Loki's hopelessness was palpable as he processed the devastating conclusion.

Yet, Munnin beamed with self-satisfaction at getting his way. You, all alone in Muspelheim and separated from Loki.

"My king, I do believe it would be best I pay a visit to Mina on a regular basis. To make sure her welfare and needs are appropriately satisfied. Considering the sacrifice that she is making, I am certain that you would want to make sure that she is comfortable for the entirety of her life, as you know, life will not be easy on Muspelheim, and this is especially true for a mortal woman." Munnin put on a fake look of concern, and Odin fell for it. "Therefore, I offer my services and my care. She will have my full undivided attention, between the moments when I am devoted to serving you, Master." Like a poisonous snake, his words slithered out of his mouth, concealing an ulterior meaning.

He bowed low, detesting the thought of submitting to someone he despised, but Munnin was a skilled performer, and he knew how to impress with phoney displays of devotion. Yet, as he lowered his head, it hid the wicked grin that was plastered across his face.

Loki knew his apparent care was all kinds of sickening abuse, and he wasn't about to let that happen.

"Thoughtful of you Munnin, I think with age you have grown soft" Odin said with evident humour in his tone.

Still bowed, Munnin scowled and clenched his fists tight, his countenance showing even more animosity towards Odin at the usage of the word "soft." He resented the word and hated Odin even more after accusing him of being as such.

You beseeched Loki with your eyes, your visage a mask of grief. Even though you haven't physically separated, you've already begun to mourn him.

Loki began to think about his previously devised strategy, the one plan that could actually work. He wished he didn't have to do it, but he knew it was the only way for you to be free.

He looked to Thor and gave him the signal, and Thor nods, indicating he's willing to go along with whatever scheme Loki has in mind.

Loki looks at you, his piercing blue eyes meeting yours. You suspect that he will attempt to barter, beg, and offer himself in return for your way out of the fire domain. But you couldn't allow him to give up on the fight to be together. You can't allow him to take your place.

"Remember what I said Loki! When you and I stand strong together no one on earth, or Asgard, or in the entirety of space can stop us! Please Loki, don't do this. I need you—your battle is my battle. We fight together."

"No darling, I fight for you, to give you the life you deserve. You made me happy in a way no one else could, but your joy comes before my own. Protecting you is my glorious purpose kitten, and I'm sorry but that means we must accept the fact that our time together has come to an end. But if you keep me in your heart, I promise I'll stay there forever." Loki's voice was surprisingly soft, his demeanour calm—and you didn't like it! Not one bit. It was as if he had reconciled himself to this inevitable end.

"You can't leave me Loki, I refuse to allow you! Even if that means I have to battle alone, I will still find a way to you. No matter what realm you're on, I will get back to you, I will not accept this plight as part of our destiny!" As you speak, your heart contorts with pain and Loki could hear the distress in your voice.

"I believe you sweetheart, I really do..."

"Stop being so compliant about this, please Loki. Fight for me, for us!" You explode, frustrated by his submissive tone.

It pained Loki to see you in such a state of anguish and he didn't like how it seemed as though he'd simply given up. But he had considered every possibility, and none were viable. There was only one conclusion that could provide you with a perfect future, and that was the one in which he was not a part of.

He stared at your tear-strewn face, trying to memorise every feature: your freckles, the curve of your nose, the fullness of your lips, and the way your hair always falls in soft wisps around your face. His heart soared every time he brushed them behind your ear. And then again, he looks into your eyes and is overcome with emotion when he finds the burning flame that represents your love for him. He gives you a smile, his eyes tearing.

"There is no where I won't go Loki" you whisper.

"That is why, where I go, you cannot follow," he paused and released a sad breath, hesitant to say the next part. "I will go to my grave remembering how it felt to be loved by you. The sweetest, most genuine kind of love that I'm willing to die for."

You let out a sharp exhale, your eyes revealing a shocked expression. You finally understood what Loki meant when he stated that your time together has come to an end—Death. At that very instant, each and every one of the cherished butterflies that had resided in your stomach passed away. And as the feeling of loss took control of you, your body turned into a shaking wreck.

Screaming your heart out, you yell, "If you give up on me, I'm going to give up on me too!"

"Please Mina! You are the heavy burden that I can't bare. It will haunt me forever if I didn't try to save you. This is the only way! ... You can live without me but I know deep down in my pained heart that I can't live without you. So love again darling. Live, love and be happy kitten."

With a swift act of magic, Loki produces a dagger and presses its blade against his heart.

"Brother, no!" Thor screams in anguish. "This is not something I would have agreed to!"

"Please Loki—please" you sob, hysterical.

Loki glared angrily at Odin and yelled out in exasperation, "If I'm gone, and out of the equation, then Asgard is deemed safe—Isn't that so, Father!"

While Odin watches in disbelief, he is perplexed by Loki's decision to offer himself as a sacrifice for a human woman.

"Father, look what you're doing! This is indeed insanity. You are wrong, Mina cannot be to blame, my brother would not cause such destruction! Please father, I beg of you, do not allow this!" Thor begs and cries out to Odin.

"Please...brother, watch out for Mina. Assure me that you will keep her safe from anyone who would hurt her "Loki's eyes were red from fighting back tears as he begged.

The sight of Thor making a stealthy advance causes Loki to retreat. He won't allow himself to be captured, he can't, for your sake.

You dart forward, aiming to meet Loki, but Munnin's strong arms quickly stop you. You struggle to break free from his hold in an effort to thwart Loki's fatal scheme, but Munnin is ultimately too powerful for you to overcome.

Everything is moving so quickly; Thor is inching forward, Munnin has his hands on you while you beat them off, and Odin is watching, unsure of what action to do.

"Odin! .....Father....." The screams of desperation coming from you are drowned out by Loki's louder voice. "I only ever wanted to be Thor's equal, to be seen as your son. Take my sacrifice and allow Mina to live free in Midgard, under the protection of Thor" 

Loki then turns his gaze to you, "Mina, my love, you are the greatest love that's ever been mine...and I know this will break you. But I promise you darling, one day someone is going to hug you so tight that all your broken pieces will stick back together."

"Thor! Get him!" You scream.

Thor made an impetuous dash forward, convinced that the time to act was now or never. But Loki was much faster than him, and he teleported to a discreet part of the hall and drew his weapon upwards, taking aim for his heart.

"You can't die Loki!" Munnin's quick and loud shout diverted Loki's attention away from thrusting his blade downward, and instead he glanced at him in puzzlement—unsure as to why Munnin wants him alive.

Munnin's diversion paved the way for Huggin to take the opportunity and swoop in. With a sudden loud squawk that shrieked from above, Huggin dove down towards Loki at lightening speed. He crashed into him just as Loki was about to plunge the dagger into his own chest.

You screamed as the two men grappled on the floor, but you breathed a sigh of relief when the dagger was thrown aside. It skittered over the polished surface and out of harm's way.

Huggin held Loki close and kept him captive, making sure that he couldn't be a danger to himself any further. Loki appeared dazed after being hit by Huggin's rapid blow.

"Let go of me, let me die, kill me! Kill me and save her!" Loki says frantically as he fights in Huggin's grip, his drowsiness having quickly dissipated.

"Well done Munnin for that clever distraction, and my dear Huggin, I knew you would interject" Odin expresses his gratitude.

As Odin examines Thor's expression of sorrow, he turns his attention to Loki, who is still struggling to free himself.

"Maybe I'm being too harsh in sending Mina to Muspelheim, I will instead banish her to Midgard where Thor will watch over her. Loki will be locked away until the end of her days and when she succumbs to mortal death, I will review your sentence."

"Nooo!" Munnin yells, causing Odin to look at him with confusion.

"She is mine!" He spits while gripping you even tighter.

"Let her go!" With his suicidal rage broken, Loki lets forth a snarl, and now rage envelops him instead.

Huggin let go of Loki unexpectedly, and as he approached Odin, he shifted from his raven head to his human visage.

"I have news that I feel needs to be said my king. I have held my tongue at Munnin's actions for far too long. I feel it is time you know his true intent, his deceit"

A look of surprise and bewilderment crossed Odin's face.

"Silence Huggin! You raven slave!"

Odin jerks his head to Munnin, unbelieving that his loyal companion just spat out an insult at his raven brethren.

"I stay silent no more, Munnin." Determination present in Huggin's voice.

"You have been fooled Master, your vision is indeed correct. There is no doubt about it, Loki will bring about the demise of Asgard as you foresaw. But the name you were whispered was contorted. Munnin whispered a false name into your ear, hiding the true identity of the person who causes Loki to rage against Asgard"

An eerie silence pervaded the room as everyone in it waited with bated breath to hear the big reveal.

"Who is it?" Odin demands with urgency.

"It was never Mina, the true name was always...
.
.
.
.
Munnin— he causes it all, you have been blind to his deceit"

A series of slow, loud claps shattered the silence and reverberated throughout the vast hall. All eyes shifted to Munnin, the apparent source of the sluggish applause.

"Well Huggin, I didn't think you knew. I did know you were aware of my torturous nature against others, although it seems I shocked you when you learnt of Loki and Thor recently. But I didn't know you witnessed me whisper Mina's name to Odin while he slept, erasing my own name from his vision. How very sneaky of you. What was it that finally made you speak up, hmm?"

Munnin's hands were now on your waist, pinning you against his filthy frame. He begins dragging you back with him, despite your protests.

"It was Mina, I couldn't bear to see her hurt. Not by you nor by Odin. I decided to speak up, to finally use my voice. She helped me find it. Mina is special in every way. I'm just sorry I didn't find it sooner." Huggin smiles at you, grateful that you helped him find his voice.

Loki observed your exchange with Huggin, appreciative for his honesty and exposing the truth, but he couldn't help but feel jealous. Munnin, and Huggin want you, who next, Thor, Fandral, Sif!—Loki made a mental note to quickly ask for your hand again, hoping this time you would say yes.

"If this is true, then Munnin knew separating Loki from Mina would cause the uprising. You were going to allow all of it to happen!" Odin exclaims in shock, infuriated at Munnin.

Munnin cackled menacingly, "Yes I knew, and that was the sole purpose of my plan. I wanted to cause you deep pain, and knowing how heartless you are, the only thing that would cause you immense suffering is the loss of your empire. Watching the world you created crumble would bring you more hurt than the death of your son."

"I- I don't understand, why!" Odin yelled.

"Because I hate you!! I loath you—when I took position as your raven it was under the agreement that you would find those responsible for the raven genocide, and so I helped you obtain your empire on the pretence that I would get my revenge. But I got no revenge, only slavery. Because now you prefer to appease the realms, and keep up the image of being a powerful and peace keeping king. Forgotten are the atrocities of the past —including the mass murder of the ravens." Munnin panted, his anger rising as he spoke. "I did things for you that blackened my heart and made me into this, —this unfeeling, evil shell—a monster! But I embrace my evil now, and I accept the monster that has took residence inside me. I free myself, no longer am I your caged pet. It was you who has gone too soft in your old age Odin, not me! I still killed, tortured and took what I wanted right under your nose— I still fought to find the culprits responsible for my—" Munnin squeezed at his chest, the pain of remembering seemingly too hard to think about, and it caused him extreme bouts of suffering. He snarled and pushed down the wave of heartache and a dark evilness resume his demeanour.

"I was going to watch in absolute glee as Loki tore down Asgard brick by brick. I may have even helped him. I suppose now it may never happen seeing as the truth is exposed. So I feel it's time I take my leave, I feel a long over due vacation is needed."

Munnin turns to face you, his claws digging into your side. They pierced through the fabric of your dress, causing you to bleed, but you kept your anguish to yourself so not to alarm Loki.

"Care to join me dear? I'll need some lively entertainment while not in service to Odin. My vacation will be long but not boring if I have you." Munnin gives you a suggestive smirk before turning to look at Loki, and giving him a conceited smile.

You thrash about in his grasp again, scared that he will steal you away.

Loki glances at Huggin, realising that only he can capture Munnin before he disappears in a puff of smoke. Huggin seems to grasp the pleading in his face and nods in response.

Loki tried to cause a distraction by keeping Munnin entertained with small talk. "Take me instead Munnin, leave Mina go. I will do as you say."

"Or me, take me. I will submit." Thor adds.

Munnin's laugh bounces off the walls, "Oh come on, why would I trade a queen for a joker, even two jokers wouldn't equate to her value." Munnin holds you closer, his foul breath hot on your face. You squirm in his arms when you feel his wet tongue slide against your ear.

Huggin was closing in on the perfect moment to pounce when Odin raised Gungnir, his three-pronged spear and fired magic at Munnin, sending him scurrying to the opposite end of the hall with you still in his grasp.

"Seems that is our cue to leave, say bye Mina." Munnin lifts your arm and mockingly gestured your hand into a wave.

A look of horror filled your eyes as you stared at Loki. You scream out to him as you begin to feel the power of Munnin's abilities surround you.

But it was too late. An inevitable black storm swept you away, and your last words reverberated long after you were gone.

"Lokiiii"