Chapter 9 - Brotherly Strife

The biting wind of Svartalfheim lifted the dust and ashes of past battles as we slowly made our way through the remnants of a forgotten world. The air was heavy, thick with a silent tension, and each step echoed like a reminder of the events that had led us here.

Jane was resting on a bench, the effects of the Aether still visible on her pale face. Thor remained by her side, watching her with barely concealed concern.

Around us, Svartalfheim stretched out like a shattered landscape, once majestic but now reduced to haunted ruins. Towering arches of deep black, remnants of an ancient architecture, rose above the cracked ground, ravaged by time and past wars. The very earth seemed dead, fissured and barren, covered in a thin layer of ash that spread out like a gray carpet as far as the eye could see. Rivers of molten rock snaked beneath the surface, casting a reddish glow that gave the shadows eerie, shifting forms.

Jagged peaks rose on either side of our path, as if trying to pierce the darkened sky, heavy with thick storm clouds that filtered the light, plunging the world into eternal twilight. On the horizon, the remains of broken Elven ships littered the ground, silent witnesses to the fierce battles that once ravaged this realm. A heavy silence reigned, broken only by the sound of our footsteps and the wind whistling through the collapsed structures.

Loki, however, seemed oddly relaxed, as if this entire situation was nothing more than entertainment to him. His eyes sparkled with familiar mischief as he observed his brother with a sly smirk.

"She won't last long, you know." His voice cut through the silence like a sharpened blade.

Thor lifted his gaze toward him, his jaw tightening. "Don't start, Loki."

But Loki continued, savoring every word. "It's truly fascinating. You, a prince of Asgard, falling for a mortal. A woman whose existence will fade in the blink of an eye, while you will continue to live for centuries."

I tightened my grip on my staff, watching the scene with apprehension. I knew Loki was trying to provoke Thor, but this time, he seemed to be playing with embers ready to ignite.

Thor slowly straightened, his steel-blue eyes gleaming under Svartalfheim's dim light. "Would that satisfy you, Loki? To know that I will suffer from her loss?"

Loki gave a cold smile. "Satisfaction is not in my nature."

"Surrender is not in mine," Thor retorted.

"The son of Odin…" Loki began.

"Not just of Odin," Thor interrupted, stepping closer. "Do you think you were the only one Mother loved?"

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Thor clenched his fists, his gaze burning with both anger and pain.

"All you ever do is deflect. You've never been able to take responsibility for your actions. You were absent when we needed you—she needed you. Mother is dead, Loki."

Loki's smirk vanished in an instant. His expression shifted from amusement to something darker, deeper.

"Who locked me away? Who imprisoned me?!"

"You know very well who!" Thor shot back before shoving him against the edge of the ship.

Loki's voice wavered for a second before sharpening into a bitter edge. "You were supposed to be Asgard's great protector, the rightful heir to the throne, yet you weren't there to save her."

Thor took a step forward, his breath uneven, his fists trembling with the effort to restrain himself. "I imprisoned you because you chose your own path, Loki. Because you betrayed our people, our family."

Loki let out a dry chuckle, devoid of amusement. "Surrender is not in my nature. Just as betrayal doesn't seem to be out of yours."

Thor clenched his jaw. "Frigga may not have taught me her tricks or her magic, but at least she trusted me."

Loki narrowed his eyes, bitterness flashing in them. "Was it trust that showed on her face in her final moments?"

The words struck Thor like an invisible blow. His body tensed, and for a moment, I thought he might actually hit Loki. But at the last second, he let out a shaky breath, his clenched fists loosening.

"Mother wouldn't want us to fight," he murmured.

Loki raised an eyebrow, his mask of indifference returning instantly. "She wouldn't be surprised."

A silence stretched between them, then, unexpectedly, a soft chuckle escaped Thor's lips. Loki watched him, intrigued, before an ironic smile tugged at his own.

"I wish I could trust you," Thor finally admitted before turning away.

Loki observed him for a moment, and in his gaze, one could almost see something resembling regret before he replied in a calm, cold voice: "Then trust my rage."

I let out a slow breath, only now realizing how tense I had been. This confrontation was far more than just an exchange of words. It was an emotional duel, an echo of years of conflicts and unhealed wounds. I didn't know if Thor was right to even consider trusting Loki, but one thing was certain: Loki was hiding much more than he was willing to reveal.

As they seemed ready to resume their march, I decided to speak up.

"You know," I said, breaking the silence, "Frigga was a seer. She must have known this moment would come."

Thor and Loki turned their gazes toward me, surprised.

"If she foresaw her own death," I continued, "then she knew you would be here together. She also knew that one of you would place blame, while the other would search for someone to blame. But do you know what she would have truly wanted? For her family to stay united after she was gone."

Loki averted his gaze slightly, but I saw his jaw tighten. Thor, on the other hand, seemed to ponder my words, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"She loved you both," I added. "And even though she is no longer here, she deserves better than to see you tearing each other apart over and over again."

Another silence settled, but this time, it felt different. Less heavy, more contemplative. I didn't expect them to suddenly become perfect brothers, but maybe—just maybe—these words would plant a seed of hope.

The ruins passed by as we neared our objective. Loki remained silent, Thor cast occasional glances at the horizon, deep in thought. And I wondered if Frigga, wherever she was, appreciated my efforts to bring even the slightest harmony between her sons.