A Dragon Moves Amongst Us, Chapter 3 - A Sif/Loki Fanfiction
A Dragon Moves Amongst Us
Chapter 3
Fandom - Thor (2011 Film), Sif/Loki
Rating - Teenage
Summary - During one of their many adventures, Sif runs into a dragon who looks and acts just like Loki. She doesn't realise it's only a trick and finds herself in a lot of trouble, in more ways than one...
Genre - Romance/Fantasy
Status - Work in Progress, Chapter 3 of 10?
Word Count - 1,417 words
Previous Chapters - Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
So, I was set a drabble challenge by mechelune to write a Sif/Loki story where Sif meets a dragon who looks and acts like Loki. I'm not very good at sticking to drabble length, so here's the third chapter in what will probably end up being a longish story. I hope you enjoy reading and more is definitely on its way!
Chapter 3
The dense blackness had gone. Loki had lost its trace when a hidden branch had caught his foot and he had been thrown forwards. The first thought that came to him as he righted himself was that it was too late. The evil magic had found Sif and she had been taken, or killed. Loki did not know which was worst. So blind was his panic and pain at the thought, it was a few moments before reason returned. No, if the foul creature had hurt Sif, or even taken her, the traces of the magic would still remain. This sudden disappearance was more nefarious than that. It was a deliberate concealment, which meant it was gaining on its prey.
Loki quickly whispered a few words in an ancient tongue and pushed the magic as far as he dare risk it. Nothing. He could increase the power, cast it out across the whole forest, but then whatever the creature was, and many creatures beside, would be alerted to his presence. That could put Sif in even more danger. Instead, he moved hastily forwards, pushing through the thick trees and trying to find his bearings in the same, dense blackness. His own green light unable to penetrate deeply into the night.
It was only when he tripped once more on a hidden branch that the thought occurred to him. As he pushed himself up from the sodden, dirty leaves, he noticed the impression of another. Loki stood up quickly, glanced around, but he could not be sure. The trees all looked so similar in the inky blackness. He placed his hand on the nearest tree trunk and whispered a few words in an ancient tongue. A green handprint glowed momentarily, before it was engulfed by the blackness. Loki smiled grimly; no one but he would be able to sense his mark, and it would fade by daybreak.
Continuing on, Loki did his best to stay straight, heading deeper into the forest, searching for the source of the magic and any recent, tell tale signs that another had passed this way. When he reached the hidden branch a third time, his careful footsteps halting a third fall, Loki immediately reached towards the nearest tree. When the same, ancient words brought forward a green light, swirling around and taking the form of a handprint, Loki cursed. He was going around in circles and it was no accident. There was a far more powerful force at work here than just the blackness of the night and the similarity of the trees. He was being deliberately disorientated, waylaid. And he had not even been able to sense this powerful spell, spread out across the forest and designed to confuse any unwelcome footsteps. This creature was even more powerful than Loki had ever imagined. Not only would it be next to impossible to find Sif, but she was in grave danger. He could not delay any longer; he had to find her before this evil, powerful creature did.
Loki took a deep, steadying breath and reached out his arms wide. The words of the powerful spell that would cast his magical eye across the whole forest had just begun to slip off his tongue when he heard it. Voices. They were faint, but one was as distinct to him as his own breathing and it momentarily stopped his heart. He hastily closed his lips, cutting off the remaining spell before it could wrought any damage. Quickly, Loki headed in the direction of the voices, eager to find her.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks. Voices… There were two voices, one distinctly Sif’s, the other muffled, but sounding deeper, male. That could mean only one thing. Sif was talking to this person, Sif knew this person.
As the full implication took weight, Loki felt as if Sif had plunged her sword deep into his heart and twisted it down into his gut and up into his lungs. He couldn’t breathe for many moments and pain blinded his thoughts. She was not out in these woods to take a breath of air or to see to any business. She was here to meet him, whoever he might be. Thor? Fandral? Maybe even Hogun? Loki did not know and he could have sworn he had heard his oath of a brother and the fools three still snoring away when he had left. But then, he had not looked too closely at their sleeping forms, one could have slipped past him or maybe even followed on behind for this pre-arranged meeting. For that it must have been for them to find each other. And there could be only one reason for them to meet in the dark woods, at night, and away from the safety of the camp…
Loki took a few steps forward, then stopped, turned around, walked a few more back, then stopped again. His fingers were continually clenching into fists as the pain turned into anger, snaking through him like venom. The green light he had wielded for vision was blazing around him, roaring up into the thick canopy as if the very forest was on fire with his anger and pain. Part of him wanted to know, had to know, who Sif was meeting. Yet he did not know if he would be able to face it, seeing them, together. Especially if it was him; his fool of a brother Thor. Loki knew full well all of Asgard had been planning the wedding of the Crown Prince and the Lady Warrior for centuries, even if no agreement had ever been in place between them. At least, Loki thought, none he was aware of. Well, if they chose to keep it a secret, so be it, what did he care anyway! He forced his rage and magic under control and started walking back towards camp, his angry footsteps muffled by the thick leaves on the forest floor.
Loki had just reached the marked tree and was about to step over the branch when he stopped, suddenly remembering. No. He couldn’t leave them. No matter what they were doing out here, they were still in danger. The powerful magician was still stalking them and neither possessed enough magic to protect themselves. He couldn’t leave Sif and him out here, alone and with no idea of what was approaching. Loki would just have to face his own demons and besides, Loki thought, had he not always known it would come to this, one day?
He swallowed hard, gritted his teeth and turned around once more. His palms were pulsing now with magic, crackling all around him as he forced all his senses onto full alert. This new task, this focus of finding them, was helping to drive out the pain that still seemed lodged in his heart.
He could only hope he reached them in time.
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I hoped you enjoyed this first part. More is definitely on it's way!