STAVE THIRTY

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me.

Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but

That is not for us to decide. All we have to decide

Is what to do with the time that is given to us.

-The Fellowship of the Ring

Loki stood at the base of the ramp of the ship. The dry wind gusted around him, and the garish sun glared against the surface of the abandoned landing platform.

Three days ago, they had landed on Sakaar, in an unobtrusive place to which Loki had directed them. Loki had then given Thor a charm, and told him where to find Bruce Banner. And Thor found him indeed—in his monster form—but the charm Loki gave Thor was able to change Banner back to his human form. Unfortunately, the noisy argument beforehand had caused planetary police to come storming in…

But Thor and Banner had both escaped with the help of a woman who called herself Valkyrie—though Loki knew the moment he saw her that she was merely a secretive Valkyrie-friend, like Lady Sif, who wanted no one to know her true name. And she had agreed to join them, apparently still tied by a thread of loyalty to the shards of her homeland. However, she had climbed aboard the other ship, not wanting her business pried into by either of the sons of Odin.

Now, Thor, Sif, and Jane stood just inside the broad doorway of a large, empty warehouse at the other end of the landing platform. Loki had healed Sif's leg during Thor's errand, and the lady warrior now stood firmly on both feet, looking as beautiful and fierce as she ever had. Jane, much shorter, leaned against Lady Sif, the wind rustling through the soft blue dress she wore, and the edges of her brown hair. Sif, Jane and Thor spoke in low tones. And Loki watched all of them from a distance.

Thor put his hand to Jane's head and said something to her. She patted his hand, and smiled. Thor reached out with his right hand, put it around Sif's neck, leaned in and kissed her, twice. He made her promise something. Then, Thor turned, and strode back toward Loki, and the ship. He wore a black eye-patch over his missing eye, now. And Loki wondered, with a quiet ache in his heart, if this was how Odin had once looked in his youth.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

Loki's head came around. Thor stood beside him, peering keenly at him.

Loki shook his head.

"I have nothing to say," he answered.

"Nonsense," Thor scoffed. "Go say goodbye. You don't know when you'll see either of them again. And they're both waiting."

Loki glanced to where the two women stood, a dark coldness settling through his bones.

"Go," Thor nudged him. "I'll be aboard."

"Fine," Loki sighed, his heartbeat picking up. "Don't leave without me."

"I won't," Thor assured him. "Take your time."

Loki listened as Thor's footsteps clattered up the ramp. Then, Loki faced the women, and steeled himself.

He strode toward them, glancing back and forth into their eyes. He stopped an arm's length away, and inclined his head.

"Lady Sif," he said quietly. "Take care of yourself."

She stretched out her hand to him. He hesitated, then took it, and kissed the back of it.

"Please do likewise, Your Majesty," she answered sincerely.

He offered her what smile he could, gazing one last time into her dark, shining eyes.

"I will try," he said.

Then, he looked at Jane.

And suddenly couldn't think of anything to say.

She shifted, taking a breath…

But she didn't speak, either.

Sif backed up, withdrawing from Jane's grasp, and deftly holding Jane's arm out to Loki.

To keep her from falling, Loki quickly stepped in and held out his arms, and she took hold of them. Sif backed away, into the shadows of the warehouse.

Loki swallowed. His hesitating hands settled on Jane's hips. She pressed her palms to his chest, glancing down. As if she couldn't look at him. His attention wandered freely all over her features—her long lashes, her delicate eyebrows and nose, her soft mouth, the way her gently-curling hair rustled against her neck…

"Well…" she said quietly—and her voice sent a shock through him. She smiled a little. "Goodbye."

And she lifted her eyes, and looked at him.

He kissed her.

He brought his mouth down on hers, drawing in a deep breath of her, pulling his hands up and wrapping them around her head, tangling his fingers in her hair. She caught hold of his shirt and fell against him, kissing him back. And soon, she frantically wrapped her arms around his neck, he caught her around the waist and lifted her off the ground.

They kissed and kissed, losing themselves in each other, and Loki fought to memorize every sensation, every scent, the warmth of her against him, the taste of her mouth, the sound of her breath, the feel of her fragile body in his arms.

The beat of her heart inside his.

And as his mouth lingered on her lips, pressing in deep, a fleeting thought crossed his mind, like the feathers of a bird.

Would she feel it when it happened?

Would she know?

He broke the kiss. He gasped. So did she.

He smoothed her hair away from her face, devouring the sight of her. Losing himself in her brilliant eyes.

"I dare not kiss you again," he panted, running his thumb across her bottom lip. "Or I'll never be able to go."

"Do you have to leave?" Jane whispered, searching his eyes and winding her fingers through his hair.

Slowly, he lowered her back to the ground.

"I've already told you. I can never leave you," he shook his head, and pressed her hand to his heart. "Even if the universe tears apart at the seams. You're right here. Always."

Tears fell from her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks. Loki turned his head away and closed his eyes.

"Don't, please," he murmured. "Please." He made himself look at her again, cupping her face in both hands. "Let me remember your smile?"

"I can't," she gasped, shaking her head. He held her still.

"Please," he said again.

Her eyebrows drew together. Her eyes shone.

But then…

She gave him the most beautiful, shattered, shining smile he had ever seen.

And he returned it.

"Be brave, alskling," he whispered. "Goodbye."

And he let her go.

She faltered for a moment, then regained her balance. He took three steps backward, burning the sight of her into his memory…

Then turned around, with all the strength in his body, and marched toward the ship. And in half a moment, he was aboard, and the ramp closed behind him.

VVVVVVVVVVV

Thor stood on the bridge of the ship, gazing out into the vast, cold expanse of blackness, dotted by occasional stars. He folded his arms, listening to the quiet hum of the engines. All the rest of his people aboard ship were below now, resting.

Quiet footsteps behind him. He didn't have to look to know who it was.

Loki stopped by his left shoulder, and also folded his arms.

"It's been so long since I've traveled this way. Through the starpaths, without the Bifrost," Thor mused. "I'd forgotten what it looked like, away from the light of Asgard."

Loki didn't say anything. After a moment, Thor glanced at him.

Loki's face was pale, his eyes keen as a blade. And he stared out the broad viewport. A chill ran down Thor's spine.

"What?"

"Look," Loki said, barely audible.

Thor turned…

To see a huge, black mass obstructing the stars.

And it was coming closer.

"What is that?" Thor murmured, his hands closing to fists.

"A ship," Loki stated, in a voice soft as death.

As they watched, the great ship drew closer and closer—so vast it soon filled all of space before them.

"Who is it?" Thor whispered through his teeth. "Loki—Who is it?"

Loki just took a step to his right, so that his shoulder brushed Thor's. He did not take his eyes from the ship outside.

"Brother," Loki murmured—calm and cold. "Do you trust me?"

Thor looked at him, his heart picking up.

"Yes," he answered. "I do."

Loki turned his head, and met Thor's eyes.

"Then trust me."

"Darkness took me,

and I strayed out of thought and time...

The stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long

as a life age of the earth...

But it was not the end."

-Gandalf, The Two Towers

FIN