Harry had been right the night before, and sometimes like now, he hated to be right. The ghoul he killed had not been alone. He had awakened to his magic that warned him of the impending danger. It was not long before he could see four more ghouls, slowly walking around the barrier. Searching for something they did not know what, it was as if the ghouls could smell something of them but did not know where they were.
Viridian green eyes followed them like a hawk, ready to attack and protect if they managed to find their position. The small foal next to his body was thankfully still asleep, but he could feel her head slowly moving against his flank. It would not be long now before she would wake up.
If it had only been two more creatures, he could certainly have managed to take them on without any problems, but against four, there was no chance. Especially not if he both needed to fight them and, at the same time, protect the foal. So the best he could do was to wait for them to move on and try not to make any sudden noises or movements.
Harry felt the filly wake up, and as she moved her arms towards his flank, he laid his head over her narrow upper body and held her in a small warning. Nova made a low noise, and he felt her head look up over his arch, and a soft squeaking sound escaped her. The sound was all that was needed for one of the nearest ghouls to stop and look in their direction.
He pressed himself closer to the filly and never let his eyes leave the danger in front of them. The nearest ghoul turned towards them, aired with its more or less rotted nose, and took a step closer. Harry could see its grotesque half-rotten face more clearly in the first rays of the sun. The forest was still slightly damp after the cold spring night, and a light fog lay over the ground. There were no other forest sounds than the abnormal ones that the ghouls made, no birdsong, no small animal in the bushes; there was not even a breeze. Everything stood still. Harry could feel a trembling in the small frame as the ghoul walked closer to them. Slowly it swayed towards them, the scent became more potent, and Harry had to hold back the reflex to snort as the smell stuck in his nose in all the wrong ways.
Some black substance ran down the ghoul's chin, and the pungent smell became more potent than before. Were ghouls poisonous? Harry had absolutely no idea, and he did not want to test that theory. Soon, after something that feels like an eternity, The ghoul stopped and slowly started to move back. They stopped in the clearing for a while after that and Harry kept wrapped around the little foal. Her face was now completely hidden in his fur, and her breathing was choppy. Slowly, he started to uncurl, and as soon as his head went upon, the barrier around them broke.
Nova started up at him from the ground up; doe-like eyes started up at him as he shook himself and stretched out his stiff body. Harry looked down at her when she had not moved and carefully nudged her with his massive head. She needed to get up so that they could move on. It was still early, but he wanted to make sure she was with her herd sooner rather than later as there were many different dangerous creatures in the forest.
Slowly Nova stood up on trembling legs, a steady hand on his fur. Harry gave her a low rumbling sound and nuzzled her calmly, making her giggle, which was what he wanted. A child should not make that face.
They started to walk back to where the centaur usually lived, and Nova jumped a little anxiously next to him, but she still stayed as close as she could without stepping on him or being trampled on. Her wings moved anxiously and struck gently against his flank at each new sound that now began to sound all around them. As soon as the dark creatures had left, life returned.
However, Harry had not understood how far into the forest they had walked before they walked for at least an hour. Thankfully, they had not encountered any down danger. Harry continued to walk in his form and his thoughts drew towards the latest memory / dream that had been different than before. It had not been away from Harald's perspective but from Loki's.
It felt a little strange, he had just gotten used to Harald's memories, and now this happened. Was it because something linked them together, more than the mark? And what had happened to the mark in the memory? Could Harald be injured or, worse, possibly dead?
Harry could remember how the burning phantom feeling spread across his right side.
It annoyed him that his dream had been interrupted when it had; he wanted to know what happened. Which in itself was amusing, as he only a few weeks ago wished they would just disappear and let him be. But now, it hurt him to see the pure desperation reflected on Loki's face when he understood something had happened. It cut into his very soul, and that disturbed him.
Harry suddenly felt his magic pulsate and stopped. The mare by his side stood obediently still, and Harry could feel the ground beneath them begin to vibrate. The sound of galloping steps made him turn his head towards the sound, and his ears angledits attention in that direction. He took a step forward so that the foal stayed close behind him in a protective gesture if it was another herd.
But soon, he saw the familiar bodies of the centaur flock that lived there, and he relaxed. Nova made a loud wailing noise and set off against them, and Harry let her go.
" Sire! Carrier! "
The reaction was immediate from the flock. Harry allowed himself to let go of his animagus form and stood up while watching the Reunion. He could hear Nova telling her what had happened, how the adults fussed all around her. Hugging, petting, laughing, and more determined selected words from a few elders.
A centaur patted Nova on the head, and Harry could really see the relief on his face as he did that. The palomino centaur then turned and met Harry's gaze fully.
"Mr. Potter, we meet again," he said and did something that Harry had never seen one of the proud centaurs do; he bowed to him!.
It made him almost too embarrassed to respond because these creatures never bowed to anyone! Pride was literary in their blood. But Harry quickly turned his head in return as a sign of respect, "Firenze, may the stars shine brightly upon this meeting, my friend."
As he had welcomed the centaur herd a few years back to come and live on his land, he also had asked them to teach him some of their ways. The centaur was a proud creature with highly intelligent minds; they even had been considered as beings, not at the same level as humans but neither mindless creatures. They were sentinel intelligent beings, and not as dumb beasts, but they had denied being associated together with hags or vampires.
"And to you, my friend," the half-human, half-horse answered. "we are you forever grateful."
" Please, get up. You do not have to bow to me. I just did what anyone would have done" Harry hated when people or, in this case, the centaurs, put him on a higher level than anyone. The last thing he wanted was to be placed on a pedestal.
"Still, you protective Nova and took care of her injuries. It is something we will never forget," said the palomino, and he put a hand on his happy daughter's head as she trotted up to her father. Harry could now see the remaining flock straightening up and having the same determined but much more light facial expression.
"Our meeting was predetermined in the stars, Mr. Potter. But as a thank you for the effort you made for my flock but specifically me, I ask you to accept my gift "Harry opened his mouth to protest.
But the centaur raised his hand" you will be able to ask three questions of your choice , and I will answer them as far as I can "Florence and looked down on the young man who saved the life of his youngest, an honorable deed. He also could not help but see the changes the young Lord had undergone.
Harry wanted to protest again but stifled the protest and nodded. He had to choose his fights, and this one, he would not win without insult his generosity. He had helpt his daughter. " I accept your gift, and thank you for your wisdom."
Firenze nodded pleased and turned around, "Come on, let's return. You both must be hungry."
Harry stared up at the blonde centaur, who was now starting to walk away. Three questions, he had to ask three questions without anything in return. Besides, it was from a naturally born creature with the gift of viewing and reading the stars. Thus, they all understood what had happened and what was destined to happen in the future. And he was able to ask three questions of his choice.
Harry had no idea what to ask. How could he only choose three questions when he had a thousand? As they walked back to the colony, Harry chatted with Nova or one of the adult centaurs. Some of them were very insecure about him; others were more outspoken and welcoming. Something that felt like the exact opposite of Hogwarts' centaur colony that was led by Bane.
Slowly the forest began to thin out and widen its way towards a birch forest where the grass-covered the ground, and the sun's rays penetrated through the mouse ears large leaves that sprouted on the branches. Slowly, larger trees began to weave together to form houses-like structures. It looked like windbreaks and other a bit more stables where the ground was adorned with soft moss or rugs.
In the middle of the small village was a larger fire pit that they had started to fill up with old logs and twigs. Along the hole were various large vessels with dried herbs waiting to be crushed and processed. At the far end of the table were also different bows and spears lined up, and he saw some centaurs coming to meet them, and the last three foals happily bounced up to their friend who had been found.
Harry was placed on a stump, and a silver mare named Aera gave him a plate with different kinds of fruit, berries, and mushrooms on it. He was again thanked for his efforts, and a blush spread across his cheeks and neck for all the attention he gained. Firenze came walking up next to him with a smile and held out a goblet of water, "Thank you."
The centaur bent his head slightly and let the young man eat and drink in peace but remained at his side. Harry could hear Nova telling her whole story to her sister and friends and he held back the smile of how she magnified everything. He followed them with her eyes as she enthusiastically began to gesture and jump around and make growling noises.
Harry held back a laugh, put some nuts in his mouth, and felt the hunger tear in his stomach. Apparently, he was hungrier than he first thought. Not because he was particularly prominent in food, thanks to his upbringing, but he had at least gotten a little better. But he still needed someone to remind him to eat; otherwise, he would forget about the time and food altogether. It was a bit ironic, as he has not been able to eat much lately eitherway, thanks to the dreams and the changes. Harry stopped in his motion and looked down at the mushroom thoughtfully. Could his old professor know something about what was happening to him? that was the most relevant problem at this moment.
"Ask your question, Mr. Potter "Harry looked up into the sapphire blue eyes, he did not even understand why he was surprised that he had known that.
He held back a low laugh and nodded. "What's happening to me, Firenze? What are all of these changes I am undergoing? " Should he be worried? Afraid? he should seek care for what happened at the hospital?. It almost felt like what these scavengers of journalists were waiting for—the boy who lived, strange mutations, perhaps even more dangerous than before, is he the next dark Lord?. And the sickest thing was that Harry could see in front of him how the whole UK wizarding community turned against him. If their beloved newspaper said that it was so, well, then it was true.
Firenze nodded as if that was the question he had expected, " Have you ever heard about the creature inheritage, Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded hesitantly. Hadn't Fleur said something about her being part veela? " Yeah, I think so, like veela's and vampire, right?"
The centaur nodded, "yes, among others. There is more to it than just a few creature blood inbreed into the Wizards Line. It comes in from several generations back when the magical people were still widespread and they were continually looking for ways to strengthen their "said Florence and crossed her arms over the well-shaped chest.
"This caused several superior bloodlines and a new kind of magic to begin to take place. But nothing became known until the magic-user reached their final magical maturity around 18 years . The creature magic would be triggered, and the holder underwent a substantial rise in magic and usually changes in appearance, depending on what creature they are part of "he continued, looking at the foals that now had calmed down and started to eat some food as well.
"I do not understand what it has to do with me or my changes," Harry replied honestly, he put away the plate; the appetite gone.
Firenze looked down on him again and hummed low, "Some creature heritage takes time to develop because it requires a more stable core and density. To answer your question, Mr. Potter. You have a creature inherited. "
Wait; what? "Me?"
"Yes, probably something from the fae as you have very humanoid changes and a massive density in your core."
Harry looked a little confused, "I thought fae were extinct eons ago? before Merlins time?"
" Yes and no."
Harry just wanted to hit his head on a trunk in irritation. When he received an answer to one question, 20 new ones showed up, and the cryptic centaur definitely did not help. Was it so difficult to give him straight answers?
Firenze looked amused at the young man, so impatient "you seem to have a bigger task in life, there of the memories" Harry looked strangely at the centaur when he mentioned them. "Yes, I know them, there is a reason why you have not had access to them before, and that brings us to the second question."
This time Harry did not have to hesitate. He knew exactly what he wanted to know, " Why me ?"
" It's the big question indeed, but the better one is, why not you?" The palomino centaur shifted, "It has been written in the stars for centuries about the death chosen one, but the one you were, the one you remember in your memory, was not worthy of taking over the title and the responsibility it entailed."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Florence held up a hand and silenced whatever protests he could think of, "what does number three tell you, Mr. Potter?"
" Huh ?" the question made Harry stumble over his thoughts again; the number three? There was nothing special about the number three, was there?
Firenze looked over at his daughter, who had now come up to them, and she was holding her own present for her savior, Nova smiled and held up a feather and something that looked like golden horsehair. "Harry! this is to you," she smiled and held them out to him, " may I braid them in your hair? "
Harry looked a little surprised and Firenze gave off a low laugh "it's a lucky amulet, horsehair from her tail, and a hippogriff's first mowing feather as a lucky charm and an excellent protection." explained the elder, and Harry nodded and smiled a little.
"It would be an honor Nova," the mare smiled happily, and when Harry was already in a perfect position for her to tinker with his long hair without problems. The hair was now below his shoulder blades, and she started with gentle fingers, which became more and more courageous when she started grooming his hair .
"Alright, As I said, the number 3 is the number of the child" explained Firenze "it symbolizes the growth and the magic that is a direct result from a combination of two other things. The number is full of energy and possibility. It is the beginning, the middle, and the end. We measure time by our past, present, and future. Even the sun have three stages, dawn, noon, and dusk, and we measure live our lives through birth, life, and ...death."
A cold feeling shot through Harry's body and made the hair on his arms and neck rise and it was not thanks to the little fingers that braided the horsehair and feather into his hair.
"As Voldemort was obsessed with magic number 7, but death, she loves the number 3, it's a sacred number for her."
Harry stared down at his hands, which he laied in his lap as his thoughts spun around in his head. Three, what did he know about number three? It was Hermione who had studied numerology together with runes, he had never cared. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. If this was about death, then what did he need to think about those paths. The most obvious was that three objects created the deathly hollows, so that was a start. Then we had the three Pavarell brothers. The invisibility mantle sign was a triangle, and it had three corners that enclosed both the elder wall and the resurrection stone. Harry felt his heart begin to beat faster and faster the more he began to fold. In prophecy, he was born of those who defied him three times.
Harry's hands had now begun to shake , in what he did not know, it could have been the adrenaline that washed through his veins as well as the fear that cooled his insides. He was part of the golden trio. The feeling of his stomach swaying caused nausea to double but he forced down the corrosive fluid, he had not vomited for several days now. He refused to do so now. Harry tried to focus on Nova's fingers through his hair, which gave him something of a grounding feeling.
"I see that you have begun to understand its significant meaning," Firenze said slowly. "You have all your life been part of a bigger plan, Harry, the one you were before in your memories, he is you but still not, for you to become a worthy master of death, you need to face death with open arms three times. "
Meet death .... three times.
Harry wanted to shout out the horrible feeling that struck him with anger, sadness, and maybe something more raw and dark than he wished to, but for the moment, he did not care. He kept it to himself, suffocating the feeling. He met death as a small child and managed to survive the killing curse. The second time was in Hogwarts' battle, where he voluntarily gave his life for the others. He had accepted his fate and, thus, also his role. He was the master of death now. He had passed the test that death had left for him.
The cold hand gripped his heart, it was said, if he had met death twice in this life, he must have met death as Harald once. His hands now shook violently, and his breathing was irregular, the cold sweat running down his forehead and neck as he tried to hold back the nausea. Harry had just accepted that it was memories he had, visions of the life before this and that he had a soulmate. Harry stared down at his right arm where the floral tattoo spread up along his elbow and up over his biceps. They were alive, very dull in color, but they were there, not like Loki's last memory where they had withered and were dying. But these flowers were alive, which meant that Loki was just as alive.
Loki was real and alive, somewhere. But it did not feel right either. Harry caressed his fingers over the pale petals; in his memories, they had been vibrant blue, soft purple, and golden yellow. These, on his arms, were like an old washed-out sheet, like the colors had been washed away. Still alive but not healthy. Harry had one last question to ask, a problem he had to know the answer to but was terrified of the answer itself.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Only a soft whispering sound left his throat at first, and he moistened his dry lips. He had to know.
"my soul s-soulmate is he... i-is he ..?"
Firenze suddenly looked down at him, unblinking. The silence made it pretty clear that either he did not know or he knew and dreaded to tell him. Harry could feel parts of his soul begin to fall apart, a pain he had never experienced, not even during the cruciate curse had it hurt so much. It was like inhaling needles, and the slightest touch cut deep into his legs.
"What I can see, he is alive," the palomino said low, but something in his eyes was almost like pity; why was that?" but I can see the edge of darkness and madness surrounding his soul."
So not well... not well at all. A sharp feeling made Harry jerk away and bend forward only to gasp for air. It suddenly felt as if something was clogging his airways as a giant hand hugged his throat. He tried to draw oxygen down to his lungs, which suddenly screamed for the need for oxygen. A metallic taste of blood what the last drop that made his stomach turn inside out and Harry could not keep its content down. He threw himself to the side and vomited up the little food he had managed to eat.
Why had he never thought of that before ?. His memories of Loki were pushed into his field of vision, and his stomach vomited once more. He felt someone hold his long hair away from his face as he emptied the last of the pungent liquid. The pain in his chest and the suffocation feeling was suddenly too much for him to handle. And before Harry could do anything about it, he had collapsed and the darkness welcomed him like an old friend.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * Memory * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Thank you for coming so quickly," said King Freye, Harald's father, as he personally led the small crowd. "We have tried everything, but he is getting worse quickly."
"How serious is the situation?" Freya asked as they walked briskly beside the king and did not even stop for the door they were walking through was automatically opened by the guards as they stepped into a room that immediately felt heavier than the outside.
"He is still alive, but we do not know for how long, we have our best curse breakers and healers dealing with it, stabilizing him for the moment, but the magic is not working on the curse,"
Loki tried to listen to what was being said around him, he really did. But his heart had not stopped beating painfully in his chest, and his right arm was now burning as if someone was continually holding it in flames. He would do anything to help his soulmate; there was nothing he would not sacrifice. Harald was his light, his rock when his own emotions stormed as an open sea and he was tossed around in the chaos that was created. Harald was his center, a center that suddenly was torn away from him because someone failed to protect him. He should have been safe here! Loki wanted to scream and smash every little object that was within his reach.
He could no longer feel him, no pleasant tingling or pulsating heat in his chest that came with every heartbeat, no sense of his feelings or state of mind. Nothing. The bond was empty as if the darkness had absorbed all the light and life in its surroundings, leaving a gaping hole, as if it was sucking him up.
Loki took a deep breath and steeled himself to meet what awaited. He was prepared to do whatever it took to save Harald. If he still needs to give his own life to succeed, so be it. He would do anything and everything for his little light. But as soon as he walked through the door and his gaze landed on the said person, he froze. The air in his lungs disappeared and an unnatural cold and numbness spread through him.
The royal red sheets stood in stark contrast to the little creature that occupied its nest. Harald may be on the smaller size body-wise, but he looked like just a child in the giant bed. Helpless and broken. It also did not help that his skin was almost transparent, and his face was constricted in pains that tore his already fragile body.
Loki could feel how the mark burned again at the same time as Haralds jerked under the covers. That was good; it meant that there was still something holding them together, that there was still hope. Slowly he went further into the room, and his gaze was- as if anything- nailed to the little creature in front of him; he barely dared to blink because he was afraid he would disappear from his view.
Loki could see the narrow veins under his pale skin; it was almost as if he could see straight through them to the muscles on the underside. The previously lively midnight black hair was now gathered in a thick braid over his shoulder, still and lifeless. Whether it was due to sweat or something else, he did not know. But one thing he knew, Harald's hair never stayed in place. Loki forced himself to breathe; he was here now; there is still time.
"What happened?" Loki barely recognized his voice, his hand was just above Harald's but he did not dare touch him. It felt like just a light touch would break his skin, and it was wrong, so, so wrong.
King Freyr sighed, and it looked like decades had passed on his face in a mear hour that had passed. "We suspect that someone sealed his magic with a powerful spell, a sealing curse of the sort."
" What ?" Loki hissed in shock and felt how his heart now decided to sink right into the pit of his stomach, anything but that! "but break the seal then!" were they not masters of seals? It was something that Harald often bragged about as he was more than happy to challenge Loki with that knowledge in different situations, of course.
"We have tried. The one who created the seal is powerful. It pains me to say even better than my knowledge on the subject. Harald could have broken it, but without his magic ... " it was impossible, the words remained unsaid and he shook his head. " that's why we hope you can have greater happiness than us with your magic, Prince Loki."
"Do we know who is to blame?" asked Thor, who had remained surprisingly calm and in the background, something that was very unusual for the otherwise big clown who loved to be at the center.
The king was silent for a good while, only looking down at his son, his eyes filled with guilt and sorrow. "We recognize the magic," the king softly said, bowing his head slightly in shame, "it is my sister. We have already sent out our best warriors to search for her "
"Then point me into their direction, and I will personally lead them in their search for this witch," Thor said with a voice filled with anger and begging for revenge, for this was his brother-to-be, and no one messed with his family, blood or not.
Loki stared down at his lover's still body and bit hard on the inside of his cheek. He put his hand on Harad's chest, which rose slowly. He tried to ignore the cold feeling that spread along his arm and closed his eyes to concentrate. Slowly he let his magic flow down towards Haralds; the awful empty feeling invaded him as soon as he touched it. Suddenly it felt as if his magic was quickly beginning to sucked out of him. It was as if he suddenly became stuck in a vortex and a pulling sensation at his navel made him jerk with a strong gasp and quickly broke the abnormal connection.
He could feel his eyes burning hot, and the air became heavier when they realized that his attempt to break the seal had failed. Loki wanted to growl in pure anger; he would not give up, but what could he do? The magic was literary being sucked out off its vessel.
" Loki , love? How long do we have? " Freya rested her hand on Harald's forehead; she felt the sorrow and panic tearing at her like a hungry wolf at her son's chosen one.
"Hardly any time at all! fuck! " Loki swore fiercely and ripped from his mother's touch and backed away. He shook his hand vigorously through his black lock of hair. Whatever sealed Harald's magic, it sucked life out of him, already now he could feel how his body struggled to even function as far as it could. His body had already begun to shut down.
"Lo .. ki?" The hoarse rough voice made everyone fall silent in the room, and their eyes fell on the owner.
Loki was quickly back by his side and he now let his hand gently touch the cold sweaty cheek of his little candle. The feeling was so wrong, so sick and Loki had to hold down his reflex to pull his hand away. There was not an ounce of magic moving over his skin, he felt nothing coming from him and it was about to kill Harald.
He was magic; without it, he could not exist; the same could be said for Loki; he was also a magical creature. Therefore, it all felt like a punishment against him and his failure; he should have made sure that Harald was safe from the start. He should never have left him because this would never have happened if he had been there. But it had happened, and Loki felt powerless, and he absolutely hated the feeling. He could not even save the one who was his whole world, which meant more to him than anything else. If he could not protect him, what good could he do?
"You came."
"Of course I came, I can not even leave you for a week, and you get in trouble" Loki let his fingers caress the cold sweaty cheek because no matter how abnormal it felt, he needed to feel the contact.
Harald laughed softly, but the laughter was quickly replaced by a heavy cough that made him grimace in a second of pain before his features were smoothed out. The dull eyes looked at him again, and he tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace than anything else.
"True ... you should never leave me again... ever. when we married, I will tie you to me."
Loki's saliva got stuck in his throat, and he tried to swallow the lump that forms there "never again, you will never get rid of me, ever."
Freya put her hand on her youngest son's shoulder but said nothing, and the rest of the people withdrew to give the young couple some privacy. Suddenly a new hard cough tore through the already weak body, and Loki hurried forward to help him sit up. All the people in the room were as if forgotten in distress over his little one .
Harald barely had any strength left even to sit still, but Loki was quickly there by his side and supported him. But the coughing soon stopped and Loki could see the red drops of blood that adorned Harald's hand, like small rosebuds on a young bush.
Harald tried to tell him that everything would be fine, that he could do without magic. But no words came out of him. If there was one thing he did not do, it was to lie, especially not to Loki . He rested his head against the warm arm that stood right next to him while he took several agitated breaths and felt someone wipe away the red liquid.
Harald knew a lot about what was happening; he could feel how his energy and magic were sucked out of him and how his inside burned from the loss. He could not remember exactly what had happened but, something had hit him in the back, and soon afterward, an intense pain had spread through his body. Harald felt an unnatural cold sweep against his sweaty skin and tremors spread through his body.
"is it cold here?"
Loki carefully wrapped his little mate in his arms as he laid his hand on his forehead; he closed his own eyes when he felt the fever that was raging inside of him. "No love, you burning up,"
Harald took the chance to bury his face into his mate's neck and breathe in his unique scent, calming himself. " Please , lay down with me, hold me," he mumbled, and he did not have to ask twice before the warm, familiar body of his beloved lay beside him. He felt so exhausted, and the worst thing was that he could no longer feel Loki in his magic. He was gone entirely, but at the same time he was right next to him. It felt unnatural and so wrong.
"Come one little one, you have to fight this with me"
"Who said I stopped?" Harald murmurs low into his chest. "And who are you calling little?"
Loki chuckled low, "No one"
"there you go."
"cheeky"
Harald snickered but was soon attacked by another coughing fit that soon subdued. Loki slowly wiped the blood away from his cheek and held back his tears as he rested his head against his and vanished the last blood of his magic. Harald was breathing profusely and had closed his eyes and was trying to concentrate on getting oxygen down but had difficulty making a simple movement and closed his eyes in a new kind of panic that grabbed him.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, look at me, breath," Loki said as he gripped softly around Harald's cheek, forcing his gaze up to his" Breath, love."He began to take deep breaths himself to stimulate the movement, in and out slowly, in and out. Loki could feel his hand convulsively hugging Harald's damp tunic as it rested over his heart.
Loki jerked when he felt a pair of cold fingers put on his hand. " Thanks " Harald whispered as his breathing stabilized.
There was still a low gurgling undertone in his that worried Loki. "I can not lose you, Harald, you are the light that keeps my darkness at bay .... I can not lose you. I can not... ... I love you too much"
"Time is running out " Harald squeezed his hand that was placed over his heart before letting his fingers look up at Lokis ' head and pulling them through the silky shoulder-length hair. He pressed his forehead hard against Loki's and closed his eyes.
" Do not ... do not say that," Loki's voice was now low, almost a whisper under his breath.
" I .... Harald took a deep breath. The oxygen burned on the way down as if a thousand needles scraped up his insides, and he grimaced, "I will not give up, but I can feel it, Loki, I can feel the hole in my core, sucking the magic away, and I can not do... anything.... about it "
" But I can, " Loki murmured as Harald nodded
The burning sensation increased tenfold when he let his magic seep into Haralds. He could see the problem now; he saw chains embracing a black hole. It almost seemed as if light, in this case all magic, was sucked into it and just disappeared, and the feeling that spread around Loki could only be described as horrible. Loki gasped as the spell forced him out, and he felt the fatigue grip him. It almost felt like he had run several laps around Asgard non-stop with Thor chasing behind him.
Harald lay still, his hand still wrapped in his hair and holding such a firm grip on his head that he could handle at the moment. From Loki's expression, he could see that he had again failed to break the curse yet again, and he tried not to feel discured. He didn't want to die; he wasn't ready.
"I remember the first time I ever felt your energy," Harald said softly, letting his fingers slowly make circles in Loki's scalp, "it was so strong and powerful, even though you were poisoned and lay there, waiting for your death. I remember how the feeling felt - wrong- , as if you were not meant to be embraced by death yet. And I was right, it was not your time to go and that feeling was constant there all the time I took care of you."
Loki put his arms around the fragile body and held him closer. "And it's not your time to go either, stop talking like it is" Loki replied and turned his head slightly and kissed his wrist.
Harald smiled weakly and leaned his forehead against his "I'm not; I get the same feeling now, Loki,"
It made the other black-haired man quickly open his eyes and stare into the dark greens in sheer surprise, " what ?"
"You heard me perfectly the first time, oldy." Harald said with a low laugh, "I get the same feeling like that day, that it is not my time to face death. I trust you, I know that if anyone can fix this, it's you "
Loki felt burning tears threatening to fall and he narrowed his eyes. He could feel how a proud feeling grew within him, his strong phenomenal mate. He didn't back down, not even when it looked terrible, and here Loki lay grieving because he was not strong enough or could handle it. Since when had he ever doubted his own ability! He was Prince Loki of Asgard, the god of chaos, lies, and magic.
"Don't let me go," Harald whispered as he pressed his forehead harder against his, but his eyes stirred firmly into his, "fight it"
"I do! " Loki growled harshly" do you think you want to suffer like this? Do you think this is how I want to see you? I try, but I do not know what to do, this is magic I have not even encountered except what you have shown me and it has also taken time for me to breakthrough! And we do not have time ... " Loki jerked out of the loose grip that Harald had on him and sat up in bed.
He was angry, and he was just as terrified. He could feel the pressure weighing down his senses, and he could not concentrate enough to force the energy, and time was running out. Always the time. He felt crushed underneath it all, and his chest ached like the bleeding hole that was around Harald's core. The only warning he received that something suddenly was wrong was a firm grip on his hand and Loki's gaze immediately turned to his little lover. But what he saw caused his whole world to fall apart. Harald's eyes were wildly wide open and his mouth wide open, but he could not breathe.
Harald had not been prepared for this attack to come so close to the other. He had tried to take a deep breath to say that Loki was wrong. But it was as if his lungs and nearby muscles ended up functioning completely. It quickly turned into a full-blown coughing fit as he tried to force the air out of him while he could not get anything down. Harald tried to catch his breath between the fits but he could not get enough oxygen down, and his vision was going dark, his head was spinning and he could feel cold hands on him and his mates voice trying to calm him down. But he could not, his voice sounded like he was miles away and he was inside at a bowl at the same time. He was rolled onto his side as blood started to sip out of his mouth, only for it to cover his chin and chest with each new cough.
But he could not breathe.
Panic gripped on Loki as he scooped up his mate in his arms and pulled himself behind him so that his back was to his chest. His arms were tightly wrapped around the shaking body that was desperately trying to get air, but with each breath his throat was filled with blood that now was bubbling from his mouth. Somewhere to the side Loki could see others trying to help, holding out a towel to soak up the blood, having potions and water ready to soothe his little mate. But Loki turned it all out.
He put his hand against Harald's throat. Loki could feel the Adam's apple desperately sinking up and down and the wildly pounding pulse beat against his fingers when the coughing tore at Harald, but nothin got down thanks to the blood. He forced his magic to focus on banishing only the blood that closed his airways and instantly Harald could breathe again . He drew in several painfully deep breaths as he was still struggling with the blood coming back up fast. It was like a significant vessel in his lungs had broken.
Loki's grip around his neck was stiff and determined. Every time the feeling of drowning washed over Harald, it disappeared just as quickly. He could breathe again, every tearing breath that tore from his fragile body felt like fire. Loki had him properly propped up and against his chest as Harald tilted his head slightly to the side so that his forehead now rested against his neck. Loki could feel the small breaths that his little mate managed to take, both through the light puffs of air against his sweaty throat but also where he still held his hand to his throat. They were strained and painfully light, but there, and he was still alive.
Loki had not realized how much he was shaking until he felt a faint touch on his hand that still hugged Harald's neck lightly. He tried to open his eyes but no matter how he did and blinked, his field of vision was cloudy and unfocused. The cold hand caressed his cheek, and he suddenly realized that his tears were in the way of his sight. The cold hand hugged his in a painfully weak grip, but Harald still managed to intertwine their fingers as he needed to hold it there.
No more blood filled his airways as of now, but he could feel it, the dreadful breathing made him slowly return to the present, but his head spun violently. Loki's arms completely closed around Harald's shaking body and he refused to let anyone else touch his soulmate at this moment. He tried to say anything, but no words got out from him, and he made a choking sound.
No, no, no .no , Loki tried to get his shaking under control but the sentence was like a mantra in his head. This was getting to real and painfully fast. He could not lose him, he could not lose his little light. But he could not focus, he could not lead his magic without it shattering. He could not, he did not know how, he would be the reason why Harald, his world, his lover, would die just because he did not have enough power to break the spell.
Harald desperately tried to get air into his lungs but he could not even start the cough reflex anymore. It felt like he was trying to breathe underwater. His eyes widened in panic, and the gurgling suffocating sound made Loki quickly put his hand around his neck again and try to get rid of the blood. But it did not work as before. As soon as he removed some fluid, it was refilled, and the more blood he removed the less was left to allow the rest of the body to function.
"No!" Loki cried brokenly "No, do not you dare, I will not let you., you hear? You said that that it was not your time" Loki's hands were now both above Harald's heart, where the magic core was located. He tried to ignore the weakening beating of his heart. It was barely there as he let his magic flow inwards.
The black empty ball that had chains over it in glittering purple ribbons mocked him, but this time, Loki attacked the seal with everything he could. He forced himself to shut out the gurgling sound from Harald, he closed without all the voices around them just to concentrate. Loki now threw all his remaining magic and energy against the seal; he did not care what would happen to him after. His magic was thrown powerfully against the chains, over and over and over again, until he could perceive a small crack created in the chains that only grew the more he pressed.
Suddenly, his magic penetrated right through the seal, creating an explosion that was violently thrown outward in a powerful pressure wave. Furniture was pushed away harshly, and windows exploded outwards by the immense force thrown in from both of them. Loki desperately held on to Harald's magical core and drove in his energy, forcing the core to absorb it.
Suddenly, Harald's magic steadily around them satisfied, warm, and welcoming. Their breath was entirely in sync, their magic interconnected and the same energy vibrated through their bodies. Tie them together on a deeper level than anything before, and they were literary one and the same from this moment.
Loki opened his eyes and blinked to focus; he could see Harald's black hair moving in the pulsating energy that was still flowing from both of them. He could feel the light but steady breaths against his arms and he thanked the nine that his beloved was still alive.
But something was not quite right. Loki blinked again to try to focus or remove the green fields in his vision. But it did not disappear; reluctantly, he loosened his grip a little, but only so that he could see properly what had suddenly invaded his field of vision. Harald was limp in his arms but that was not what drew a gasp from his mother or a silent prayer from the fae king in wonder.
No, it was all because of what was between Lokis' chest and Haralds back. He stared down at the massive feathered wings that were wideout in each direction from Harald's back. He let his now magic envelop the more wild raw that tore itself out of Harald's body as the wings moved in a soft beating.
This was why they were soul mates from the beginning, their magic needs each other to find balance. They needed each other to work. Now more than ever, when he could feel how Harald's magic increased avalanche. Tears of joy now fell down his cheeks as he controlled his little mate's magic so that he would not lose control completely. He had done it. The magic licked against his own like warm caressing flames that could at any time try to tear themselves apart and grow big. But he held it, held him. Loki whispered loving words as he kissed Harald's black locks of hair, ignoring that they were damp with sweat.
"I knew you could do it" Harald told him with a harsh but smug voice
Loki could not help laughing; luckily, one of them believed that. He could swear that this whole frightening situation had given him gray hair. Loki could not answer him but felt how his own fatigue hit him when the tension was released. Neither of them protested as they sank into a deep healing sleep, both wholly exhausted both physically and magically, but both alive.