeen archers offered their lives for Asgard and ninety-six were injured. The infantry lost three hundred and eighty-nine soldiers and… six hundred and seventy-three were badly injured… The cavalry is intact; they were at the back of the troops…"

He sighed deeply before lowering his paper, looking straight ahead at the princes and warriors.

"The total number of loss and casualties is of one thousand and two hundred seventy-five… Your Highness…"

Thor's lips parted in shock, his face pale. Loki clenched his jaw while Orvar, the Warriors Three and Sif lowered their heads. The crown prince turned around, his heart heavy from this enormous loss. The battle had not lasted more than a few minutes and they had been saved by Orvar's troops. "The price is the same as in all wars: sacrifice," he had said just a moment ago. Thor had fought many battles, but he had never led troops this numerous, and he had never faced such loss.

"You may go," Orvar finally said to the Einheri, who bowed quickly to the princes before walking away.

"Our archers have been wiped out…" Fandral murmured, eyes shining with tears he didn't want to shed.

"At least, the cavalry troops are complete…" Volstagg added with a forced smile, trying to stay positive.

"It's four times the Jotunn losses…" Loki murmured, fists clenched in rage.

"I've been using Fornjótr to attack Asgard."

"Of course, if Odin, or Thor, or any of your 'friends' were to die during this war… It'd just be a bonus."

Eisa – no, Angrboda, and Heiðr, were behind this war. They were the reason why so many Asgardians were lying dead in the dust.

He looked up, a feral light in his eyes. His gaze met Thor's unreadable one.

"I won't let you insult me for trusting our father!"

They stared at each other for a moment, intense electricity sparkling in the air, as if Thor knew what Loki was thinking about and that Loki was aware of Thor's knowledge of his thoughts. The silent accusation was obvious and everyone else swallowed nervously.

"Trust, uh?" Loki spat at his brother who frowned.

"Brother, our father had a plan and–"

"A plan that involved killing thousands of us! But this is war, isn't it?" Loki continued bitterly, turning towards Orvar. "Sacrifices, deaths, duty, following orders blindly. War makes fools of us."

For a short moment, the brown-haired general stared coldly at the younger prince before taking a deep breath.

"This is war."

"The Mountain Giants are responsible for all this, and tearing ourselves apart will gain us nothing, Loki," Volstagg said.

"We are all shaken by our friends who died in a trap," Sif added.

Loki stared at them without a word. He clenched his fists then turned around sharply.

"You don't know who the real enemy is…" he whispered under his breath, so low that only Thor perceived his words. He frowned, but before he could ask anything of his brother, the latter looked over his shoulder at the blond-haired prince.

"But it is a small victory, isn't it? Let's celebrate…" he mocked.

Thor's frown deepened, clenching his fists in anger and pain so that his brother wouldn't understand that he was feeling guilty already. Guilty and shaken. Nothing could have prepared any of them for such a loss, and especially not so soon before the actual battle. Even blinded by loss and rage, Thor still considered his brother's strange behavior. Of course he would curse that so many warriors lost their lives in a trap set up by their father, but Thor knew his brother well enough to understand that there was more behind this cold anger than the love for his people. Thor felt as if his brother were a stranger. As if he had lost his brother among these soldiers. As if Loki had lost himself…

Loki was walking away at a steady pace, needing to get away from everyone.

"What happened to him during his mission? He's even moodier than he used to…" Volstagg grumbled.

Sif glanced at Thor, knowing that if one of them would know Loki enough, it would be him.

As soon as the Crown Prince felt people's attention drawing back to him rather than his brother, he shook away all emotions other than a renewed determination to avenge the Asgardian troops and get rid of the Jotunns.

"Let's camp here tonight and tend to the injured ones. We'll discuss plans in my tent in an hour. I have a conversation to finish with my brother…" he grumbled, already taking a step forward to follow Loki.

The Warriors Three and Orvar observed him in silence before they started giving orders to the shaken troops.

Sif bit her lower lip before running after Thor, catching up with him quickly. He glanced over his shoulder at hearing footsteps behind him but didn't say a word. The maiden warrior stared at him a long moment before speaking up:

"Did he say anything?" she asked, knowing Thor would understand perfectly.

Thor glanced at her before turning his head straight ahead, but his eyes were staring at the dusty ground.

"No…"

Sif remained silent a moment before speeding up to be by his side.

"The first thing that worried him upon waking up was talking to you and the All Father – to warn us all about what he has learned. But I'm sure he learned much more about this war. He didn't have time to tell us everything he knows and surely, it'll be more than useful for us all."

The Crown Prince showed a small smile, a little tense before glancing at his friend.

"You didn't follow me only to share with me what I already knew?" he asked, his voice gentler.

"You know me so well, I can't hide my intentions from you," she replied with a knowing smile.

She dropped her smile and their expressions darkened.

"Thor… Loki is… he had been hidden from Heimdall during the entirety of his mission. We barely know what happened to him. You found him injured in the woods. Poisoned, after having attacked someone with an enormous quantity of seiðr… I don't know what happened to him but…"

Her voice trailed off and she looked down. She never cared much for the second prince, but they had fought together many times, they probably were friends. And Thor loved him so much, it was hard not to smile thinking about the two brothers…

Thor put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly and reassuringly, making the young lady look up at him. He smiled tenderly, a beautiful smile he was showing for her and her only…

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Sif…" he murmured, his hand staying too long on her shoulder to be completely platonic.

Her heart missed a beat, warmth spreading through her entire body as he turned around. She grabbed his muscular arm before he could leave and he looked back at her, lips parting in surprise; she looked as shocked as him at her sudden move.

"Thor– I'm not sure the Loki we have with us now is the same who parted to Jotunheim two weeks ago…" Sif murmured before realizing that Loki wasn't the same.

It scared her how they had all figured it out but none had wanted to face the truth. None had tried to find out what exactly had happened to Loki, and considering the state he was in, it was terrifying…

Thor smiled, a bright, confident smile that took her breath away.

"He's my brother," he said with a strong voice.

He left her then and Sif was left alone with her worries and thoughts. She turned around, looking down at the injured men. The sun was slowly setting, bathing the entire landscape in shades of gold and red. A pyre was being built, and down the blood-covered cliffs the bodies of dead Asgardians killed in the Battle of the Red Cliffs were aligned, waiting to be set on fire. More flames to add to this burning war.

I don't know if next chapter will be next week or not, I'm starting a new fanfiction and I might publish a chapter every two weeks. :)

NEXT CHAPTER : THE SON OF ODIN

Yours Truly,

May