Chapter 1: Love that Burns

Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers or GoT (maybe in another lifetime).

Pairing: Loki/Daenerys

Summary: This is a sequel story. It is a follow on from my first story 'The Flame Maiden of Hygard' so if you haven't read this, you may wish to or else parts of this sequel may be hard to follow. This story is set after season 3 of GoT and follows the exploits of Daenerys Targaryen as she strives to take back the Iron Throne with the God of Mischief at her side. Reviews are absolutely welcome!

...

Three dark, silent shapes swooped and weaved in the night sky, soaring toward a formidable castle and the perilous cliffs upon which it rested. They flew unnoticed past its murky windows, landing softly against some ocean rocks as they growled up at the sinister fortress like a trio of watchful guardians. A slimmer, more petite form dismounted from the largest of the magnificent beasts and stepped over the slippery stones to regard Dragonstone, former island and stronghold of the Targaryen line.

Daenerys Stormborn, heir to the Targaryen Throne and rightful Queen of the Andals stood watch over her family's fortress, seething over the usurpers who had taken up residence there. Although she had come here for a very different reason, to retrieve a book lost within its walls, now that she stood here, Daenerys couldn't deny the overwhelming urge to reclaim her family's stronghold.

She hushed her dragons as they seemed to sense the importance of this place, gnashing their teeth and gazing at the castle that would have been their home once upon a time. "Calm," she told them in Valyrian. "Be calm." She needed to be smart about this. Even though she had three dragons at her command, Dragonstone was capable of hosting a small army if necessary. The last thing Daenerys needed was for several hundred soldiers to overwhelm her and her young dragons. Not when she had the element of surprise for the first time since the war of men had begun. At a distance, and when acting in sync, her dragons were a deadly combination. Up close, their youthful scales could still be penetrated by a strong blade. Daenerys was not about to risk the lives of any one of her beloved dragons, not even for a chance at her family's former stronghold.

The fragile life within her womb stirred as well, a gentle reminder that she had even more to protect than her dragons. She placed a delicate hand against her stomach, feeling the small yet evident bulge which now pushed against her dress. It was not obvious unless you were looking for it but Daenerys doubted that she would be able to hide her condition for much longer. It was certainly progressing much faster than an ordinary pregnancy, most likely as a result of Loki's unusual heritage. Although she did wonder how the baby's growth would eventually affect her body, not once did she question whether it was worth it. Daenerys loved the blossoming life within her unconditionally and she vowed she would destroy any who threatened to take her child from her.

A soft mewling from her dragons brought her thoughts back to the task at hand and she watched the fortress with stormy eyes. Even as a child, Viserys would tell her how he one day planned to conquer Dragonstone through use of the catacombs that extended beneath its stone foundations. According to her brother, there were narrow escape tunnels that spiralled up its walls and he was confident that if someone was as aware of the exact layout of Dragonstone as he was, it was quite possible for that person to move about the fortress undetected for years. Daenerys was counting on her lessons as a child to get her into the stronghold and with any luck she would be able to retrieve the diary of Daenys Targaryen without incident. If the opportunity presented itself and there were few enough soldiers guarding the place, she would also reclaim her rightful guardianship of Dragonstone.

Daenerys breathed deep, flexing her hands as she attempted to call forth the element of fire. She could feel her palms grow hot and she raised them in front of her but to her disappointment no flames sprung forth from her hands. Drogon suddenly gave an impatient huff and smoke snorted forth from his nostrils. This gave Daenerys an idea and she raised a coaxing hand toward her largest dragon with one simple request. Dracarys.

As Drogon obediently breathed fire into her open palm, Daenerys moulded the flames into a small ball. It stayed that way, shaped like a flaming piece of fruit and she smiled in satisfaction. For whatever reason, she was better at controlling fire than creating it. If need be, she could always borrow fire from her dragons but she was hoping even that wouldn't be necessary. Avoiding any interruption upon entering the stronghold would be crucial in her plans since she knew she had quite a search ahead of her. When the Baratheons had claimed Dragonstone as their own, they did away with most of her family's treasures, either selling them or throwing them into the sea. What remained they had abandoned in the dungeons to be forgotten over the years. They had committed similar appalling acts in Kings Landing, storing the skulls of her family's dead dragons in dirty old prison cells as though they were unwanted furniture. The only reason she suspected the skulls were not ground into powder was because the Baratheons were a proud family. With the dragons gone, their skulls were all that remained of the dragon dynasty and by keeping their skulls, it was almost like a sick reminder that the Baratheons had outwitted and outmanoeuvred the great Targaryen family. No one seemed to care or even realise that while her father had lost all sense as a ruler, there were still innocent children who paid the price for the Baratheon's betrayal.

One of the Baratheon brothers now sat atop Dragonstone as though he owned the place, licking his wounds over his latest war failures and listening to rants about the Red God from his Priestess. Daenerys had heard talk of this Fire Priestess... this insane Red Woman. Word travelled surprisingly quickly across the sea and Daenerys was informed of the exploits and measures that Stannis Baratheon had taken to ensure his support. He had allowed this Red Priestess to burn innocent people at the stake for supporting the Old Gods, claiming them to be false idols. While Daenerys harboured no strong feelings for the Gods herself, these were her people Stannis and the Red Woman were burning and that she would not stand for.

Daenerys turned toward her dragons again, filled with nothing but steely determination and resolve as she mounted Drogon and urged him toward the castle. It was time.

...

Loki

It was strange to think that the people of this world had so little experience with storms. Loki had grown quite accustomed to it over the years, particularly owing to the fact that his brother controlled lightening better than a musician could direct a symphony. The storm that raged now was so similar to the ones he had seen before that, had it not been for the shouts of alarm which sounded throughout the city, he would not have thought there was anything unusual about it.

But like so many times before, it was the sudden onset of the storm, the way it came out of nowhere that gave his brother away. Loki still cradled Daenerys' youngest dragon, Loreley, and he carried her with him as he stalked through the dark city, ignoring the way the Yunkish people cowered in their homes, shielding themselves from some unknown terror and the foreign weather that it brought.

When he reached the city limits, Loki kept going, trekking up the mountain where he knew Thor would easily find him. Loreley kept her sharp pin claws imbedded firmly in Loki's cloak, staring through the black downpour of rain with an enviable night vision. Remarkably the dragon heard it before Loki did, that subtle swoosh which signalled that someone else was moving about in that cyclonic weather, someone who knew their way around a storm. The moment Loreley angled her sharp, little reptilian head to the East, Loki's ears tuned in properly and he heard the distinctive sound of a weapon being thrown. He counted to two in his head, timing his retreat perfectly and stepped back at the just right moment. A split second later, a heavy weapon soared past him and embedded itself deep within the mountain slope, spraying the area with mud and plant debris. The hammer was all too familiar to Loki and he almost smiled as the obedient hunk of metal pulled itself free of the mud and rocketed back in the direction it had come from.

Loreley growled and moved out of sight under his cloak as Loki stood patiently, watching as a tall and broad shouldered figure finally emerged from the darkness with a cascade of water pouring from his armour. Although the tempest carried on around them, it was as if the pair was now in the eye of the storm and an eerie calm rested upon them.

"Long time, no see," Loki murmured, waiting as his adoptive brother stopped short several feet away, his fingers gripping tightly to his signature hammer. His blonde hair was plastered to his face as a result of the heavy rain and his cloak remained waterlogged against the back of his armour.

Loki expected the self righteous speech, the deep throaty voice which would inevitably reprimand him on his selfish plans but Thor said nothing as he regarded Loki with a detached coldness. The icy glare that Thor wore was so unlike the compassion of his brother that Loki couldn't help but smirk. "We have to stop meeting like this," Loki quipped, enjoying the way Thor's jaw ticked. "Come on now. Don't tell me I've finally pushed you too far?"

"I'm not here to offer you clemency this time, Brother," Thor said softly and Loki was surprised at the sadness that laced his words. "In fact, I'm under strict instructions by our Father to kill you if you defy him any further."

"How often you forget that you speak on behalf of your father and not mine," Loki reminded him through gritted teeth. "My father already left me for dead. And failed."

"You're to return with me to face trial in Asgard as was planned before you made your escape," Thor stated, ignoring Loki's jibe. "Only there will be no leniency granted now. In all likelihood, you will be sentenced to death. If you come with me now and do not resist, I promise I will do all I can to sway Father otherwise. I'm sorry."

"Can't do that, Brother," Loki replied evenly, deliberately referring to Thor's familial side in an attempt to appease him. "There's too much at stake here."

"Then we agree on something," Thor said coldly. "You will not bring your fury upon this world as you did with Earth. I won't let it happen again. Last chance."

"You heard me," Loki reaffirmed.

Thor's blue eyes looked crestfallen for a moment but he blinked it away as his face hardened. "So be it."

Loki was prepared but before Odin's son could so much as raise his hammer, Loreley seemed to sense the danger and immediately leapt forth from under Loki's cloak. The tiny reptile landed on the ground between them, growling obscenely for such a delicate little creature and snapping her teeth in what only she could possibly deem to be an intimidating manner.

Thor stared down at the young dragon, hammer raised mid air and his angry scowl still frozen on his face. His eyes darted briefly to his brother's and Loki couldn't hold back his grimace as Loreley actually attempted to bite Thor's toes through his boot.

"What... is... that?" Thor enunciated slowly, moving his boot back to which Loreley promptly followed, still gnashing her teeth. Loki sighed and slammed his sceptre down into the ground harshly, lodging it deep into the mud of the rocky hillside. He then stepped forward, scooping Loreley up before Thor could make a move against her and tucked her back under his arm.

"My responsibility," Loki said firmly, daring Thor to challenge him. When Thor continued to look confused Loki held Loreley out at arm's length, letting his brother get a good look at her at eye level. At this height, it was far easier to see the silver and lilac scales that adorned her body, the divine blue eyes and the small, yet impressive horns that jutted from her head. "I know almost all things seem to pale in comparison to your importance but I thought even you might recognise a dragon when you see one." As soon as he said it, Thor's expression morphed into one of astonishment.

"Impossible," Thor argued, shaking his head in denial.

Loreley did something then that astounded both of them. With an odd noise that sounded remarkably like a hiccup, Loreley snorted flame through the gaps in her teeth. It shot forward several feet, making Thor retreat to a safe distance whilst Loki stared at her with a mixture of surprise and pride. It was her first flame.

"Satisfied?" Loki asked Thor, cradling Loreley back against his chest.

"Those beasts have been extinct for thousands of years," Thor insisted stubbornly. "It must be a close relative."

"Like what?" Loki said sarcastically. "A fire breathing gargoyle, perhaps?"

Thor glared at him and raised his hammer defensively again causing Loreley to strain in Loki's arms, growling protectively. Loki couldn't help but feel some slight admiration towards the young creature, amazed that she would even try to defend him. The bond that Loreley felt for her mother, Daenerys, was stronger than ever and it could be seen by the way she fiercely protected Loki. This more than anything reassured him that Daenerys was safe, at least for now.

When Thor noticed that he would not be able to hurt Loki without injuring the young dragon in the process, he gave a grunt of annoyance and slammed the hammer into the ground where it remained discarded along with Loki's sceptre.

"Excellent," Loki said with forced cheer. "Now perhaps we can talk like civilised immortals."

"I don't know what you have planned for this world," Thor said gratingly. "Or the dragon for that matter." He jerked his head in the direction of Loreley who responded with an indignant snap of her jaws. "But your schemes are likely to fail as they always have."

Loki gave a dark chuckle. "Fail, Brother? Why I'm exactly where I should be. It is you who is out of your element."

"Just because you are the first Asgardian to travel to this world in a millennia does not mean you may claim it as your own," Thor interjected harshly.

Loki gave him a sly look. "As always, you assume the worst of me when really you have no idea what I have planned for this world."

"Same Loki," Thor said defiantly with a shake of his head. "Maybe with a few new tricks..." His eyes flickered briefly toward the dragon in Loki's hands once more and then back to his face. "But we both know how this fable ends."

Loki's determined expression wavered for a moment and he knew that Thor saw it. He turned away and set Loreley down on some rocks, watching as she turned around in several circles before settling into a comfortable sitting position. "It may have started out that way," Loki admitted softly as he turned back to Thor. "But things are different now."

Thor snorted brutishly. "Right. Next thing you'll tell me, some fair maiden has stolen your heart."

Loki's face remained serious and sincere. "Actually I gave it to her. Freely."

Thor crossed his arms in front of his broad chest and it was all Loki could do not to roll his eyes. It was funny how his brother could talk of how he hadn't changed when in fact Thor was every bit the same now as when he was battling bilgesnipes. He still resorted to his brawny muscles when things didn't go his way.

"You?" Thor echoed disbelievingly. "You expect me to buy that Loki of Asgard actually cares about someone other than himself?"

Loki spread his arms in a harmless gesture. "Hey, if it could happen to Thor Odinson..." Loki's eyes sparkled with his roguish insinuation.

"Leave Jane out of this," Thor snarled.

"You always wished that I was more like you," Loki reminded him grimly. "But now the shoe is on the other foot and I've found a world where I can escape the confines of your shadow, you want to drag me back. Forgive me if I'm reluctant to comply."

"You were taken back to Asgard to answer for your war crimes on Earth," Thor said savagely. "Your being here has nothing to do with a woman! You're here to appease your insatiable need to rule!"

"You're not even half right this time, Brother," Loki hissed through his teeth. The winds picked up around them, reminding Loki that Daenerys was still out in the storm, probably over half way to Dragonstone by now. He edged backward ever so slowly, knowing Thor would notice if he moved too suddenly. He didn't actually want to hurt Thor and he had no need to if his brother made no move against him.

"Believe what you will," Loki continued, his eyes flashing dangerously. "It makes no difference. But there is someone out there right now who needs me. And you're keeping me from her."

Thor's eyes lightened a bit and he seemed to consider Loki's words. "Why should I believe you?" he asked suspiciously but Loki noticed the way his hand was more relaxed now.

There was nothing else for it. Loki knew there was only one way to convince his brother. He strode forward before Thor could misinterpret his actions and placed a hand directly against his brother's chest. Thor still looked doubtful as his eyes flicked awkwardly to the hand against his chest.

"I have used no trickery, Brother," Loki said honestly. "I am as you find me. Come if you must, but I am going to find her." He removed his hand and waited for the knowledge to sink in as Thor debated his options.

"If what you say is true," Thor said carefully. "It does not absolve you of your other sins. I'm not sure I will ever be able to forgive you."

"I didn't ask you to," Loki said, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. "Make no mistake, I don't pretend to suddenly be a noble pillar of virtue. I have not changed. I've just found something I want more than the throne of Asgard." It was the first time he had admitted it so openly but Loki recognised the truth in his own words as soon as he said it. What's more was Thor could hear it too. And even though his brother would no doubt search for some underlying motive (and he could hardly blame him), even Thor could not find what simply did not exist. "I'm still selfish by your standards," Loki warned him. "I have no plans to return with you and face trial. Everything I want is here and I will stop at nothing to get her back."

"Whether you shall return with me or not isn't your decision to make," Thor determined but his voice had softened considerably. "Who is she?" he asked, unable to keep the curiosity from leaking into his voice.

"A princess," Loki murmured reverently. "A Queen... A Targaryen."

As it did when Loki first heard the name, the title struck a chord within Thor. Names held value in Asgard and a name such as that of Daenerys' family held true power regardless of the world you came from.

"Targaryen?" Thor repeated. "It sounds..."

"Powerful," Loki admitted. "She is."

At this realisation, Thor's expression turned guarded once more, not trusting Loki's motives in regards to this mystery woman. Thor looked at the dragon that Loki had been carrying as he slowly began to make the connection and his eyes narrowed on his brother once more.

"If I was going to take this world, I'd need an army, not a woman," Loki pointed out. "She is powerful, I won't deny it. But she is not even yet fully aware of her own capabilities."

"And you hope to mould it for your own benefit?" Thor accused.

"Hardly," Loki said softly. "If I were to use her for the deeds you accuse me of, it would destroy her. She values life in a way that we do not. I could never ask her to do the things I have done. And I never will."

A moment of silence passed between them before Thor gave his gruff reply. "I'll help you find this woman. But Odin help you if you are lying to me."

"I just want to find Daenerys," Loki replied honestly and Thor jerked in surprise upon hearing the maiden's name. "She is all that matters."

"In that case you were wrong, Brother," Thor responded to which Loki raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Something within you has changed."

...

End of the first chapter! I always liked the idea of Thor and Loki working together instead of against each other! Even if it is a strained truce. They are brothers right?