Chapter three is up! :) Since chapters one and two have gotten my friend XophPsycho's approval (he's a friend on another site, and is an awesome writer too!) I've decided to continue where I left off for now.

And sorry it took me forever to post this, but I had gone camping with my parents and went to a football game the day before yesterday (which was awesome.) But I'm back now! :)

So, in addition to this story, I'm thinking about writing a Thor fanfic based (sort of) on the novel The Giver. And Loki's gonna be the main character (after all, he's my favourite Asgardian.) I'm also thinking about writing another AU story with Loki, and maybe a few oneshots too.

Onward!

. . .

Chapter Three: Torch, Fire, Ash

"Can't you walk a little more quietly?!" Loki growls in annoyance as he leans on my shoulder. I bet if he had a choice, he'd walk by himself. But considering his condition, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

I give him a glare. "I'm barely making any noise. And anyway, what are you so worried about, Mr. God? You can protect us both, right?"

Loki rolls his eyes. "Typical mortal's so-called 'wit'... I've heard better comebacks from an Asgardian Wart Hog in labour."

"Gee, thanks for that image..."

We're silent a moment as we trudge through the woods. Then Loki asks, "What is your name?"

"My name? I didn't tell you already?" I ask.

"No."

"Well, I guess it can't hurt..." I sigh and continue, "My name is Lara. Lara Reed."

"La-ra..." Loki tried out the name. "Hm. Not a bad name, I suppose..."

"Mm," I say. "I've heard worse." It's just when I finish my sentence that we come to a clearing in the woods. In the center is tall structure, I guess a giant plaque. Naturally, we approach it to investigate.

"This was not here during any of the previous arena battles," Loki says. "I would have found it a long time ago."

As my eyes scan the symbols etched in the structure, I realise that it's Latin. I'm not overly good at Latin, but I'm able to translate some of the words. "Torch, fire, ash."

"Come again?" Loki looks at me strangely.

"The words at the bottom of the plaque," I say. "Torch, fire, ash. It's repeated again and again, like a chant."

"Well, well, it seems you Midgardians aren't so dim as your ancestors," Loki comments, smirking.

"You know, there are people who don't believe in cavemen being so stupid as the rest of the planet portrays them," I shoot back. "Humans don't know everything. And neither do you gods."

Loki rolls his eyes and looks at the plaque. "It appears this plaque commemorates the so-called 'great deeds' of the army general Dis Pater."

I look at Loki with a frown. "Dis Pater was a Roman god, not Norse. How could you possibly know that?"

Loki glares at me again. "Because Dis Pater was an Asgardian, you simpleton. He was the general for my- ahem, Thor's grandfather's army. But Pater did something, committed a crime of what I do not know, and he was banished to Midgard. But some centuries before I was born, he managed to hide himself from Heimdall. And Odin had been looking for him ever since."

"Did Odin ever find him?" I ask.

"He came close eleven years ago," Loki replies. "But no. He never did find him."

That's when my parents abandoned me. But I can't think about that now. Not right now... "Do you think that Dis Pater is responsible for bringing us here?"

"Possibly," Loki says. "It's clear he's been here at some point. As to whether he is responsible for our arrival... I don't know."

"Hm."

"Hm, what?"

"Nothing."

"Are you mocking me?" Loki snarls. "I'll have you know that you mean less than ant to me and I can kill you right here and now and feel no remorse."

"Yeah, just think how much pleasure in killing me you'll feel when you're impaled by a samurai sword," I say as we inspect the plaque further.

"How did you do it?" Loki leans against the plaque, studying the letters, while I take a look on the other side.

"How did I do what?" I examine the strange tiles on the back of the plaque. Maybe one of them is actually a button and does something of use...

"You stopped my sceptre from impaling you without even touching it," Loki says. "It's clear you are not an ordinary Midgardian."

"You're right," I say. "I'm not."

"Then what are you?"

I frown for a moment, feeling a pain in my chest. My tears threatening to spill, and my throat hurts. "A mistake," I manage to get out. "I was a mistake. Am a mistake..." My sentence trails off as I examine an odd looking tile.

"Loki, come take a look at this," I say.

Loki limps over, still leaning against the plaque. "I do not take well to being bossed around by a mere mortal."

I ignore his comment and point at the tile. "This tile is slightly raised. Like it was meant to hide something." I press my hand against it and it lights up mysteriously for a moment. Then the tile vanishes, leaving behind a small lever.

I look at Loki and he looks at me. "What are you waiting for?" Loki says, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Let's see what it does."

I nod and look back at the lever. Let's hope this doesn't kill us or something, I think as I pull the lever. There's the sound of whirring from within the plaque, then a loud clank. Suddenly the plaque sinks into the ground and reveals an underground passageway.

"Curiouser and curiouser," I say, echoing the words of Alice in Wonderland.

"Indeed," Loki says, leaning against my shoulder again. "It seems you really might be useful after all."

"Do you think it might be a way out of this arena?"

"I doubt it. More likely it's just another addition to the arena, a new challenge perhaps. But a way out? No, it would not be that easy. Stupid mortal..."

I'm very tempted to flip off Loki right now, but I don't do so for two reasons. One, he wouldn't know what the gesture meant. Two... seeing what's inside that passage is more alluring than giving out a petty insult.

"Whatever," I say. "Let's check it out."

. . .

Sorry this was kinda short, but I was so excited to post this chapter that I didn't wait to add anything else. I may rewrite this chapter at some point, but I'm not sure. Thoughts?

Anyway, see ya all next time. :)