The Littlest Valkyrie
Title:The Littlest Valkyrie
Rating:PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: Loki and Gamora leave Thanos's citadel, Natasha meets with a lord who has a proposal that is geared towards the betterment of Asgard. Fenrir leaves Cendal and Hela (Hel) arrives in Asgard to find that things are more complicated than she expected.
Loki remained perfectly passive as Thanos turned around to face him, not letting any emotion show on his face, knowing that it was paramount that to keep his composure. He even managed a half-bow, a fraction deeper than the ones he had given while he was an ambassador. “Good afternoon, Lord Thanos.”
“Hmm.” The titan frowned. “What is it?”
“I believe I have an idea of how to retrieve the Tesseract from where it is locked up on Midgard.” He saw the slight change in the larger man's face. “Although, I do not know if you would approve.”
“Tell me.” He took a step forward, but Loki did not step back. “I'm listening.”
“The trouble, my lord, is not getting the Tesseract from the humans. Their security is laughable, their intelligence more so. Those with the knowledge or foresight to use that particular Infinity Gem are hampered by less worthy beings.” He shrugged. “Or spend what time they could use in a worthy pursuit destroying themselves.”
“But getting to Midgard, or Terra, as it is also called, would take you too long. Seven hundred years, I believe is the estimate, without using any temporal gates.” He frowned. “So what do you suggest?”
“I can get to Midgard in ten years, if I were to go there via Svartalfheim. There are passageways between the Nine Realms, and that is the nearest place with a passageway to Midgard.” He shrugged, rather absently, as if everything was trivial and mere afterthought. “There aren't enough dark-elves left to put up much of a fight, if any. Furthermore, the path is on the opposite side of the realm from their largest population.”
Thanos turned around. “And is there way to Asgard from Svartalfheim?”
“No.” Loki answered. “The passageway between those two realms was destroyed in an earthquake over two hundred years ago.” He frowned. “Not that it couldn't be cleared with heavy labor, but that is ill advised.”
“And why is that?” The titan glared at him.
“The opening into Asgard is near the bottom of a reservoir.” He tapped his fingers together. “It is merely an idea, my lord.”
“And the Bi-Frost, does it not connect to that realm?” His voice deepened.
“The Bi-Frost can connect to anywhere, but as we are shielded here and I will keep myself cloaked from the gatekeeper, I do not think that it matters.” Loki kept his voice even. He knew full well that Thanos wasn't stupid, but he also knew that the titan would rather take the risk to get his hands on one of the Infinity Stones than to just dismiss this idea completely.
“Ten years to Svartalfheim.” He started to pace. “How long would you estimate it would take you to travel to Terra and retrieve the Tesseract?”
He thought for a moment, trying to come up with a logical estimate, nothing too long and nothing too short. “Two of their months, perhaps three.” He straightened his shoulders. “I know it seems like a great deal of time, my lord, but it may be even longer before the humans bring it out into the open. The time it will take them to develop the technology to even scratch the surface? Another century, at least.”
“They have used it already, have they not?” Thanos's voice deepened and for the first time, Loki almost broke his focus.
“Barely. In their typical manner, all they did was manufacture weapons.” He shook his head. “And even those were lost. They did create a serum that was administered two a handful of beings, but both the exact formula remains unknown. Not to mention the side-effects were horrendous.”
“Hm.” He came over and stood right next to him and it took all of Loki's will not to break the titan's gaze. “The trouble, little jotun, is that it would take you another ten to return. Unless you take a portal device with you.”
“What do you suggest, my lord?” He lowered his shoulders, properly cowed.
“To send you to Svartalfheim, with a portal device. Once there, you will assemble and activate it. You will go to Terra and retrieve the Tesseract. I will arrange for a distraction.” He chuckled. “Perhaps we shall shake Malekith from his sleep and he can join us here.” He smirked. “You will be taking Gamora with you, of course.”
“She's just a child.” Loki spread his hands outward, feigning upset. “I do not think she is ready.”
“You'll need two distractions. If you cannot disguise her as a Terran and have her play a helpless silly girl, then what the devil has she been learning all these hours?” Thanos sneered.
He bowed, reflexively. “An excellent point, my lord.”
“Yes.” He turned and stalked away. “Be ready to leave in twelve hours.”
“Of course, my lord.” Loki answered, bowing again. He already knew he wasn't going to tell Gamora what was really going on until right before the two of them went into suspended animation for their ten year trek across the stars.
*
Natasha could not honestly fathom why the guards had come to take her to the throne room when Grandmother was still perfectly capable. Now that she'd had the better part of the morning to think it over, she was no closer to an answer as to why she was sitting here, in the massive room, alone, save for a handful of guards and the occasional passing servant. The only thing she had done in capacity as Asgard's ruler was send court into recess, and that unless the problem was urgent, it could wait a few days. Certainly it would only be a a short time before Grandfather woke up and was ready to resume his duties. If the situation with her brother and uncle wasn't so serious, she would almost think Grandfather had planned on sleeping through the boring talk of taxes and trade, trusting that he would be spared the petty squabbling of the privy council and other nobles.
Well, all right, perhaps the looks on the faces of the council and arrogant lords when she sent them all away from the throne room almost made her current situation worth it. She straightened up as a page came towards the throne, his expression apprehensive.
“Your grace.” He bowed, and then glanced upwards. “I beg your pardon, but Lord Ketheson wishes to speak with you.”
Natasha felt her eyebrows lift. She had not seen Lord Ketheson since Papochka's funeral. He was a relatively minor member of the court, and spent more time actually tending to his duties as a lord, rather than here in the capitol. “Did he state his business?”
“Only that he originally had an appointment to speak with the Allfather, your grace.” The page still looked as if she was going to order him to clean chamberpots or muck out horse stalls. “I tried to explain that you had dismissed court, but...”
“Just tell me...” She suddenly recalled the man's name. “Just tell me what he said, Haran.”
“He stated that he has been trying to talk to the Allfather for several years over something, but his appointment has been dismissed and rescheduled over a dozen times in the past ten years.” He remained cowed.
“Would that we could all be so patient.” Natasha was floored by the idea of someone having to wait ten years just to talk to Grandfather for thirty minutes. “I will see Lord Ketheson.”
As the page headed back up to the doors, she smoothed out the skirt of her dress, resolved that she would at least hear what the man had to say; waiting as long as he had, it was bound to be something he felt wholly passionate about. She clasped her hands in her lap as the Haran returned, along with a conservatively dressed man who reminded her of Howard Stark in age.
Lord Ketheson bowed. “Good morning, your grace.”
“Good morning, Lord Ketheson. I am deeply sorry that you have had to wait so long to speak with the Allfather, and now that the date is here, I must take his place.” It seemed only logical to her to apologize to him; Norns knew, he deserved that at least.
The man stood, smiling faintly. “Thank you, your grace.”
“What is it that you wish to discuss?” She saw two more pages approach, carrying scrolls and folios, both of them looking rather nervous.
“I am certain you are aware that on my estates, I started a school for the peasants some time ago.” She nodded and he went on. “It has been a success, and I believe it has been more beneficial to the well-being of the people of Asgard who live in the area and, for the whole of the realm as well.” He took a breath. “I would like to expand what I have done to the rest of the peasants of Asgard, including those who live here in the capitol.”
Natasha thought for a moment and took a breath. “I take it that not many of the other lords agree with this idea.”
“No.” He made a face. “Many have told me that educating the lower classes is something they couldn't possibly appreciate and they do not wish to waste the funds that it would take to educate the people who work on their land and houses.”
She bit back the retort that was on the edge of her tongue that the other lords were being stupid. “Do they feel it will distract from their work, I was of the understanding that while your school is open year round, the schedule was such that it allowed workers and their children to attend so it corresponded with seasons and did not interfere with their work.”
“Yes.” He took a scroll had handed it one of the guards, who brought it up to her. She opened it and scanned the words quickly. “I have considered a worthy investment, as those under my care have become more productive and live happier lives than previously.”
“What did you have in mind of pushing your proposal through?” She came down onto the stairs and handed the scroll back to one of the pages.
“My wife, Lady Ketheson, believes that the best idea to put this through is to go indirectly, rather than straightforward.”
She smiled faintly. “You wish to start a charity to circumvent the objections the other lords have?”
“Yes.” There was a slight smile on his face. “I know it is rather presumptive of me, as in rankings, I'm barely a lord, if...”
Natasha held up her hand. “I believe your idea is admirable and an excellent one. I do not have any objections to your starting a charity, but how...” She suddenly caught what sort of help he needed. “You are in need of more people to back your idea.”
He nodded. “It is quite difficult to raise funds when the majority of people in court barely acknowledge you past common courtesy.”
“Quite true.” She picked at her hand, her mind racing. “It is currently a rather - inopportune time.” She turned towards Haran, who was still standing between the other two pages. “I want to see Lady Tyr tomorrow, Haran. See that the message is delivered to her. I also want the tentative schedule for the Harvest Festival.” She turned back to the lord. “Is Lady Ketheson here with you in the capitol?”
“Yes, your grace.” He had a small smile on his face.
“I would like for her to join me and if possible, Lady Tyr, later this week. I will send a message when it has been scheduled. Is there any time that is not convenient?”
“Your grace, our days are completely open at your discretion.” He inclined his head. “And thank you.”
“You are most welcome.” She gave him a warm smile. “And again, I am sorry that it has taken this long for your appointment to take place.”
He bowed again in response and he and his two pages headed back up to the entrance of the throne room, stepping aside as Heimdall entered it and moved quickly down towards her.
“Damn.” Natasha said under her breath. The guardian would not have left his post unless it was an emergency. “Good morning, Heimdall.”
“Good morning, Princess Natasha.” His expression remained as stoic as ever. “Magistrate Issacar of Cendal is requesting political asylum for your sister, Hela Lokadottir.”
She blinked at him. “For Hela? Just Hela?” She frowned. “What of Fenrir?”
“He was not mentioned. The rebellion on Jotunheim has reignited in the Spears. There has already been and attack that has left their maternal grandparents dead and the journey to Utgard is too risky.” He glanced sideways at one of the guards, who suddenly stiffened. “As such, both the Magistrate and Fenrir Lokason feel that the only safe place for your sister is here.”
It was a hard thing to process; her sister, coming here to live in Asgard? With the rest of their family? It's not that she had any problem with the idea; but at the same time, it was almost hard to comprehend. Natasha rubbed her temple. “I believe we need to inform the Allmother before we can send a reply to Cendal.”
**
Fenrir watched as the coast of Cendal vanished behind him, wishing he could have at least stayed with Hela until she left for Asgard. But time and tide waited for no jotun, and the journey to Qnther would take nearly a month. The island on the the other side of Jotunheim was home to the training ground of the Spears' army, and while he was still viewed as a boy, he wasn't alone in his journey. The boat would stop at the other islands, picking up more volunteers. He knew that life in the army would be hard and it would be at least ten years before he saw his sister again, but somehow, knowing that she was going to be somewhere safe was already a great burden lifted off of his shoulders.
He leaned against the railing, shifting his gaze to the rolling sea, the white-caps breaking against the blue gray. He sighed as another jotun, one he didn't know came to stand next to him. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” He replied, frowning. “You're rather young, aren't you?”
“I feel about three times my age on a regular basis.” He retorted. “But yes, I know I am young.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He chuckled. “Not that I'm one to talk, I'm barely five hundred.” He held out his hand. “Eljka Paarason, I'm from Myrlyr.”
He shook the jotun's hand. “Fenrir Lokason, Cendal.” He let his hand fall. “What sends you to the army?”
“I have three elder brothers. I'm one less mouth to feed.” He sighed. “I'm also tired of my brothers' bullying.”
“I can't imagine, I don't have an older brother.” Fenrir kept his gaze on the sea. “I have a younger brother and two younger sisters, although they don't live on Cendal, they live off-realm.”
“Just you here on Jotunheim then?” Eljka blinked. “That must be difficult.”
“Well, I couldn't go with my sister... where I'm normal sized here, she's far too small. Like my brother and other sister.” He shook his head. “Recessive genes.” He didn't feel like sharing his whole life story with a total stranger at the moment.
“I'm going to miss my mom's cooking.” The older jotun said, absently. “And I suppose I'll miss my brothers and my da.”
“My parents are dead.” He answered. “As are my grandparents.”
“I'm sorry.” Eljka leaned against the railing. “Did you know that on Midgard, all their oceans and the majority of their seas are all salt water?”
Fenrir blinked. “I did not.” He frowned. “Norns, where do they get fresh water from?”
“They have freshwater rivers, lakes and glaciers.” He coughed. “Although I must admit, I believe all of our Midgard geography must be woefully lacking.”
“I can't imagine how history has changed there as well.” Fenrir absently thought of Natasha. “They most likely live in much better homes than wooden halls by now. I suspect they now live in homes of stone and glass, similar to the Vanir.”
“Have you ever met a Midgardian?” The two of them started away from the rail, heading for the hold.
“No, although I have some Midgardian ancestry, and one of my sisters is half-Midgardian.” He sighed. “Although I have yet to meet her. My family is - rather complicated.”
“Isn't everyone's?” Eljka laughed. “Cendal, that's where they grow grain, yes?”
“Yes, the bread-basket of Jotunheim. But like all the Spears, we have those that work the seas.” He sighed. “I've never been to Myrlyr.”
“You're not missing much, factories and fisher-folk.” He sighed. “I'd have liked to have tried farming that goes beyond the backyard.”
Fenrir nodded and they went below, and he glanced once more towards the bow of the ship, where the sight of his childhood home vanished on the horizon.
**
“Ten years in suspended animation?” Gamora glared at Loki, indignantly. “That's forever!” It wasn't the idea of leaving Thanos's stronghold that bothered her, it was being out of touch for so long. It was training she would miss, growing up some, just - how was she supposed to come back here after all that time like nothing had happened?
“It is not as bad as you fear.” Loki squeezed her chin, an affectionate gesture that she both detested and loved at the same time. She wasn't a baby - but.. “Think of how you'll move up in Thanos's eyes when we return. All you have to do is take a long nap, help me put a machine together and then act like a lost little girl. Nebula will be spitting nails for the next century over this.”
She jerked free of him. Of course he'd bring up Nebula. “I still don't like it.”
“Well, we can do this and bring Thanos that much closer to his ultimate goal, or we can wait around for the Terrans to start playing with the Tesseract again, which most likely won't be for another twenty years or so. We can also wait the thirty years for the convergence, if you like.”
She huffed and folded her arms, following him down the corridor. “What if the residents of Svartalfheim stop us? They are Malekith's people.”
“They are not all like him, Gamora.” Loki sighed and they came into the hangar where their ship, a light-weight freighter that had been stolen from Xandar, part of a small fleet that the Kree had recently gifted to Thanos. “What's left of the dark elves armed forces is just about enough to win a bar brawl, but nothing more.”
She stopped and watched him walk away, heading for the ship. Something was off about that. While she knew that the planet in question was mostly a wasteland, what he said didn't make sense. How could he know such things when the dark-elves were notoriously anti-social and hated outsiders. She ran to catch up with him. “There's something you're not telling me.”
“Well, I'm going to have to glamour you when we go to Midgard, but I assumed you would have known that.” He shrugged, almost dismissively. “Or could it be that the little assassin in training is scared?”
“I am no coward!” She shot back at him. How dare he say something like that? He was the one acting strangely, not her! “I am not afraid!”
Loki took a deep breath as they came to the entrance ramp of their vessel. “I know you are not. You're just nervous. Do not worry, this is just the point where the mission seems impossible. Things will be clearer once we actually get there, and start to work.”
“I suppose.” She sighed and glanced up over her shoulder, looking at the catwalks, rather surprised when she did not see Thanos there. Certainly he would be seeing her off, wouldn't he? She almost snorted at her own foolishness. He was probably off doting on Nebula.
She went into the ship and skirted around the crates that held the portal machine that she and Loki would assemble at their destination. It would allow them to move the chitauri from here to Midgard with minimal difficulty. Although once they had the Tesseract there was little reason to stay there. Perhaps they would search for the Aether as well. Gamora slid into the co-pilot seat, glancing over at Loki, who was busy checking systems and flipping switches. “Are you worried?”
“Terrified.” He answered, almost instantly. “Although I'm more afraid of getting there than what we'll find when we do.”
She frowned and started fastening herself into her seat, the sound of the cargo doors shutting and locking behind them had a sense of finality to them; perhaps she would never come back here again. Oddly, she was fine with that. “How long to we travel before we go into suspended animation?”
“Roughly two hours. We'll eat some of the rations before we go under, otherwise we'll wake up hungry enough to eat the ship.” He took a breath and then turned a few switches, and the engines began to start. “We might not have even have to kill anyone once we get to Midgard, I hope you weren't counting on doing that.”
“What, you think that Stark fellow is just going to hand it over?” Gamora folded her arms as Loki fastened the buckles of his own harness.
“It's possible. I told him to lock it up.” He shook his head. “Then again, I don't entirely trust that defense organization he's a part of.”
“Why not?” She frowned. “You said they were all brilliant, or something along those lines.”
“I don't trust anyone who says they have the best of intentions for the majority. That often comes at the expense of the minority.” He gave her an odd look. “Years ago, when they were first recruiting, several of the founding members were from a group called Hydra, who claimed that they had seen the errors of their ways and wanted to atone for their mistakes.”
“You don't believe that's true?” She shook her head and sat back. “How unlike you.”
“You can always say you're sorry, or you didn't know any better, or that you were threatened when you're on the side that loses.” He held up his hand, palm up and as she watched, a small ball of flame flickered to life over it, changing colors as it spun. He tossed it into the air and caught it, and kept his gaze out the front screen. “Understand?”
She folded her arms and shook her head. “Not really.”
“If you're going to form a group dedicated to protect, you don't start your recruiting with liars and killers.” He gave her a sideways look. “That is how you start a group to take over the world, not save it.” He took a breath. “All right, Gamora, let's get out of here.”
“Right.” She nodded and started scanning the read-outs on the board in front of her. “All the bulkheads are locked and secured.”
“Excellent.” He set his hand on the controls and the ship lifted slightly, and they glided over the hangar, his face stoic. “Here we go, sailing off into the wild blue yonder.”
“Space isn't blue and we're not sailing.” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly.” The ship went past the exit of the base and they slowly circled the planetoid.
He snickered. “Maybe a ten year nap is just the thing you need to get rid of that attitude of yours.” A crackle of static and a moment later, a voice filled the cabin.
“Are you two settled and ready?” It was Thanos.
“Ready and nearly settled, my lord.” Loki started pushing buttons on the console. “We'll need to get some distance between us and here before we head into suspended animation.”
“Excellent. I will be keeping the Kree off your tail, they are better kept occupied and I do not want them tracking you.” The titan chuckled. “If by some means you can also acquire the gauntlet from Asgard, my gratitude would be beyond comprehension."
Gamora risked a sideways look at Loki, who to her great surprise, was grinning.
“I'll see if that's possible. If Gamora is a good girl on this mission, I was going to let her pick out something from Midgard to bring home. Within reason.” How he could sound so calm and level with that expression, she had no idea.
“No animals.” Thanos stated, flatly.
“I want a gun.” She interjected, throwing in a girlish giggle and hating herself for it. “Something dangerous but not too big.”
“You do as your told and I'm certain you will get a lovely reward, Gamora.” The transmission ended.
“I don't really want a gun.” She sank back into her seat as the engines roared and they shot away from the base, moving close to the speed of sound.
“Didn't think so.” Loki chuckled and leaned down, opening a small crate next to his chair, reached in and drew out a flat container. “Lunch time.”
She took it from him, giving him a wan smile. “All right, what's the joke?”
“Joke?” He grinned. “There's no joke.” He gave her a wink. “Well, maybe there is - but the punchline isn't ready to be dropped yet.”
“You're infuriating.” She shook her head and opened the box that contained her last meal for the next ten years.
*
Odin wrapped his hands around his mug, focusing on the brown liquid within as he sat at his desk, waiting for Natasha to arrive and brief him on what had happened while he was sleeping. He had been made aware of the assassination attempt almost as soon as he was properly dressed. He had been in Odin-sleep for five days, his son and grandson in the healing halls for four and still had not awoken, and his granddaughter had spent three full days as a figurehead for the family. He did not fault Frigga for leaving the Natasha in the situation. Not entirely. Her motherly instincts had overridden her sense of duty; it was summer and most of the court was away, avoiding the heat of the city. There was a soft knock on the door and he lifted his head. “Come in.”
Natasha's face appeared and she slipped into the room, coming to stand before the desk, hands held behind her back. “Good afternoon, All-Father.” The girl looked exhausted and he completely understood why.
“Good afternoon, Princess Natasha.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “How fares Asgard and the rest of the Nine Realms?”
“Court is in recess.” She bit her lip. “The lords were informed that unless it was an emergency, it could wait. I studied the proposed tax levy that several lords wish to put forth on the people, and I feel it is a bad idea.”
“And why is that?” Odin gave her a half smile.
“A sixty-percent tax increase on eighty percent of the people of Asgard to pay for a program that will only benefit two percent of the population is ridiculous.” In that moment, the girl sounded so much like her father that it was hard to believe that they weren't related by blood.
“I quite agree.” He frowned. “Then why did you not abolish the proposal?”
Her arms came around to her front and she crossed them over her chest. “Because the lords were already angry I'd told them court was in recess and they had issues taking order from a child.”
“Indeed.” Odin sighed. “What else has occurred?”
“I approved Lord Ketheson's education proposal.” Here, she smiled. “Lady Tyr and Lady Ketheson are to join myself, Grandmother and Lady Sif next week for tea to discuss plans for an event during the Harvest Festival to begin raising funds to educate the people of Asgard who are in need of it.”
He frowned. “And why do you think it is a good idea to educate the peasantry?”
Her arms were behind her back again. “We cannot maintain the belief or present ourselves as a shining example of civilization in the Nine Realms and the rest of the universe if we keep part of our population illiterate and burdened. Content and happy people do not start revolutions.”
He chuckled. “True. I understand that Lorelei has escaped and is behind the assassination attempt?”
“Yes. She still has not been apprehended.” She bit her lip for a moment before speaking. “The rebels on Jotunheim have become active again. They murdered Hela, Joshua, and Fenrir's maternal grandparents.”
“Norns.” He cursed under his breath. “Are your brother and sister safe?”
“Fenrir has joined the Spears' army. Hela is arriving here this evening. She will be carrying a letter from my older brother formally relinquishing his title as a prince and from his place in the line of succession.” She frowned. “I don't know if he actually had one, but he did so as a formality.”
Odin shook his head. “I imagine that the rebellion will keep both the government of the Spears and King Laufey occupied. It is sad that a tragedy had to befall your siblings for Jotunheim to learn that their troubles they believed gone with the past winter were not, but at the same time, it is better to know that the danger is real then to continue to wait for it to strike.” He took a drink of tea and then lowered his mug. “You have done splendidly, Natasha. Far better than most would have in your situation.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.” She replied, blinking a few times.
“Go and rest until dinner. After your evening meal, go and relieve your grandmother in the healing halls. She is in need of sleep as well.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” She answered, smiling tiredly. “I would like permission to tell Hela the truth about our father before the week is out.”
“Permission granted.” He nodded. “I will see you after dinner.”
“Yes, sir. And thank you.” She curtseyed and then left the room, covering a yawn.
Odin shook his head and went back to drinking his tea as he pulled a small stack of proposals towards him and began to read.
*
Hela couldn't sleep. The room she'd been given wasn't a room; it was bigger than the house she had grown up in. She sat solemnly on her bed, her focus out the window, trying to process all that had happened since she arrived on Asgard. First, her blue skin had been covered with a glamour spell, so now she looked Æsir, something she was still indignant about, even though she knew it was for her own protection. Then she'd been taken to the healing halls and had her feet covered in some foul-smelling salve and wrapped in bandages. It came from a lifetime of not wearing shoes, or rather, not wearing closed shoes. It was to treat her skin so she could wear said shoes comfortably.
When she had been told that her brother and uncle were both recovering from an assassination attempt, she'd been stunned. The fact that the killer was still on the loose was unsettling - and the fact that it was the same vile woman who'd destroyed her family in the first place? Hela was livid.
They should have chopped Lorelei's head off after they captured her.
She tucked her knees up under her chin, hugging her legs. Somewhere on Jotunheim, Fenrir too, was headed into the unknown. It would be years before she saw him again; right now, all she wanted was some sort of comfort, for someone to tell her everything was going to be fine and for her to be able to believe it. How could anything ever be right again? Hela just wanted to find this had all been some horrible nightmare and any moment now, she was going to wake up on her sleeping shelf with her brother and grandfather snoring away. She would get up and make breakfast where the pots were too large for her small hands, where everything was too big for her; and she was hauled around on the backs of her family like she was still an infant so she wouldn't be harmed or cause a normal sized jotun to trip.
Now she was in a room where everything was her size or nearly just. The whole of Asgard was just about her size; the chairs, the tables, all of it. Her chambers, as they were called, were next to her brother's, and she knew that Natasha's was on the other side of the hall. The three of them were all together, in some fashion. Uncle Thor's was some distance towards the front entrance of the wing, and her - grandparents - their chambers were at this end of the hall, on the same side as Natasha.
Hela had seen the door of her father's room, glowing with a spell that kept anyone from entering; and she had to wonder if Joshua wanted to know what was on the other side as much as she did.
A bell tolled the hour; it was two in the morning.
“Hela?” A voice said from behind her and she turned, surprised to see Natasha; she'd not heard her sister's knock. “I had a feeling you weren't sleeping.”
She nodded. “Too much has happened in too short of a time.”
“I understand.” She adjusted her grip on the book she was holding. “I just came back to get this.” She held up the tome. “I thought I'd come and check on you, and ask if you wanted to join me during my vigil.”
Hela pushed herself off of the bed, coming around to face her sister. “I'm surprised you didn't ask a servant to get your book.” She didn't mean to sound haughty; but this place was worse than the palace in Utgard. There were five times the number of workers, and three times the number of guards.
“I'm protective of my books.” The girl replied, hugging herself. “I can run back here and get the book I want and be back in the healing halls much faster than any servant, and most of them are asleep anyway.”
She sighed. “Well, I suppose I can just as well sit in the healing halls as I can here. Perhaps I need something to distract myself.” She shrugged into her dressing gown and slippers and followed Natasha into the hall. They did not speak as they made their way down the corridors and passageways. There was almost no one about, save the guards and most of them only gave them a passing glance, and what had seemed to be hundreds of twists and turns earlier this evening seemed only half the distance.
“I've returned.” Natasha said to the healer who was half-asleep over a large book.
She nodded and went right back to her reading, barely giving the two of them a second look.
Hela had only glimpsed at her brother and uncle when she was here earlier. Now, coming into the small room, she stood at the foot of Joshua's bed to get a better look at them both. Thor was golden haired and powerfully built - but in his repose, he almost looked like a child; only the stubble of his beard told his age. Her brother was not as large as their uncle, his hair a mass of dark curls. In that moment Hela was instantly jealous that two of her siblings had been graced with ringlets, one of whom most likely detested them; she would have adored having curls that cascaded down her back, instead of the straight river that was currently bound into two braids. “When are they going to wake?”
Natasha was tucking herself into a large chair between the two beds. “Before the week is out. Eir says the healing stones have done their work, now it's a matter of their bodies and minds recovering enough to regain consciousness.”
She came over and sat down next to her sister, the chair was big enough for the both of them. “This day has been entirely too...” She thought for a moment. “It's just been too much of everything.” She looked down at the book in her sister's lap. “What are you reading?” She frowned at the words she didn't understand.
“Ballet Shoes.” She ran her fingers over the worn cover. “It's my feel-better book.”
“Feel-better book?” She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When the Fever came to Asgard the last time and I was sick, Papochka read this to me. I fell asleep dozens of times while he was, but we finally finished it. Now, whenever I'm feeling sad, worried or upset, I take it down from my shelf and read it.” She sighed, her hand stilling over the cover. “Somehow, it helps.” She suddenly lifted her chin. “He's going to come home.”
“Who's coming home?” Hela shook her head. “Who are you talking about?”
“Papochka. He's going to come home.” Natasha nearly smiled. “He promised he was going to come home and he is.”
Hela bit back the urge to call her sister stupid. “Father's dead.”
“No, he's not.” She shook her head. “He's being held prisoner by Thanos.”
Her eyes widened. “The mad titan?”
“Yes. But he's going to come home. He'll find a way home.” She sighed. “I just don't know when.”
She was too tired to be upset that she had originally been told her father was dead. Instead, she kicked off her slippers and tucked her feet under her, resting her head on her sister's shoulder. “What's ballet?”
“It's a type of dancing on Midgard.” Natasha replied and opened the book, flipping past a few pages before coming to the first chapter. “The Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road. At that end of it which is furthest away from the Brompton Road, and yet sufficiently near it to be taken to look at the dolls' houses in the Victoria and Albert every wet day, and if not too wet expected to "save the penny and walk.”
“Who are Victoria and Albert?” Hela interjected, already confused.
“Queen Victoria of England and her husband, Prince Albert. She was the current Queen of England's great-grandmother.” She made a face. “You can ask Joshua about her. He used to sail for her Navy. The Fossil sisters live in London, that's the capitol of England.”
She thought for a moment. “Have you been to England?”
“Only once.” Natasha closed the book. “It was years ago, though. It was long after this book took place and I doubt the London I saw was anything like it is today.” She moved the book aside. “Joshua was in London over a century ago.”
“Tell me about Midgard.” No doubt her sister knew some good stories about the realm of men. “I know almost nothing about the place.”
“Well...” There was something wistful about her sister's tone. “Okay.” She cleared her throat before she began to speak. “The last place I went on Midgard was called California. Papochka and I were staying with a man named Howard Stark, his wife Maria, and their son, Tony.”
**
Loki finished typing the coordinates into the computer, finally feeling relaxed now that they were some distance from Thanos's stronghold. He grimaced as he ate a piece of jerky, not certain what animal it was from. But it was protein and that was the key to a meal before stasis. “You almost ready, Gamora?”
“Ready as I'll ever be.” The girl sighed and came into sight next to him, frowning at her hand. “It's strange to see my skin like this. I'll probably panic when I wake up.”
“Don't worry about that. I'll set my chamber to open first - and it's not like you'll be aware while we're traveling. It will seem like no time has passed.” He brushed his fingers free of crumbs and gestured towards the two stasis chambers. “Yours is the one on the right.”
Gamora nodded and pressed her hand against the panel, taking a deep breath as the door slid back. “I just wish I wasn't so nervous.”
“Nothing to be nervous about.” Loki stated as she sat down and settled back, quickly putting on the harness. “Well, there is one bit of bad news.” He let out a soft chuckle.
“What?” Gamora snapped, sounding like the cocky girl who'd strode into his cell back in the citadel before she had started to control her emotions better.
“The bad news is Thanos is going to be furious when he learns we're not going to be returning with the Tesseract.” He grinned as her jaw dropped. “Even more so when he learns that his plans have been made known.”
“You...” She was shaking with rage. “You're betraying Thanos!?”
He chuckled and pinched her cheek. “Do not be silly Gamora, you cannot betray someone you were never loyal to in the first place.” He pressed the control on the panel of the door, shutting it with a snick. Through the glass, he could see her rage give way to shock and she looked as if she didn't know if she should laugh or scream. “Good night little one.” He swallowed and hit the sequence of buttons to activate the chamber and a moment later, he saw the girl's head lean to the side as she fell into stasis.
“We're going home.” He turned and headed back to the ship's controls to send it into the hyper-speed level it would need to travel at in order for them to reach Svartalfheim. “And to alert the universe of impending war.” He went back to eating his jerky.
Rating:PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: Loki and Gamora leave Thanos's citadel, Natasha meets with a lord who has a proposal that is geared towards the betterment of Asgard. Fenrir leaves Cendal and Hela (Hel) arrives in Asgard to find that things are more complicated than she expected.
Loki remained perfectly passive as Thanos turned around to face him, not letting any emotion show on his face, knowing that it was paramount that to keep his composure. He even managed a half-bow, a fraction deeper than the ones he had given while he was an ambassador. “Good afternoon, Lord Thanos.”
“Hmm.” The titan frowned. “What is it?”
“I believe I have an idea of how to retrieve the Tesseract from where it is locked up on Midgard.” He saw the slight change in the larger man's face. “Although, I do not know if you would approve.”
“Tell me.” He took a step forward, but Loki did not step back. “I'm listening.”
“The trouble, my lord, is not getting the Tesseract from the humans. Their security is laughable, their intelligence more so. Those with the knowledge or foresight to use that particular Infinity Gem are hampered by less worthy beings.” He shrugged. “Or spend what time they could use in a worthy pursuit destroying themselves.”
“But getting to Midgard, or Terra, as it is also called, would take you too long. Seven hundred years, I believe is the estimate, without using any temporal gates.” He frowned. “So what do you suggest?”
“I can get to Midgard in ten years, if I were to go there via Svartalfheim. There are passageways between the Nine Realms, and that is the nearest place with a passageway to Midgard.” He shrugged, rather absently, as if everything was trivial and mere afterthought. “There aren't enough dark-elves left to put up much of a fight, if any. Furthermore, the path is on the opposite side of the realm from their largest population.”
Thanos turned around. “And is there way to Asgard from Svartalfheim?”
“No.” Loki answered. “The passageway between those two realms was destroyed in an earthquake over two hundred years ago.” He frowned. “Not that it couldn't be cleared with heavy labor, but that is ill advised.”
“And why is that?” The titan glared at him.
“The opening into Asgard is near the bottom of a reservoir.” He tapped his fingers together. “It is merely an idea, my lord.”
“And the Bi-Frost, does it not connect to that realm?” His voice deepened.
“The Bi-Frost can connect to anywhere, but as we are shielded here and I will keep myself cloaked from the gatekeeper, I do not think that it matters.” Loki kept his voice even. He knew full well that Thanos wasn't stupid, but he also knew that the titan would rather take the risk to get his hands on one of the Infinity Stones than to just dismiss this idea completely.
“Ten years to Svartalfheim.” He started to pace. “How long would you estimate it would take you to travel to Terra and retrieve the Tesseract?”
He thought for a moment, trying to come up with a logical estimate, nothing too long and nothing too short. “Two of their months, perhaps three.” He straightened his shoulders. “I know it seems like a great deal of time, my lord, but it may be even longer before the humans bring it out into the open. The time it will take them to develop the technology to even scratch the surface? Another century, at least.”
“They have used it already, have they not?” Thanos's voice deepened and for the first time, Loki almost broke his focus.
“Barely. In their typical manner, all they did was manufacture weapons.” He shook his head. “And even those were lost. They did create a serum that was administered two a handful of beings, but both the exact formula remains unknown. Not to mention the side-effects were horrendous.”
“Hm.” He came over and stood right next to him and it took all of Loki's will not to break the titan's gaze. “The trouble, little jotun, is that it would take you another ten to return. Unless you take a portal device with you.”
“What do you suggest, my lord?” He lowered his shoulders, properly cowed.
“To send you to Svartalfheim, with a portal device. Once there, you will assemble and activate it. You will go to Terra and retrieve the Tesseract. I will arrange for a distraction.” He chuckled. “Perhaps we shall shake Malekith from his sleep and he can join us here.” He smirked. “You will be taking Gamora with you, of course.”
“She's just a child.” Loki spread his hands outward, feigning upset. “I do not think she is ready.”
“You'll need two distractions. If you cannot disguise her as a Terran and have her play a helpless silly girl, then what the devil has she been learning all these hours?” Thanos sneered.
He bowed, reflexively. “An excellent point, my lord.”
“Yes.” He turned and stalked away. “Be ready to leave in twelve hours.”
“Of course, my lord.” Loki answered, bowing again. He already knew he wasn't going to tell Gamora what was really going on until right before the two of them went into suspended animation for their ten year trek across the stars.
*
Natasha could not honestly fathom why the guards had come to take her to the throne room when Grandmother was still perfectly capable. Now that she'd had the better part of the morning to think it over, she was no closer to an answer as to why she was sitting here, in the massive room, alone, save for a handful of guards and the occasional passing servant. The only thing she had done in capacity as Asgard's ruler was send court into recess, and that unless the problem was urgent, it could wait a few days. Certainly it would only be a a short time before Grandfather woke up and was ready to resume his duties. If the situation with her brother and uncle wasn't so serious, she would almost think Grandfather had planned on sleeping through the boring talk of taxes and trade, trusting that he would be spared the petty squabbling of the privy council and other nobles.
Well, all right, perhaps the looks on the faces of the council and arrogant lords when she sent them all away from the throne room almost made her current situation worth it. She straightened up as a page came towards the throne, his expression apprehensive.
“Your grace.” He bowed, and then glanced upwards. “I beg your pardon, but Lord Ketheson wishes to speak with you.”
Natasha felt her eyebrows lift. She had not seen Lord Ketheson since Papochka's funeral. He was a relatively minor member of the court, and spent more time actually tending to his duties as a lord, rather than here in the capitol. “Did he state his business?”
“Only that he originally had an appointment to speak with the Allfather, your grace.” The page still looked as if she was going to order him to clean chamberpots or muck out horse stalls. “I tried to explain that you had dismissed court, but...”
“Just tell me...” She suddenly recalled the man's name. “Just tell me what he said, Haran.”
“He stated that he has been trying to talk to the Allfather for several years over something, but his appointment has been dismissed and rescheduled over a dozen times in the past ten years.” He remained cowed.
“Would that we could all be so patient.” Natasha was floored by the idea of someone having to wait ten years just to talk to Grandfather for thirty minutes. “I will see Lord Ketheson.”
As the page headed back up to the doors, she smoothed out the skirt of her dress, resolved that she would at least hear what the man had to say; waiting as long as he had, it was bound to be something he felt wholly passionate about. She clasped her hands in her lap as the Haran returned, along with a conservatively dressed man who reminded her of Howard Stark in age.
Lord Ketheson bowed. “Good morning, your grace.”
“Good morning, Lord Ketheson. I am deeply sorry that you have had to wait so long to speak with the Allfather, and now that the date is here, I must take his place.” It seemed only logical to her to apologize to him; Norns knew, he deserved that at least.
The man stood, smiling faintly. “Thank you, your grace.”
“What is it that you wish to discuss?” She saw two more pages approach, carrying scrolls and folios, both of them looking rather nervous.
“I am certain you are aware that on my estates, I started a school for the peasants some time ago.” She nodded and he went on. “It has been a success, and I believe it has been more beneficial to the well-being of the people of Asgard who live in the area and, for the whole of the realm as well.” He took a breath. “I would like to expand what I have done to the rest of the peasants of Asgard, including those who live here in the capitol.”
Natasha thought for a moment and took a breath. “I take it that not many of the other lords agree with this idea.”
“No.” He made a face. “Many have told me that educating the lower classes is something they couldn't possibly appreciate and they do not wish to waste the funds that it would take to educate the people who work on their land and houses.”
She bit back the retort that was on the edge of her tongue that the other lords were being stupid. “Do they feel it will distract from their work, I was of the understanding that while your school is open year round, the schedule was such that it allowed workers and their children to attend so it corresponded with seasons and did not interfere with their work.”
“Yes.” He took a scroll had handed it one of the guards, who brought it up to her. She opened it and scanned the words quickly. “I have considered a worthy investment, as those under my care have become more productive and live happier lives than previously.”
“What did you have in mind of pushing your proposal through?” She came down onto the stairs and handed the scroll back to one of the pages.
“My wife, Lady Ketheson, believes that the best idea to put this through is to go indirectly, rather than straightforward.”
She smiled faintly. “You wish to start a charity to circumvent the objections the other lords have?”
“Yes.” There was a slight smile on his face. “I know it is rather presumptive of me, as in rankings, I'm barely a lord, if...”
Natasha held up her hand. “I believe your idea is admirable and an excellent one. I do not have any objections to your starting a charity, but how...” She suddenly caught what sort of help he needed. “You are in need of more people to back your idea.”
He nodded. “It is quite difficult to raise funds when the majority of people in court barely acknowledge you past common courtesy.”
“Quite true.” She picked at her hand, her mind racing. “It is currently a rather - inopportune time.” She turned towards Haran, who was still standing between the other two pages. “I want to see Lady Tyr tomorrow, Haran. See that the message is delivered to her. I also want the tentative schedule for the Harvest Festival.” She turned back to the lord. “Is Lady Ketheson here with you in the capitol?”
“Yes, your grace.” He had a small smile on his face.
“I would like for her to join me and if possible, Lady Tyr, later this week. I will send a message when it has been scheduled. Is there any time that is not convenient?”
“Your grace, our days are completely open at your discretion.” He inclined his head. “And thank you.”
“You are most welcome.” She gave him a warm smile. “And again, I am sorry that it has taken this long for your appointment to take place.”
He bowed again in response and he and his two pages headed back up to the entrance of the throne room, stepping aside as Heimdall entered it and moved quickly down towards her.
“Damn.” Natasha said under her breath. The guardian would not have left his post unless it was an emergency. “Good morning, Heimdall.”
“Good morning, Princess Natasha.” His expression remained as stoic as ever. “Magistrate Issacar of Cendal is requesting political asylum for your sister, Hela Lokadottir.”
She blinked at him. “For Hela? Just Hela?” She frowned. “What of Fenrir?”
“He was not mentioned. The rebellion on Jotunheim has reignited in the Spears. There has already been and attack that has left their maternal grandparents dead and the journey to Utgard is too risky.” He glanced sideways at one of the guards, who suddenly stiffened. “As such, both the Magistrate and Fenrir Lokason feel that the only safe place for your sister is here.”
It was a hard thing to process; her sister, coming here to live in Asgard? With the rest of their family? It's not that she had any problem with the idea; but at the same time, it was almost hard to comprehend. Natasha rubbed her temple. “I believe we need to inform the Allmother before we can send a reply to Cendal.”
**
Fenrir watched as the coast of Cendal vanished behind him, wishing he could have at least stayed with Hela until she left for Asgard. But time and tide waited for no jotun, and the journey to Qnther would take nearly a month. The island on the the other side of Jotunheim was home to the training ground of the Spears' army, and while he was still viewed as a boy, he wasn't alone in his journey. The boat would stop at the other islands, picking up more volunteers. He knew that life in the army would be hard and it would be at least ten years before he saw his sister again, but somehow, knowing that she was going to be somewhere safe was already a great burden lifted off of his shoulders.
He leaned against the railing, shifting his gaze to the rolling sea, the white-caps breaking against the blue gray. He sighed as another jotun, one he didn't know came to stand next to him. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” He replied, frowning. “You're rather young, aren't you?”
“I feel about three times my age on a regular basis.” He retorted. “But yes, I know I am young.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He chuckled. “Not that I'm one to talk, I'm barely five hundred.” He held out his hand. “Eljka Paarason, I'm from Myrlyr.”
He shook the jotun's hand. “Fenrir Lokason, Cendal.” He let his hand fall. “What sends you to the army?”
“I have three elder brothers. I'm one less mouth to feed.” He sighed. “I'm also tired of my brothers' bullying.”
“I can't imagine, I don't have an older brother.” Fenrir kept his gaze on the sea. “I have a younger brother and two younger sisters, although they don't live on Cendal, they live off-realm.”
“Just you here on Jotunheim then?” Eljka blinked. “That must be difficult.”
“Well, I couldn't go with my sister... where I'm normal sized here, she's far too small. Like my brother and other sister.” He shook his head. “Recessive genes.” He didn't feel like sharing his whole life story with a total stranger at the moment.
“I'm going to miss my mom's cooking.” The older jotun said, absently. “And I suppose I'll miss my brothers and my da.”
“My parents are dead.” He answered. “As are my grandparents.”
“I'm sorry.” Eljka leaned against the railing. “Did you know that on Midgard, all their oceans and the majority of their seas are all salt water?”
Fenrir blinked. “I did not.” He frowned. “Norns, where do they get fresh water from?”
“They have freshwater rivers, lakes and glaciers.” He coughed. “Although I must admit, I believe all of our Midgard geography must be woefully lacking.”
“I can't imagine how history has changed there as well.” Fenrir absently thought of Natasha. “They most likely live in much better homes than wooden halls by now. I suspect they now live in homes of stone and glass, similar to the Vanir.”
“Have you ever met a Midgardian?” The two of them started away from the rail, heading for the hold.
“No, although I have some Midgardian ancestry, and one of my sisters is half-Midgardian.” He sighed. “Although I have yet to meet her. My family is - rather complicated.”
“Isn't everyone's?” Eljka laughed. “Cendal, that's where they grow grain, yes?”
“Yes, the bread-basket of Jotunheim. But like all the Spears, we have those that work the seas.” He sighed. “I've never been to Myrlyr.”
“You're not missing much, factories and fisher-folk.” He sighed. “I'd have liked to have tried farming that goes beyond the backyard.”
Fenrir nodded and they went below, and he glanced once more towards the bow of the ship, where the sight of his childhood home vanished on the horizon.
**
“Ten years in suspended animation?” Gamora glared at Loki, indignantly. “That's forever!” It wasn't the idea of leaving Thanos's stronghold that bothered her, it was being out of touch for so long. It was training she would miss, growing up some, just - how was she supposed to come back here after all that time like nothing had happened?
“It is not as bad as you fear.” Loki squeezed her chin, an affectionate gesture that she both detested and loved at the same time. She wasn't a baby - but.. “Think of how you'll move up in Thanos's eyes when we return. All you have to do is take a long nap, help me put a machine together and then act like a lost little girl. Nebula will be spitting nails for the next century over this.”
She jerked free of him. Of course he'd bring up Nebula. “I still don't like it.”
“Well, we can do this and bring Thanos that much closer to his ultimate goal, or we can wait around for the Terrans to start playing with the Tesseract again, which most likely won't be for another twenty years or so. We can also wait the thirty years for the convergence, if you like.”
She huffed and folded her arms, following him down the corridor. “What if the residents of Svartalfheim stop us? They are Malekith's people.”
“They are not all like him, Gamora.” Loki sighed and they came into the hangar where their ship, a light-weight freighter that had been stolen from Xandar, part of a small fleet that the Kree had recently gifted to Thanos. “What's left of the dark elves armed forces is just about enough to win a bar brawl, but nothing more.”
She stopped and watched him walk away, heading for the ship. Something was off about that. While she knew that the planet in question was mostly a wasteland, what he said didn't make sense. How could he know such things when the dark-elves were notoriously anti-social and hated outsiders. She ran to catch up with him. “There's something you're not telling me.”
“Well, I'm going to have to glamour you when we go to Midgard, but I assumed you would have known that.” He shrugged, almost dismissively. “Or could it be that the little assassin in training is scared?”
“I am no coward!” She shot back at him. How dare he say something like that? He was the one acting strangely, not her! “I am not afraid!”
Loki took a deep breath as they came to the entrance ramp of their vessel. “I know you are not. You're just nervous. Do not worry, this is just the point where the mission seems impossible. Things will be clearer once we actually get there, and start to work.”
“I suppose.” She sighed and glanced up over her shoulder, looking at the catwalks, rather surprised when she did not see Thanos there. Certainly he would be seeing her off, wouldn't he? She almost snorted at her own foolishness. He was probably off doting on Nebula.
She went into the ship and skirted around the crates that held the portal machine that she and Loki would assemble at their destination. It would allow them to move the chitauri from here to Midgard with minimal difficulty. Although once they had the Tesseract there was little reason to stay there. Perhaps they would search for the Aether as well. Gamora slid into the co-pilot seat, glancing over at Loki, who was busy checking systems and flipping switches. “Are you worried?”
“Terrified.” He answered, almost instantly. “Although I'm more afraid of getting there than what we'll find when we do.”
She frowned and started fastening herself into her seat, the sound of the cargo doors shutting and locking behind them had a sense of finality to them; perhaps she would never come back here again. Oddly, she was fine with that. “How long to we travel before we go into suspended animation?”
“Roughly two hours. We'll eat some of the rations before we go under, otherwise we'll wake up hungry enough to eat the ship.” He took a breath and then turned a few switches, and the engines began to start. “We might not have even have to kill anyone once we get to Midgard, I hope you weren't counting on doing that.”
“What, you think that Stark fellow is just going to hand it over?” Gamora folded her arms as Loki fastened the buckles of his own harness.
“It's possible. I told him to lock it up.” He shook his head. “Then again, I don't entirely trust that defense organization he's a part of.”
“Why not?” She frowned. “You said they were all brilliant, or something along those lines.”
“I don't trust anyone who says they have the best of intentions for the majority. That often comes at the expense of the minority.” He gave her an odd look. “Years ago, when they were first recruiting, several of the founding members were from a group called Hydra, who claimed that they had seen the errors of their ways and wanted to atone for their mistakes.”
“You don't believe that's true?” She shook her head and sat back. “How unlike you.”
“You can always say you're sorry, or you didn't know any better, or that you were threatened when you're on the side that loses.” He held up his hand, palm up and as she watched, a small ball of flame flickered to life over it, changing colors as it spun. He tossed it into the air and caught it, and kept his gaze out the front screen. “Understand?”
She folded her arms and shook her head. “Not really.”
“If you're going to form a group dedicated to protect, you don't start your recruiting with liars and killers.” He gave her a sideways look. “That is how you start a group to take over the world, not save it.” He took a breath. “All right, Gamora, let's get out of here.”
“Right.” She nodded and started scanning the read-outs on the board in front of her. “All the bulkheads are locked and secured.”
“Excellent.” He set his hand on the controls and the ship lifted slightly, and they glided over the hangar, his face stoic. “Here we go, sailing off into the wild blue yonder.”
“Space isn't blue and we're not sailing.” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly.” The ship went past the exit of the base and they slowly circled the planetoid.
He snickered. “Maybe a ten year nap is just the thing you need to get rid of that attitude of yours.” A crackle of static and a moment later, a voice filled the cabin.
“Are you two settled and ready?” It was Thanos.
“Ready and nearly settled, my lord.” Loki started pushing buttons on the console. “We'll need to get some distance between us and here before we head into suspended animation.”
“Excellent. I will be keeping the Kree off your tail, they are better kept occupied and I do not want them tracking you.” The titan chuckled. “If by some means you can also acquire the gauntlet from Asgard, my gratitude would be beyond comprehension."
Gamora risked a sideways look at Loki, who to her great surprise, was grinning.
“I'll see if that's possible. If Gamora is a good girl on this mission, I was going to let her pick out something from Midgard to bring home. Within reason.” How he could sound so calm and level with that expression, she had no idea.
“No animals.” Thanos stated, flatly.
“I want a gun.” She interjected, throwing in a girlish giggle and hating herself for it. “Something dangerous but not too big.”
“You do as your told and I'm certain you will get a lovely reward, Gamora.” The transmission ended.
“I don't really want a gun.” She sank back into her seat as the engines roared and they shot away from the base, moving close to the speed of sound.
“Didn't think so.” Loki chuckled and leaned down, opening a small crate next to his chair, reached in and drew out a flat container. “Lunch time.”
She took it from him, giving him a wan smile. “All right, what's the joke?”
“Joke?” He grinned. “There's no joke.” He gave her a wink. “Well, maybe there is - but the punchline isn't ready to be dropped yet.”
“You're infuriating.” She shook her head and opened the box that contained her last meal for the next ten years.
*
Odin wrapped his hands around his mug, focusing on the brown liquid within as he sat at his desk, waiting for Natasha to arrive and brief him on what had happened while he was sleeping. He had been made aware of the assassination attempt almost as soon as he was properly dressed. He had been in Odin-sleep for five days, his son and grandson in the healing halls for four and still had not awoken, and his granddaughter had spent three full days as a figurehead for the family. He did not fault Frigga for leaving the Natasha in the situation. Not entirely. Her motherly instincts had overridden her sense of duty; it was summer and most of the court was away, avoiding the heat of the city. There was a soft knock on the door and he lifted his head. “Come in.”
Natasha's face appeared and she slipped into the room, coming to stand before the desk, hands held behind her back. “Good afternoon, All-Father.” The girl looked exhausted and he completely understood why.
“Good afternoon, Princess Natasha.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “How fares Asgard and the rest of the Nine Realms?”
“Court is in recess.” She bit her lip. “The lords were informed that unless it was an emergency, it could wait. I studied the proposed tax levy that several lords wish to put forth on the people, and I feel it is a bad idea.”
“And why is that?” Odin gave her a half smile.
“A sixty-percent tax increase on eighty percent of the people of Asgard to pay for a program that will only benefit two percent of the population is ridiculous.” In that moment, the girl sounded so much like her father that it was hard to believe that they weren't related by blood.
“I quite agree.” He frowned. “Then why did you not abolish the proposal?”
Her arms came around to her front and she crossed them over her chest. “Because the lords were already angry I'd told them court was in recess and they had issues taking order from a child.”
“Indeed.” Odin sighed. “What else has occurred?”
“I approved Lord Ketheson's education proposal.” Here, she smiled. “Lady Tyr and Lady Ketheson are to join myself, Grandmother and Lady Sif next week for tea to discuss plans for an event during the Harvest Festival to begin raising funds to educate the people of Asgard who are in need of it.”
He frowned. “And why do you think it is a good idea to educate the peasantry?”
Her arms were behind her back again. “We cannot maintain the belief or present ourselves as a shining example of civilization in the Nine Realms and the rest of the universe if we keep part of our population illiterate and burdened. Content and happy people do not start revolutions.”
He chuckled. “True. I understand that Lorelei has escaped and is behind the assassination attempt?”
“Yes. She still has not been apprehended.” She bit her lip for a moment before speaking. “The rebels on Jotunheim have become active again. They murdered Hela, Joshua, and Fenrir's maternal grandparents.”
“Norns.” He cursed under his breath. “Are your brother and sister safe?”
“Fenrir has joined the Spears' army. Hela is arriving here this evening. She will be carrying a letter from my older brother formally relinquishing his title as a prince and from his place in the line of succession.” She frowned. “I don't know if he actually had one, but he did so as a formality.”
Odin shook his head. “I imagine that the rebellion will keep both the government of the Spears and King Laufey occupied. It is sad that a tragedy had to befall your siblings for Jotunheim to learn that their troubles they believed gone with the past winter were not, but at the same time, it is better to know that the danger is real then to continue to wait for it to strike.” He took a drink of tea and then lowered his mug. “You have done splendidly, Natasha. Far better than most would have in your situation.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.” She replied, blinking a few times.
“Go and rest until dinner. After your evening meal, go and relieve your grandmother in the healing halls. She is in need of sleep as well.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” She answered, smiling tiredly. “I would like permission to tell Hela the truth about our father before the week is out.”
“Permission granted.” He nodded. “I will see you after dinner.”
“Yes, sir. And thank you.” She curtseyed and then left the room, covering a yawn.
Odin shook his head and went back to drinking his tea as he pulled a small stack of proposals towards him and began to read.
*
Hela couldn't sleep. The room she'd been given wasn't a room; it was bigger than the house she had grown up in. She sat solemnly on her bed, her focus out the window, trying to process all that had happened since she arrived on Asgard. First, her blue skin had been covered with a glamour spell, so now she looked Æsir, something she was still indignant about, even though she knew it was for her own protection. Then she'd been taken to the healing halls and had her feet covered in some foul-smelling salve and wrapped in bandages. It came from a lifetime of not wearing shoes, or rather, not wearing closed shoes. It was to treat her skin so she could wear said shoes comfortably.
When she had been told that her brother and uncle were both recovering from an assassination attempt, she'd been stunned. The fact that the killer was still on the loose was unsettling - and the fact that it was the same vile woman who'd destroyed her family in the first place? Hela was livid.
They should have chopped Lorelei's head off after they captured her.
She tucked her knees up under her chin, hugging her legs. Somewhere on Jotunheim, Fenrir too, was headed into the unknown. It would be years before she saw him again; right now, all she wanted was some sort of comfort, for someone to tell her everything was going to be fine and for her to be able to believe it. How could anything ever be right again? Hela just wanted to find this had all been some horrible nightmare and any moment now, she was going to wake up on her sleeping shelf with her brother and grandfather snoring away. She would get up and make breakfast where the pots were too large for her small hands, where everything was too big for her; and she was hauled around on the backs of her family like she was still an infant so she wouldn't be harmed or cause a normal sized jotun to trip.
Now she was in a room where everything was her size or nearly just. The whole of Asgard was just about her size; the chairs, the tables, all of it. Her chambers, as they were called, were next to her brother's, and she knew that Natasha's was on the other side of the hall. The three of them were all together, in some fashion. Uncle Thor's was some distance towards the front entrance of the wing, and her - grandparents - their chambers were at this end of the hall, on the same side as Natasha.
Hela had seen the door of her father's room, glowing with a spell that kept anyone from entering; and she had to wonder if Joshua wanted to know what was on the other side as much as she did.
A bell tolled the hour; it was two in the morning.
“Hela?” A voice said from behind her and she turned, surprised to see Natasha; she'd not heard her sister's knock. “I had a feeling you weren't sleeping.”
She nodded. “Too much has happened in too short of a time.”
“I understand.” She adjusted her grip on the book she was holding. “I just came back to get this.” She held up the tome. “I thought I'd come and check on you, and ask if you wanted to join me during my vigil.”
Hela pushed herself off of the bed, coming around to face her sister. “I'm surprised you didn't ask a servant to get your book.” She didn't mean to sound haughty; but this place was worse than the palace in Utgard. There were five times the number of workers, and three times the number of guards.
“I'm protective of my books.” The girl replied, hugging herself. “I can run back here and get the book I want and be back in the healing halls much faster than any servant, and most of them are asleep anyway.”
She sighed. “Well, I suppose I can just as well sit in the healing halls as I can here. Perhaps I need something to distract myself.” She shrugged into her dressing gown and slippers and followed Natasha into the hall. They did not speak as they made their way down the corridors and passageways. There was almost no one about, save the guards and most of them only gave them a passing glance, and what had seemed to be hundreds of twists and turns earlier this evening seemed only half the distance.
“I've returned.” Natasha said to the healer who was half-asleep over a large book.
She nodded and went right back to her reading, barely giving the two of them a second look.
Hela had only glimpsed at her brother and uncle when she was here earlier. Now, coming into the small room, she stood at the foot of Joshua's bed to get a better look at them both. Thor was golden haired and powerfully built - but in his repose, he almost looked like a child; only the stubble of his beard told his age. Her brother was not as large as their uncle, his hair a mass of dark curls. In that moment Hela was instantly jealous that two of her siblings had been graced with ringlets, one of whom most likely detested them; she would have adored having curls that cascaded down her back, instead of the straight river that was currently bound into two braids. “When are they going to wake?”
Natasha was tucking herself into a large chair between the two beds. “Before the week is out. Eir says the healing stones have done their work, now it's a matter of their bodies and minds recovering enough to regain consciousness.”
She came over and sat down next to her sister, the chair was big enough for the both of them. “This day has been entirely too...” She thought for a moment. “It's just been too much of everything.” She looked down at the book in her sister's lap. “What are you reading?” She frowned at the words she didn't understand.
“Ballet Shoes.” She ran her fingers over the worn cover. “It's my feel-better book.”
“Feel-better book?” She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When the Fever came to Asgard the last time and I was sick, Papochka read this to me. I fell asleep dozens of times while he was, but we finally finished it. Now, whenever I'm feeling sad, worried or upset, I take it down from my shelf and read it.” She sighed, her hand stilling over the cover. “Somehow, it helps.” She suddenly lifted her chin. “He's going to come home.”
“Who's coming home?” Hela shook her head. “Who are you talking about?”
“Papochka. He's going to come home.” Natasha nearly smiled. “He promised he was going to come home and he is.”
Hela bit back the urge to call her sister stupid. “Father's dead.”
“No, he's not.” She shook her head. “He's being held prisoner by Thanos.”
Her eyes widened. “The mad titan?”
“Yes. But he's going to come home. He'll find a way home.” She sighed. “I just don't know when.”
She was too tired to be upset that she had originally been told her father was dead. Instead, she kicked off her slippers and tucked her feet under her, resting her head on her sister's shoulder. “What's ballet?”
“It's a type of dancing on Midgard.” Natasha replied and opened the book, flipping past a few pages before coming to the first chapter. “The Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road. At that end of it which is furthest away from the Brompton Road, and yet sufficiently near it to be taken to look at the dolls' houses in the Victoria and Albert every wet day, and if not too wet expected to "save the penny and walk.”
“Who are Victoria and Albert?” Hela interjected, already confused.
“Queen Victoria of England and her husband, Prince Albert. She was the current Queen of England's great-grandmother.” She made a face. “You can ask Joshua about her. He used to sail for her Navy. The Fossil sisters live in London, that's the capitol of England.”
She thought for a moment. “Have you been to England?”
“Only once.” Natasha closed the book. “It was years ago, though. It was long after this book took place and I doubt the London I saw was anything like it is today.” She moved the book aside. “Joshua was in London over a century ago.”
“Tell me about Midgard.” No doubt her sister knew some good stories about the realm of men. “I know almost nothing about the place.”
“Well...” There was something wistful about her sister's tone. “Okay.” She cleared her throat before she began to speak. “The last place I went on Midgard was called California. Papochka and I were staying with a man named Howard Stark, his wife Maria, and their son, Tony.”
**
Loki finished typing the coordinates into the computer, finally feeling relaxed now that they were some distance from Thanos's stronghold. He grimaced as he ate a piece of jerky, not certain what animal it was from. But it was protein and that was the key to a meal before stasis. “You almost ready, Gamora?”
“Ready as I'll ever be.” The girl sighed and came into sight next to him, frowning at her hand. “It's strange to see my skin like this. I'll probably panic when I wake up.”
“Don't worry about that. I'll set my chamber to open first - and it's not like you'll be aware while we're traveling. It will seem like no time has passed.” He brushed his fingers free of crumbs and gestured towards the two stasis chambers. “Yours is the one on the right.”
Gamora nodded and pressed her hand against the panel, taking a deep breath as the door slid back. “I just wish I wasn't so nervous.”
“Nothing to be nervous about.” Loki stated as she sat down and settled back, quickly putting on the harness. “Well, there is one bit of bad news.” He let out a soft chuckle.
“What?” Gamora snapped, sounding like the cocky girl who'd strode into his cell back in the citadel before she had started to control her emotions better.
“The bad news is Thanos is going to be furious when he learns we're not going to be returning with the Tesseract.” He grinned as her jaw dropped. “Even more so when he learns that his plans have been made known.”
“You...” She was shaking with rage. “You're betraying Thanos!?”
He chuckled and pinched her cheek. “Do not be silly Gamora, you cannot betray someone you were never loyal to in the first place.” He pressed the control on the panel of the door, shutting it with a snick. Through the glass, he could see her rage give way to shock and she looked as if she didn't know if she should laugh or scream. “Good night little one.” He swallowed and hit the sequence of buttons to activate the chamber and a moment later, he saw the girl's head lean to the side as she fell into stasis.
“We're going home.” He turned and headed back to the ship's controls to send it into the hyper-speed level it would need to travel at in order for them to reach Svartalfheim. “And to alert the universe of impending war.” He went back to eating his jerky.