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

[AngelBites15]

Maleficent let her son lean into her as they watched the cremation of Gus. She wrapped an arm around him and stroked his arm. While watching the fire, she began to sing softly in memory of Gus:

"Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To find our long-forgotten gold.

The pines were roaring on the heights,
The wind was moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread,
The trees like torches blazed with light"

She finished before morning came and they started walking towards their destination to Vanaheim. Mountains, rivers, and lands they crossed before thy finally made it to the realm before they stopped for another camp to rest.

[Jazz]

Loki heard his mother sing for Gus that night, he watched the fires that night till morning when they needed to continue their journey to Vanahiem and the Duke's castle. Loki kept up the pace, though his heart hurt, he knew he had to press on. The Dwarves followed behind the three, of course for their height, they would be a bit slower. Entering Vanahiem and setting up camp for the night, Loki sat by the fire as he held the sword in is lap. The seven dwarves were sitting near or around the fire. He seemed to be thinking about many things before he looked to where ever he mother was. "Mother? I have something to ask you." He was unsure if he really wanted to ask. He was afraid of the answer.

[AngelBites15]

Eric sat down near the fire as Maleficent sat not that far away. She saw her son come down as sit next to her. She then heard him on what he was going to say. "What troubles you, my son?", she asked him as she looked at him.

[Jazz]

Loki looked at the fire when his mother asked what troubled him but then looked at him, finally given the courage to ask. "Mother. My have I always been able to freeze plants when I tried to heal them? I practiced all the time but never got better." He asked her. He searched for anything that could help him understand this problem. He could heal animals. but not plants. It always frustrated him.

[AngelBites15]

Maleficent listened to his question carefully before she took a deep breath. "Loki, you know I always love you. But there is something that you must know", she said a she turned to face him. "Your'e a Jotun, not a fairy. I found you when you were a baby at the Moors' border. I couldn't leave you there so I took you and raised you as my own", she finished telling the whole truth of his past. She was afraid of what his reaction would be.

[Jazz]

Loki felt his gut ache from what she said first. What he had come to hear next after she turned to face him, Loki felt his heart sink as he come to realize the truth that had been kept from him all these years. He looked lost, confused, and upset. "W-What?" He managed to say in a whisper. "A jotun? B-But...Why...? Why leave me to believe I was fae?" He couldn't see her the same now. How could be a jotun? Would that explain why he's skin changed when he used his powers from ice? How he was able to make weapons perfectly from ice he made without having to carve it? It was too much to take in, too many things that he was trying to wrap his head around while everything that was going on currently was happening to them. He stood as he started pacing. He left the sword on the ground when it slid from his lap. Ignoring it. "How, how!? Why?!" Was all he could ask. Unable to bare being around anyone and think upon this alone before he did something he may regret, Loki darts off, ignoring any pleas that anyone may say. He didn't care. He wanted to be alone. Alone to himself to calm down. He was unable to shed any tears for there was no more to shed. Once far away enough, Loki slowed his pace before sitting on a log.

The dwarves had no idea what had just transpired only that Loki seemed confused and lost. They looked to Maleficent and Eric.

[AngelBites15]

"Loki, please, you must understand", she tried to tell him in her sad, pleading voice. She wanted him to believe her, but it looked to act the opposite of what she was thinking. She wanted to comfort him like she always would. Whenever he was sad or scared, she was there for him. She stood after him. "Loki, please!", she begged to him before he walked off and into the woods nearby. Maleficent's heart broke as she just watched him walk away from her. Away from his 'mother'. She tilted her head towards the ground as her own tears began to fall from her own eyes.

As Loki walked on his own, Eric walked through the trees as he approached Loki. "I heard what happened", he spoke up as he sat next to him.

[Jazz]

Loki sat there trying to go through everything that he just learned as saw where it all fit into his life and what was true and false. Going through his thoughts, Loki heard a familiar voice and looked up to see it was Eric. Seeing him sit down next to him. Loki nodded a little. "I don't know what to think anymore. I thought she was my actual mother. I don't understand why she never told me when I was younger. Still a child. Waited after all these years." Loki looked down. Felt terrible. He didn't know if he was wrong to walk away when she seemed to have more to say or just did what he did so they could maybe talk about later when he had a level and was able to wrap his head around everything he just heard. "We never fought before."

[AngelBites15]

Eric wrapped an arm around Loki's shoulder to comfort him. "I know it's hard", he began as he moved a hair from Loki's face. "She did what was right for you. She gave you love. Friends. Even a family", he said as he rubbed Loki's arm gently with his hand that was draped over his shoulder. "You know, me and my father. We used to fight all the time. We even argue", he said to him to at least cheer him up. "I hope you're hungry. Don't worry, I'm not a stranger", he said as he reached into his bag and showed him a red apple. "This is my favorite kind. My mother and I used to pick them. Until she passed...", he said as he looked down at the ground.

[Jazz]

Loki took a deep breath as Eric wrapped around his shoulder. He felt the comfort he provided and moved his hair from his face. He listened to him though, heard him talk about how much she must care to give him so much. Listening to his stories. Loki had to admit that he was a little hungry. Saw him reach into his bag to pull out an apple. Listened to what he said about his favorite kind of apple and about his mother. "I'm sorry about your family. I know the pain now of losing someone. I've known it for a long time." He told him.

[AngelBites15]

"I know how it feels too", he said softly as he touches Loki's face tenderly before tilting his head up. He looks into his emerald green eyes before he leans in close and pecks a kiss to his lips lightly. After he does so, Eric shows him the apple as if convincing him to eat at least. "You must eat. We have a long travel ahead of us"

[Jazz]

Loki felt his tender and soft touch, looking into the Huntsman's eyes before their lips touched lightly. Loki never thought he would love another man again. But he had to be honest with himself that he grew fond of the huntsman and wished to stay with him. Thinking he was the one. Looking to the apple, Loki took it with a small smile. "Alright. Thank you." He then took a bite of the apple. He chewed and swallowed. He sat there a moment before he felt something wrong. He was starting to feel ill. The apple dropped from his hand as it hit the ground. Then he felt his chest tightening and leaned forward as he fell off the log. He curled up in ball, his vision blurring, his throat going dry, his mouth foaming a little. His mind was going in a million and one directions as he was trying to figure out what was going on.

[AngelBites15]

The Huntsman watched as Loki bit into the apple. He made a smirk as he saw Loki fall off the log. He stood up and he followed Loki when he crawled on the ground to get away from him. "You see, child, love always betrays us", he said as he continued to watch Loki slowly suffer. Looking down at the apple, it turned black from its natural red color.

[Jazz]

Loki felt his limbs become numb ever slowly as he started to choke and cough. He looked afraid, afraid of what just happened, realizing he was betrayed once more as tears formed from the betrayal that he felt. It was like deja vu. Only instead of his mother that died. It was going to be him. Once Loki no longer had the strength to move, Loki had rolled over to look at the sky once more, knowing that even if he may not see his mother one last time, he at least wanted to see the sky that they always looked at when they were in their hometree and about to retire for the night. No longer feeling his body over time, his eyes started to close for he had no strength left to keep them open. One last fell. Only wishing that he could apologize to his mother. And see the real huntsman. Tell him how he felt toward him.

[AngelBites15]

Eric continued watching as he fell on his back to look at the sky. Kneeling down to his side, Eric turned his neck to the side sharply before his facials began shifting to the form of Ravenna. She looked down at the dying man. "By fairest blood it was done, and only by fairest blood can it be undone. You were the only one who could break the spell and destroy me. You're the only one pure enough to save me. You don't even realize how lucky you are to never to know what it is to grow old!", she told him softly before it ascended to shouting. She draws her knife to strike down on him before she had to stop when the real Huntsman and Maleficent find them. "No!", he yells as he charges at her with his axe. But the queen transforms into a cloud of crows and flies off. As Loki lies on the ground dying, Maleficent ran to him and skidded, cradling his upper body in her arms. Her right hand was stroking his face as she panicked. A devastated Eric turns to the dwarves. "Do something! You're dwarves, healers! Save him! Help him!", he told them while Maleficent watches her 'son', and he began to close his eyes. "No...", she breathed as she shook him gently and lightly. "Please, my son. Please!", she pleads as tears welled up in her eyes. Loki didn't respond. That was until she held in her breath, and let it out with a broken wail. Her tears of sadness finally fell, before she began to sob. Her loud wails were painful to hear, just the sadness of a broken-hearted mother who just lost a child. She cradled his head until it laid against her chest. Holding him against her, she silently cried to herself, grieving.

((Her wails are the same sound she made when she lost her wings in the movie))

Later, with the group now in grief, bring Loki's body to the castle. Laying him on his deathbed in the chapel, Maleficent stood near him, mourning with her hands on her staff. She watches the Huntsman sit near her, drinking in the distance. She turned to Loki and approached him. She kept her hands on her staff as she looked down at him. "I don't know if you can hear me or not, my son. But, if you are, I just want to tell you that I am so sorry to keep your past away from you. Sweet Loki,", she paused as she gazed at her son's face. "I didn't want you to feel any different, from those around you", she placed a hand on the top of his hand. "You might think of me as a terrible person, but, when you were a baby, I found you at the border of our home, all alone and suffering. I did what was best for you since I couldn't bear to watch a young, innocent life pass away. I gave you what you should have. A home. Family. And love", she said to her son's lifeless body in her sad voice. "My life was brightened by that small, little boy with his smile and laughter", she lightly chuckled but couldn't bring herself to happiness. "And now, I have lost that little boy forever", a tear fell from her eyes. "But, you will always be my son in heaven now. Even Silena would see you there now as her godfather", a couple more fell down her face. "I swear, that no harm will come to our home as long as I live. And I will never, ever miss your smile", she finished before she finally moved and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead.

[Jazz]

The dwarves came right behind the Huntsman and fae as they then saw Loki lay lifeless. Hearing the Huntsman's pleas to help Loki, The dwarves lowered their heads as Muir looked shocked. "No. This cannot be." He was saddened of what happened to Loki. Gort looked to Beith. "What will we do Beith?" He asked. Beith stood tall, knowing their promise. "What we promised." And so that was what they did.

At the Duke's castle, Loki laid in the chapel, laying there peaceful as he lay there looking like he was dressed up, cleaned up. But didn't show signs of breathing or waking up. His hands over his stomach and the sword that was given to him. The seven dwarves were standing at the door to the chapel as they saw Loki lay there and Maleficent confess her apology and love for her son. They then walked away from the chapel as they felt grief while the Duke decided to stay within the walls to help those who needed him.

Eric heard Maleficent's apology and confession as to what she did and why she did it. Of course he was drinking to take away the pain that he was feeling but wouldn't go away. Eric couldn't remember how much he had and honestly could care less. When Maleficent took her leave from Loki, Eric waited a little before getting up and walking over to the lifeless Loki that he felt so fond toward. "Well, here you are, all dressed up like you're about to wake up and give me more grief. Am I right?" A saddened smiled formed on his face as he wanted to laugh but couldn't muster it. But then it vanished just as quickly as it came. "You deserved better. I once had a wife, Loki. Sara was her name. When I came back from the war I carried with me the stench of death and the anger of the lost." The huntsman then came to the bed of where he laid and rested his arms on it, his hands holding the waterskin he had in hand. "I wasn't worth saving, that's for sure, but she did so anyway. And I loved her so much. I loved her more than anyone and anything, and then I let her out of my sight and she was gone. And I became myself again, a self I never cared for." Eric felt tears for the first time in a long time for the grief that he had been keeping deep down inside. Tears rolled down his face as he looked at lifeless body that was Loki. Setting aside the waterskin, Eric rested a hand on Loki's head. "Until you, cause you remind me of her. Her heart, her spirit. But now, you too have gone. You both deserved better and I'm so sorry I failed you. I'm so sorry. But you be a King in heaven now and sit among the angels and the creatures you protected during your lifetime." With his hand moving to Loki's soft cheek, Eric leaned in more, placing a light, tenderly kiss, just to show how much he loved Loki. How he would never see him again. Pulling away, Eric left the chapel, waterskin in hand as he wiped away his tears.

So little did the two notice that Loki began to breath again and life return to his pale skin. A tear rolling down his face. Later that night, Loki had noticed where he was but sought out the man that he had come to love, and grew so fond of. After finding out where he had been staying for the night, Loki went to find him and had successfully done so. Seeing the man sleep, Loki watched for his cracked up door that wasnt shut all the way, smiling softly as he saw the Huntsman sleeping. He looked to be in pain. His smile disappeared, wishing he could do something to help ease his pain. Walking into his room, Loki sat by the man's bed, combing his fingers into Eric's hair, something Maleficent use to do for him when he had bad dreams.

[AngelBites15]

Eric had never felt such grief in his life as he felt the death of Loki hit him. His sleep wasn't at all comforting as the memories of Loki were consuming his mind. He felt pain in his sleep before he shot up with a gasp from the dream that he had and his hand accidentally hit something. It felt like a skin and he swore that he saw a figure above him before he shot up from his sleep. Hearing a thud of something hitting the floor, Eric looked over the bed to see a figure with black hair and pale skin sitting on the floor. Getting up from the bed and sitting on the floor with the figure before he slowly and gently put a hand on its shoulder to get its attention.

[Jazz]

Loki never felt the shock of someone waking from their sleep like he did when Eric suddenly woke up and his hand hit him. With a wince, Loki felt he should have been careful but all he thought about was trying to help Eric sleep easier. A bit of shock raised through him as he wondered if Eric was mad about someone touching him but heard scrambling coming from the bed as he them felt a hand on his shoulder. Loki looked up to meet the gaze of the Huntsman. He wanted to reassure him though. Not feel like he was some sort of ghost. "Its okay. It's Loki, I woke up from the bed in the chapel." He said in truth, expecting some sort of outrage or Eric thinking he was out of his mind. But he had some hope that Eric would see truth in his words and no longer feel the pain he had in his heart.

[AngelBites15]

Eric watched as the head was tilted up to meet his gaze. It was none other than Loki. He couldn't believe his eyes. To make sure he was real, he lifted his other hand to touch the cheek of the once-fae. "I thought you dead. How?", he asked him with wide eyes in disbelief. Here he was, alive and well. He swore he saw him die right before his own eyes. How could he be alive now? "How's this possible?", he asked him again as these questions were spilling out of his mouth. He was desperate for answers. He couldn't help but see the male rubbing his cheek. "I hurt you. I'm such a fool", he said as he moved his hand from his other cheek to the one that was injured.

[Jazz]

Loki thought he would have questions. Quite a bit from what he saw. But could see he wanted to know so badly in order for things to make since. though had to admit that his cheek still hurt. Though moved his hand when Eric placed his hand there as well. Loki smiling a little, thinking of himself as a fool. "It was my doing. I saw you in pain while you slept and wanted to ease it." He reassured, knowing he was a fool too. "However I cannot answer you as to how I am alive. Only how I remember being in the forest, poisoned by an apple I took a bite of thinking that it was you who I was talking to. Then I awake to find myself in the chapel. I don't understand how or why. Only that I am alive now." Loki explained as he shifted to sit down in a more comfortable position than he was in earlier.