[IC] The Raven King ("Man With Horns" Sequel) { Jazz & Angel }

[AngelBites15]

Maleficent looked at Eric dead in the eye as she heard Loki talking to her. She felt his grip on her wrist which held the knife. "My name's Eric", Eric spoke up as he rolled up his sleeve which revealed no tattoo like Thor. Maleficent's facial expression softened as she saw Eric show proof. "I'm sorry", she said softly as she pulled away. "After what has happened to us, I just felt vengeance upon myself. My apologies, Eric", she said to him.

[Jazz]

Loki sighed in relief as things had settled down and no harm came to any of the two. He had let go of Maleficent's wrist when she pulled the dagger from Eric's neck. The Dwarves seeing that the tension had stopped, then felt a bit awkward till one of them spoke up. "Well! Let us set camp. No doubt everyone has had a big day and rest will most likely be needed." Beith said as he had the rest of the dwarves head to their little camping site where they all had taken out their personal belongings and such. Loki turned to the Dwarves as they were setting up their camp and making it as homey to them as they could. He thought help out but a few of them seemed to look at him suspiciously so he felt them be till he got distracted my a tree that was covered in Butterflies. Cautiously walking to it, he slowly lifted his hand out toward them till his hand was close enough and fluttered away, some landing on him. He giggled when a few tickled his skin with their movements and kisses. He felt like a kid again who was always curious about the world he was growing up in. About the creatures he wanted to know his whole life. Turning to Eric slowly he motioned him over to him while those few butterflies were on his clothes or skin.

[AngelBites15]

Eric watched Loki in the distance as they set up camp. Maleficent watched as her son went to a butterfly bush and the insects flew about all over him. She had to admit that Loki looks like a little kid again when she saw him laughing. Sitting on the rock nearby, she watched as Loki approached Eric. Eric watched the fae approach him and he gazed on him with a face in smitten.

[Jazz]

Well Loki didn't noticed the look Eric had toward him, but the fae did give off mischievous presence around him. He stopped a few feet from the man as he whispered something Eric wouldn't understand. With what happened next, the butterflies that were on him had flown all around till they landed on Eric. He was hoping to help the Huntsman a little. The butterflies had then started walking on Eric a little, here and there. Loki smiled as he watched, hoping for a reaction. Then he noticed the humanoid looking faries that seemed to come up to him slyly while on a branch of a bush. He looked over to them curiously as he crouched, watching them conversating. He then laughed softly as he heard what they had said.

[AngelBites15]

Eric felt the butterflies flying around him as well as they have been landing here and there. Without second thought, he accidentally knocked into Loki, tumbling them both to the ground. With Loki below him, he chuckled as he looked at him. "I'm sorry", he said with the chuckle he gave to him. His smile was cheeky but it was foreign. He stood up before he gave his hand to help him up. As he pulled him up, the fae was then against his chest before his eyes were looking in his emerald ones.

[Jazz]

Loki was not aware of what would happen till it happened and being knocked over, he yelped as he was tumbled onto. Looking to see what happened, he saw that Eric was ontop of him as was blushing. He couldn't help but chuckle with him as for how silly it was. But he liked seeing someone smile. It brought joy to Loki and he could have it no other way no matter how cheeky and foreign it may be. When Eric got up, Loki sat up accepting his hand for help and his apology. When pulled up, he was still a bit light so he had been pulled up to then leaning against the Huntsman's chest and looking into Eric's hazel eyes. He had no idea how long the two of them had been like this but he was blushing and feeling his face warm up. He pulled away from the huntsman slowly and just smiled, unsure why himself.

During this whole ordeal, one of the Dwarves, Gort was seeing what was going on between Loki and the Huntsman with suspicion. Then he thought he would take the time to ruin the moment before clearing his voice, the camp basically done. "Camp is set." He said before walking off. Loki jumped a little when Gort spoke up and looked to him and the dwarves before looking to Eric. "Guess we should probably head over." Knowing that Maleficent was observant as ever, Loki was mentally ranting in his head.

[AngelBites15]

Eric was looking into his eyes. They were so enchanting as he looked within them. He had to admit that this man was a mystery to him, but it was no more when his mother came back to him. It was obvious that he had a family as well as a home: the Moors. Well, it once was. But if he could help Loki defeat the queen, it was possible that he would see the enchanted forest go back to its natural nature beauty. Noticing how close they were, he chuckled before he let him go from his grasp. Hearing the dwarf tell them that camp was set, he snapped back into reality before he felt the eyes of Maleficent at the back of his head. "We uh...better get to camp then", he tells Loki with a chuckle before he turned around to walk to the camp site.

[Jazz]

Loki walked over to the camp site but not before looking for his mother to see where she was. He did look to see that the sun was setting, not realizing that the day had gone though very quickly. One of the eight dwarves lit a fire as they then brought out food that they had as well as drink. Gus handed some to Loki and then Maleficent. The area was peacefully quiet as they ate and drank.

Coll then looked to Duir as they sat together before leaning over. "Here, would you really have killed her?" He asked curiously. Duir then nodded. "Yeah, of course." Coll looks at Loki suspiciously as Loki gets up and walks towards Muir. "That seat's not taken, if that's what you were about to ask." He said, not looking in any particular direction. But Loki sits next to him anyway.

"I want to thank you." Loki said, looking at him and sounding thankful. "It's only a log. There's no need to thank me." Muir said with a chuckle. Loki though shook his head. "No, for before. For defending me." Muir held his hand up. "You're mother was a good woman. The kingdom prospered, our people prospered. Of course King Balder and Queen Silena also helped amazingly." Loki looked at him with confusion. "There were more of you?" Muir nodded. "Aye."

Gort spoke up. "Yeah. The men you see before you, were many many more, went deep into the caves. We were noble gold miners, because we could see the light in the darkness. Gus. Gus! You were just a boy, but you remember?" Gus nodded before Gort continued. "When we returned to the surface, there was nothing. The land was black and everything, everyone was gone. It was dead." He said sadly. "That was the month King Balder died. As did the Moors." Loki looked saddened with their stories. How everything went wrong for them. Became a struggle. "I'm very sorry." Loki said, knowing it may not help. Muir nodded though. "As am I, Loki. As am I." Muir then looked in the general direction the dwarves were. "Son, play a happy song." And so Quert did. Singing one of their happy songs to lighten the mood.

[AngelBites15]

Eric sat next to Maleficent at the fire, feeling her presence. Of all the stories he has heard of the fairy, he didn't think one would be a mother as well as act like one with a good heart. She didn't look dangerous, nor was she a threat. Such people fear of the fairies as enchanted beings like placing a curse? MMaleficent didn't look like that at all. Nor did get son. "I heard about the Moors", he spoke up to her. "Im very sorry", he said in an apologetic tone. "Its alright", she said softly without looking away from the raven-haired fae. "Our home was a land of magic and wonder. I was its protector once. A guardian. But then, one man came and took that away from me", the fairy said sadly. Eric had a feeling that it was Thor. "Loki used to love the man. In my eyes, they were more than just friends. Until that man betrayed us. Killed me for greed and left Loki with nothing. That was the day he would never experience love again", she finished her story and then finally broke her gaze from Loki before turning her head a little with her gaze to the ground. "My son deserves better, Huntsman", she began. "He is not one to fit for a place of darkness. Can you perhaps lead to light again?", she asked him. Eric swallowed before thinking about it. "I will. I'll do it for you. And him", he responded with Maleficent's hand being gently placed on his hand that was in his lap in thanks. Eric and Maleficent then turned their gaze back to Loki as he was dancing with Gus. The Huntsman made a small smile upon his face as he watched the fae dance.

[Jazz]

At first, Loki was a bit bad with dancing, yes he may have the footwork for but he had no idea of the dances from any other races. So he felt a bit silly. But he laughed and smiled as he tried dancing with Gus. As a little bit of time passed when dancing with the dwarf, he got better at it and was soon less clumsy. None the less he was having fun and that was all that mattered.

A time after Eric talked to Maleficent, Beith came up from behind and sat down next to the Huntsman with a cup in his hand. "Still fleecing yourself our bevy, Huntsman?" He asked curiously, taking his eyes off Loki to glancing to Eric.

[AngelBites15]

As Eric finished talking to Maleficent, he peered at Loki as he watched him dance. Then he heard his friend, Beith, speak to him. "What do you say when we let bygones be bygones?", he asked as if nothing was wrong. He took at bite from the food he was eating before he took another glance at the raven-haired fae as he danced. He didn't mind his bad dancing. He was just amused at the happiness that he was currently. Admittedly, he grew fond of the male. He charmed a dangerous troll, escaped Asgard, and even talked his way out of the dwarves' grasp. He was a mischievous one indeed, but according to Maleficent, he was lonely. No wonder he wasn't capable of being by himself.

[Jazz]

Beith chuckled as he too watched the raven haired male. He too was a little amused as the fae dance. "Not yet." He then took a drink from his cup. then he spoke up after a bit of silence. "So what's in it for you, hey?" He asked and after a moment of not saying anything be it the man spoke or not, he spoke up. "I mean the lad there. Is it really just the gold?" He asked, looking to the Huntsman. "Muir says she's destined. Questions is, Huntsman, for what? Hm?"

[AngelBites15]

He looked at Beith. "What are you talking about?", he asked him as if he found out something that he was hiding. He looked at Loki again as he dances with Gus. He listened to Beith as he continued watching. He wondered if it was just the gold he wanted. Was it the fae?

[Jazz]

The night was peaceful as the Eight Dwarves, Maleficent, Eric and Loki soon retired for the night. The Morning that followed was still a peaceful one as Loki was awake before anyone else surprisingly. He felt fully rested and much better. He undid his cloak for a moment to check his wounds. He felt no pain, and from all that he could gather by taking off his bandages, the wounds on his back were healed too. He felt relief and joy that he no longer had the marks to prove his imprisonment. No scars either, and he expected to have scars. Putting his cloak back on and throwing the bandages into the firepit to burn with what coals were left that were still hot, Loki then heard something he never heard before. It didn't sound dangerous. But like it was calling out to him. Unsure of what that was, Loki decided to investigate. He tread through the forest as he then saw the two fairies that he saw yesterday. But more of them had shown themselves. Loki noticed them conversating and smiled. Like knew what they were talking about, the raven haired fae had looked to his left before heading off again.

One of the Dwarves Gort, had noticed Loki walking off and had waken up basically the whole party. Even the huntsman. Gus had shaken Maleficent to wake her. "Somethings going on." He said when she was awake and pointed to he wondering Loki. The eight then followed behind him to see where Loki was going. They followed him to a lake that had a tree in the middle as well as large and yet beautiful white stag that stood proudly before everything around it. Loki walked slowly as he looked at the Stag in wonder and awe. He thought he saw this Stag somewhere but even not it was still a gorgeous animal. The dwarves stopped when they reached the edge of the clearing. "No, no, no! No one's ever seen this before." Beith says as he stops anyone from moving from this spot.

[AngelBites15]

Maleficent was laying against a large stone so she was sleeping in a sitting position while Loki slept next to her. Like a kid again, he laid his head in her lap. Eric was sleeping on the ground on his back not that far away.

As morning came, the fairy was awaken by Gus before he told her that something was going on. She also noticed that Loki wasn't in her lap anymore. "Huntsman", she whispered to Eric which awakened him. He noticed that the raven haired male wasn't with them. The pair followed the dwarves before they noticed in the distance that he was with a white stag. It was huge to Eric's eyes as Maleficent's eyes just narrowed with suspicion. They finally made it to the front of the group as they watched the male interact with such a creature. "What do you mean?", Eric asked Beith while he continued watching.

[Jazz]

Loki went up to the white Stag till he was practically infront of it. He stood there watching it as it watched him. Loki then muscled up the courage to touch the Stag's head. Loki's smile grew as he looked into its eyes. The Stag then backed away a little from the fae's touch and bowed his head before Loki.

Quert then spoke up after seeing this. "The White Heart bows before the Prince of the Moors, father." He said in amazment. Muir smiled. "He's blessing him." Muir then directed his words toward the Huntsman. "You have eyes, Huntsman, but you do not see. You, who have been with him the longest. He is life itself, he will heal the land. He is the one. Can't you feel it? Are your ailments not gone? Gold or no gold, where he leads, I follow." Muir spoke up as he set his staff down. Gus spoke up. "Aye." "I'm with you" Gort said next. "I'm with you" Quert was the last to speak as the others nodded.

Suddenly all that was wonderful was now put to horror as the large white stag was shot by an arrow. It raised itself and rearing as Loki quickly backed away as trying to calm the beast before looking in the direction it was shot, seeing an archer in the distance. Loki soon became horrified and froze on the spot. Knowing full well that they were the men that attacked that village they were at. Feeling his heart ache for all the woman and children that were possibly killed that night, he didn't know what to do for he felt he couldn't move. The Dwarves saw this scene before them and were horrified as they saw the stag be shot before their eyes. The started to stay their ground as Beith and the rest saw who attacked. "Huntsman! Get him and let's go!"

[AngelBites15]

As soon as Eric saw the arrow shoot the stag, he then acted quickly before he ran to Loki and held his arm to shield him from the incoming arrows. The arrows went this way and that as they were trying to shoot at the group. Maleficent was on her own as she stayed behind to confront the shooters. Soon they were surrounding her. They fired at the same time before the arrows were stopped before they even hit her. She smirked before the arrows turned back and shot them. She kept going to catch up with the group as the Huntsman was found by Finn. "I admire your fight, Huntsman. Your wife was the same", Finn mocked him as he drew his dagger. "What do you know of my wife?", Eric asked him with grim. "I remember them all", Finn says as the Huntsman tries to attack Finn again, but Finn pushes him against the tree, hold his knife against his stomach. "Especially the ones with fight!", Finn spat with venom in his voice and Eric tries to pull Finn's knife away. "She screamed your name, but you weren't there", Finn continued taunting before he punches Eric then pushes him to the ground. "Now you can beg her forgiveness in the other world", Finn shouted as he was about to strike with his knife. The Huntsman suddenly pushes Finn into a splintered stump, impaling him.

In Asgard, Ravenna soon fell to the ground in pain as she felt the demise of her brother. "Sister, heal me!", Finn begs as Ravenna cries as she is drained of all strength. "Forgive me, brother", Ravenna tells him. "I feel...", Finn begins to say before he slips away.

Maleficent and Loki hid behind a tree to get away from the attackers.

[Jazz]

Loki felt a hand on his arm and looked to see it was Eric. Finding mobility, Loki ran with Eric and Maleficent as Gus too followed while the other dwarves dispersed to take on the other attackers. Loki was with the Huntsman for a moment till they were found by Finn who went after Eric. Loki then hid, knowing he was no match as well as mentally. He felt the presence of his mother and felt some relief but was still alerted by the danger around them. When Finn was killed, Loki looked peered over as he saw the man take his last breath.

Gus looked behind them to see if it was clear behind them before they moved on to see an archer several feet from them with an arrow ready. The archer shot and Gus knew who it was going to hit. "Arrow!" And Gus got between the arrow and its mark. Shot in the back and fell. Loki looked behind him once he heard Gus call out but it was too late. He saw Gus fall and with an arrow in his back. He rushed to his side and he tried to get Gus to focus on him. "Gus, Gus Gus. Breath Gus, breath." He said as calmly as he could. Gus was trying to do as Loki instructed but knew better. "They won't...leave you sir." He was referring to the other dwarves. Loki felt tears form in his eyes as he started to cry.

The dwarves gathered as they saw Gus' lifeless body, all saddened by his departure from this world. Gort was the one that walked up to the body of Gus. Kneeling he looked to his fallen comrade. "We used to have pride, and now we just pilfer and drink and drink about when we didn't. Every man here would die for the chance of becoming that man again. So we follow you, Loki. In life and in death. And we shall have our pride again. On Gus' soul, this I swear." As he said these words, Gort took Gus' sword and handed it to Loki. He took it as he sat there as tears fell and the sword now resting on his lap.

[AngelBites15]

Maleficent walked to Loki's side as he kneeled before Gus' lifeless body. She set a gentle hand on his arm to give him comfort. She was saddened for the loss of a relative of the dwarves. Eric came up into view as he saw the sword being handed to the raven-haired male. Maleficent, gazing at the sword while standing at Loki's side, waved a hand over her scepter and a green stream of magic flowed from it onto the sword. "Sword of truth swift and sure, give my son the strength of a knight to endure", she said softly as the magic went over the sword in Loki's hand and it faded once it traveled over it. The sword then had an emerald green jewel embedded in the handle.

[Jazz]

Loki felt his mother comfort but stayed as he was. Loki wiped the tears from his eyes as he saw his mother place a spell on the sword. She heard the words she chanted, seeing a emerald green jewel now on the handle of the sword. He leaned into his mother as he closed his eyes, his hands still held the sword that was given to him.

Later that night, the Dwarves had prepped a burial for Gus as he was then cremated. Loki stood there between Malefient and Eric as he watched the fire slowly consume Gus' lifeless body. The dwarves sung a song for Gus that night too, Loki trying not to cry as he still held the sword. But tears were all that he could not hold back that night.