Fifteen-hundred years of living taught Thor Odinson a thing or two about life, people, existence.
Score and scores of his years were marked by glorious battles that wield victory largely because of his contribution.
Yes, while Odin was long considered the strongest in all of the nine realms, no one could deny that Thor was the only other one who nearly matched his father's prowess.
And while centuries of stories painted the accurate picture of the unassailable god of thunder, many lacked the minute but significant details that cultivated the current King of Asgard.
Omitted were experiences such as his banishment by Odin following Thor's breaking of a centuries-long truce with the frost giants.
Or how he'd nearly accepted defeat after the brutal murder of his mother by the dark elves.
And how the destruction of his beloved hammer caused the then prince to question his livelihood and all he thought he knew about himself.
Yet, many also included such details in their stories about the God of Thunder; however, few included another piece.
A constant and crucial part of his story that, to the God himself, made his existence purposeful.
Her name….was Laila.
—
Thor and Laila met as young children, the prince coming to visit the Bifrost to speak with his father's dear friend, Heimdall.
Ready to bombard the newly appointed gatekeeper with an onslaught of questions, the ten-year-old was instead met with the sight of the golden-eyed man crouched down and pointing at the starts with a young child.
Always the curious, Thor called out for Heimdall, gasping with amazement as he was met with two sets of amber eyes, the only difference being the glow with Heimdall's.
"Who are you?" was the first thing to leave the prince's mouth.
With a hearty chuckle, Heimdall proceeded to introduce his seven-year-old daughter to the confused prince.
"How long will she be staying?"
As Laila's head dropped at the seemingly innocent question, Thor would later learn Heimdall's "permanently" was due to the murder of Laila's mother, Aneka, a Wakandan warrior, at the hands of a dangerous Midgardian, Ulysses Klaue.
From that first introduction, Thor would soon discover that his once one-on-one time spent with Heimdall would have to be shared with this Laila.
Thor never was too keen on sharing.
Even more, because of Heimdall's full=-time duty as Asgard's border protector, there left an issue as to who would keep watch of the half-Wakandan child.
However, that issue was quickly resolved as Frigga offered her services, taking Laila on as the daughter she never had but always wanted.
Soon after, the amount of time Laila spent at the palace called for the young girl to receive her own bedroom.
Used to being the center of attention, Thor suddenly understood how his younger brother, Loki, felt at times.
It wasn't that he was jealous. No, he just failed to understand why his mother thought enough of the girl to go as far as to share her magic with her.
Or why his father found her worthy to be trained alongside the princes.
And at the announcement that Laila would receive her own birthday celebration at the palace, a frustrated Thor mistakenly blurted out a year's worth of pent up emotion.
"She's not even one of us!"
His outburst was met with silence followed by chastisement from his parents, and obvious hurt from Laila.
Later that evening, Frigga, sensing the pain behind Thor's cruelty, sat down with her eldest and had a heart to heart.
The wise queen attempted to help her son view the situation from a less egocentric perspective.
She stressed that while he and Loki had both herself and Odin along with an entire kingdom (not including the remaining realms), Laila had but her father and no one else.
Shunned for being an outsider, she was not welcome in Wakanda, her father having to bring his only child to Asgard with the heavy heart and knowledge that she would never have a connection with her maternal roots.
The number of individuals who would forever love, adore, and serve Thor was infinite.
But for Laila, finite.
The talk, conjoined with the prince overhearing a crying Laila ask her father: "Why doesn't he like me, father?" struck a chord within the young god.
It was from that moment on, Thor decided to set aside unjustifiable dislike and take a chance to get to know Laila without judgmental pretense.
It was a decision….that would forever alter the trajectory of his life.
—
As the years passed and the seasons changed, so did feelings, dynamics, and emotions within the Odinson household.
Once closer than most realized, Thor and Loki forged different paths, one that earned the youngest prince his nickname as the God of Mischief.
Alternatively, the previously distant Thor and Laila became extremely close, nearly attached at the hip.
In Laila, Thor found a dear friend, a companion. Talking to her came easy, like second nature, her genial smile and soft voice serving as an anodyne on even his most stressful days.
It became rare for the prince to be spotted without the golden eyed beauty by his side and vice versa. Fiercely protective of each other, Thor's ardent loyalty and devotion to Laila eventually ignited rumors of romance between the longtime friends.
At that, Laila simply laughed, making light of the situation and paying the whispers no mind. She loved Thor and knew that he too loved her, but they were friends.
At least, that's what she tried to tell herself….
Besides, while she deeply cared and adored the god, he certainly had his faults that sometimes irked her. He was still greedy, eager for a battle, often creating strife when there was no need.
His strength and appearance constantly feeding into his ego, giving him a sort of complex that Laila made an effort not to offer tribute. She would never shy away from reminding him that for all of his accomplishments, he'd yet to receive approval from Odin to take over as king, something she knew secretly ate at him.
Many times, head resting in her lap, her fingers playing with his blonde tresses, he would lament about his frustration at still being denied the throne.
He was ready. He was more than ready. He saw no reason for his father prolonging the inevitable, always laughing off Laila's suggestion that Odin was perhaps considering Loki for the position.
Thor loved his brother, but the thought of him being king….nay.
Certainly kingly material, in comparison to the mighty Thor, Loki paled greatly.
Laila would only remain silent, thinking as to how Thor's egocentric mindset was probably as to why Odin refused to step down.
She had no doubt he would be king, but she also agreed that he still had some growing to do. He lacked a certain maturity that a king required to be an impartial leader.
Maturity whose absence was especially evident the night of the annual Grand Ball. Once a year, Odin and Zeus would join together, each bringing with them only the closest and most trusted of their family, in celebration of centuries of peace.
Unfortunately, that peace was always threatened by the unavoidable interaction between two irascible gods who each thought themselves the mightiest.
Ares and Thor
—
Ares, in many ways, was to Zeus what Thor was to Odin.
Filled with unlimited potential yet battered down by immaturity, ego, and greed.
Dovishly handsome, the sons were notorious for their forced, brusque, and laconic interactions during the ball. It annoyed Laila to no end how each made sure to give lengthy soliloquies regarding their numerous tropes on the battlefield.
And while it both irritated and bored her, Laila was not unwilling to admit that Ares was slightly more overbearing than her dear friend. Thor was arrogant, but he still possessed humanity that granted equilibrium.
Ares was conceited to the point of narcissism.
Ares was also very much interested in Laila.
With the location of the ball alternating each year, Laila opted to stay home for the prior year's event, her obligations requiring her to remain in Asgard.
So when Ares laid eyes on the demigod after nearly two years with no communication, he was almost awestruck. She'd always been beautiful, uniquely divine and intriguing in a number of ways: looks, intelligence, charisma. He could go on.
But now, as she continued to evolve into a breathtaking young women, she only continued to pique his interest.
With how close the two interacted, Ares always surmised that friendship was just a cover for Thor and Laila, the romantic side of their relationship being kept secret for reasons unknown.
Not that it made a difference to the God of War. If anything, it only fed his desire.
Desire he acted on at the ball.
From the moment he arrived, Ares made an active effort to engage with Laila. Compliments and conversations were almost all granted to the daughter of the gatekeeper, all while he tried to conceal his excitement at the thought of seeing her on her knees, pleasuring him with that delectable looking mouth of hers.
But Laila was far from naive, she figured that while Ares was potentially attracted to her, the idea of getting under Thor's skin, something he delighted in, was far more a better reward.
She had absolutely no intentions on engaging with him after the night's end and decided to indulge him, agreeing to a dance or two.
The second one causing what ended up being the talk of the realms for weeks. Ares decided to make his move, upping the ante as his compliments took on a carnal nature.
Ever polite, Laila tried to deflect as best she could, attempting to get through the end of the song before she parted ways with the Olympian. However, as his hands began to explore her body, his grip possessively tightening over her voluptuous figure, Laila realized she'd perhaps underestimated Ares.
Seconds away from demanding him to release her, an enraged Thor heading across the ballroom to interject, Laila's stomach churned as Ares brought his mouth to her ear, whispering his twisted, sexual desires before nipping her lobe and slipping his hand under the fabrics of her gown.
Disgusted and appalled, a flushed Laila acted on impulse, shoving the smirking man away, cursing him before attempting to slap him, the warrior easily catching her wrist, squeezing and refusing to let go.
All eyes were soon on Ares and Laila, whispers commencing as Odin and Frigga sulked in anticipation for their son's next inappropriate yet expected move.
Without so much as a warning, Thor placed his body in front of Laila's and allowed his fist to collide with Ares jaw, sending the man flying across the room.
From there….chaos.
Insults, fists, attempted maiming, the two puerile prince's couldn't be stopped, easily warding off the Olympian and Asgardian guards who attempted to separate them.
A humiliated and enraged Laila watched in disgust as the two uncouth "men" fought like children.
"Your future king!" A clearly amused Loki mocked, winking as he lifted his glass to Laila.
The fight prematurely ended the evening, Zeus and his party leaving only after both King's were forced to intervene and separate their brawling sons.
Feeling the judgmental stares of shocked onlookers, an embarrassed Laila quickly made her way out of the ruined event, locking herself in her room at the palace for the rest of the evening.
Long after being severely reproached by both Frigga and Odin, a frustrated Thor sought his dear friend only to find she'd left to stay at her residence within the city.
Figuring she was still upset with how the event proceeded, he allowed her a day to placate her nerves.
Unfortunately, upon arriving at her place, he realized twenty-four hours was hardly enough.
She refused to even open the door.
Though disappointed, Thor was far from deterred and settled on other means to rectify the situation. He sent her gifts in the forms of exquisite jewelry, beautiful gowns, books he knew she'd expressed interest in reading, the rarest of artwork, but for all of his attempts, he wielded the same outcome.
Acceptance and silence.
She'd kept the gifts but made no attempts to reach out, and to say Thor wasn't affected by her absence would be an absolute lie.
Laila was an inherent part of his life. Thor couldn't recall a time where he'd gone this long without being around her, let alone speaking with her. He knew he cared for her deeply, loved her, but being apart from her awakened feelings, feelings he hadn't realized were present let alone as strong as they were.
Laila was wise, intelligent, headstrong, determined, polite, and undeniably beautiful. He'd courted plenty of women over the years and none came even close to comparing to his golden eyed companion.
She was unlike anyone he'd ever come across, perfect in every way. She always saw the good in him even when he, though too proud to admit, knew he was wrong.
Her faith and confidence in him was beyond comprehension. At times, he felt unworthy of her loyalty, of her. To him, no one was worthy of Laila. Period.
Especially not Ares, his anger uncontrollable at even the thought of Laila settling for someone like him. He wanted better for her. He wanted her to have the world, all nine realms, the universe, all of which…..he was prepared to give her.
While he was cognizant of the fact that he was among the group of individuals who weren't good enough for her, Thor also knew that no one in all of the realms would care for and cherish her as he could. No one would protect her, defend her, worship her, like he could.
When he thought of meaning, he saw her eyes. Purpose was her laugh. Life was her smile.
Yes, her absence was difficult but crucial in making the prince aware of how he felt.
He loved her.
He was in love with her.
Eventually, Thor's already paltry patience diminished to nothing and resulted in him welcoming himself inside her home, waiting for her to return from teaching.
Which, he quickly learned, wasn't the best idea.
"Get out!"
"I believe those are the first words you've spoken to me since that night."
"Would you like to hear the other two?"
"Surely, you cannot still be upset."
Oh, but she was just that upset.
Always the stolid of the two, Thor watched in astonishment as Laila ripped into him, pacing and yelling without allowing him a second to respond.
"Have you any idea how humiliated I was? Not only did you not allow me the opportunity to handle it myself, you barged in and exacerbated it to inconceivable proportions!"
"I-"
"God, what were you even thinking? Are you that incapable of composing yourself for even one evening? Your behavior was atrocious, Thor!"
"Lai-"
"You were completely unhinged, unrefined, and-"
Finally, he found a spot to interject.
"Are you finished?"
Laila was already incensed, but his lackadaisical stance and lack of sympathy for her position only further upset her.
"You just don't get it, do you?" The sudden decrease in volume and intensity of her voice alarmed Thor for he knew that Laila only shut down as such when she was truly troubled. "You are going to be king, Thor. You cannot continue to behave as such."
"I was defending your honor," he finally responded, standing up as he approached her, fighting the strange sense of relief that she was at least speaking to him. "Would you rather I let him continue to disrespect you as he did?"
"I'd rather you let me handle it on my own, like I wa,s until you decided to take matters into your own hands!"
He shook his head. "You underestimate the bastard."
She pressed her lips together and decided to go for a different angle. "What if it was Sif?"
Thor paused. "What?"
"You heard me. What if it was Sif in that situation instead of me? Not in a battle, not in training, but exactly as it occurred." She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, unwilling to compromise. "What would you have done?"
Thor took a moment to think. Sif. Sif was a warrior through and through, more than capable of taking care of herself. Moreover, he highly doubted that she would have even allowed herself to be put in such a position. Of course, he wasn't about to share as such.
Instead, he decided to deflect.
"That is different, Laila."
"How?" She challenged. "Tell me. You've known us both the same amount of time. She is a warrior, yes, but battle skills matter not in this scenario, so tell me, Odinson, how is it different?"
Thor caught himself. He'd almost blurted out what he was really thinking, again deciding to try to change the subject.
"You and Sif are completely different."
"I've acknowledged as such. Now acknowledge my query."
"Laila-"
"No! Answer me. Would you have acted as you did if it were Sif?"
Thor's patience was growing thin. "Laila, this is-"
"I want an answer, Thor!"
Shutting his eyes, he realized that she was not going to let this go and decided to answer her with as much brevity as possible.
"No. I would not." His eyes narrowed especially at the sight of her unwavering judgment. "Satisfied?"
"Exactly. So why could you not do the same with me?"
His hand clenched at his side. Thor was unsure how much more he could take of this scolding. "I told you, Laila-"
"But why are we different? Hmm? Why? Thor!"
"Because I do not care for Sif in the way that I care for you!"
While Thor was in disbelief that he'd allowed such a confession to leave his mouth, Laila was still utterly confused, oblivious to the underlying meaning to his words.
"What does that even mean?" As she pressed for clarification, he turned his back to her, trying to gather his thoughts. "Thor? Thor!"
"It means-" Laila jumped at his volume, unfamiliar with being on the receiving end of his frustration. As though he could sense her discomfort, Thor turned around and ignored her scowl, closing the distance between them.
Laila tensed as his hands moved to cup her face. Never had Thor looked at her as such. It…it alarmed her.
"It means I would not behave so irrationally to defend the honor of a fellow warrior." Laila's heartbeat was erratic, her stomach knotting as his thumb caressed the apple of her cheek. "As I would for the woman who holds my heart."
—
And as strange as it was, a senseless altercation paved the way for something beautiful and life altering.
Laila returned Thor's love, the two making their transition from friends to lovers.
The courtship came to the surprise of few as all could see the inevitable union of the two lifelong friends.
Even fewer objected with the overwhelmingly majority offering nothing but support.
And it remained as such over the years with the only change coming in the form of the intensity of their love.
Laila gave Thor her undying support and love even throughout all of their troubles. His banishment put a strain on things, but his return which brought about an improved and mature prince, ended up benefiting the both of them.
Tragedies also marked their love. Loki's betrayal and Frigga's murder, to name a few, but nothing managed to separate them.
Even as Thor declined to take the throne, recognizing Midgard's need for his protection, Laila stood by his side. Though she missed him dearly whenever he was away, she applauded the man he'd become and the great king he would one day be.
And when he finally returned to Asgard having successfully prevented Ragnarok, he was certainly surprised and understandably upset when he found out what chaos had occurred in his absence.
Loki being alive certainly came as less of a surprise given the trickster's history, but Odin's absence, Hemidall's banishment, and the lack of order amongst the realms left Thor wondering why his beloved hadn't informed of what was happening.
"Father and I both agreed it was nothing that required you to return home," Laila explained, sitting at her vanity as she prepped her skin while Thor stood on the balcony, staring at the stars. "He's kept an eye on Odin, and while I'm sure Loki detected I sensed his deception, his actions were not severe enough to warrant a notice."
"And what if Loki decided to come after you?" Thor pressed as Laila sighed. "What then?"
"I am no threat to your brother, Thor. My father and Odin are."
"Hmm."
Laila stood up and walked over to him, molding her body into his, her cheek pressed against his bare chest. "I've missed you, love."
Thor returned her embrace, securing his arms around her, his hands soothingly rubbing her sides. "And I, you."
"So let us not spend our time quarreling." She peered up at him. "Come. Make love to me. Let this reunion be filled with passion and love." A frown fell upon his face at the sadness in her eyes. "Odin knows these chances are far and few in between."
Laila waited for him to respond to her request, unaware of the mental conversation taking place within that hard head of his.
The earth had gone without incident for a while now,as had other parts of the world, and while he enjoyed his time on Midgard and other places, offering his help when and if he could, Thor recognized that his presence was no longer needed.
Not like it was at home.
While Laila was correct in that Loki's deception hadn't been too detrimental, many wrongs needed to be made right, starting with bringing Odin back home and restoring Heimdall's position.
Order needed to be restored and while Thor was confident his father was more than capable of handling it…..so was he.
In the years since his banishment, Thor had grown. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. His maturity was finally where it should be, fit for a king.
He'd been hesitant to accept his father's offer before, still unsure of himself.
That was no longer the case.
He was ready to take his place as King.
But also…..something else.
"What if they weren't?"
Laila frowned at her lover's soft question. "What do you mean?"
Swallowing his trepidation, Thor spoke from the heart. "What if we didn't have to steal moments? What if we, if I, stopped allowing distance, realms, and galaxies to separate us?"
"It is not as if you choose to be away, Thor. You are doing what needs to be done for the good of all."
"No," he shook his head. "I've done what needed to be done. For the outside world, at least." A beat. "Now, it is time I do what needs to be done for home."
She smiled sadly. "Asgard will be fine, love."
"Asgard is native, a source, familiar and loved, but home-" Laila watched Thor lift their conjoined hands to his mouth, gently kissing her fingers as he pulled her even closer. "is you. It's my reason for being, the breath I take, and my meaning for existence." A beat. "Marry me."
Laila gasped, her lids fluttering as she took a moment to process everything. Marriage had been included in the plan for some time, conversations regarding the permanent union occurring from time to time.
But nothing concrete…..until now.
"When I return tomorrow with father, I intend on informing him that I am ready to take the throne." He continued, sensing the inner dialogue. "And I wish to do so with you by my side, as my partner, my equal…my wife."
"Thor…."
"And I promise you we will have a ceremony that shall be celebrated across all of the nine realms when everything is settled, but for now, I need not a crowd before me to declare my undying devotion to you."
"Thor," she spoke, eyes closed as she smiled through unshed tears. "Say no more. For what need should there be for a 'yes' when my heart already beats for yours?"
—
Abrupt and last minute, it was a small ceremony with only Laila, Thor, Heimdall, and the official who blessed the union.
Regardless, it was one of the happiest moments for all parties involved. All Heimdall ever wanted for his only child was for her to be safe and happy, both of which, he never doubted would ever escape Laila as long as she remained with Thor.
The plan was to announce the nuptials once Odin was brought back to Asgard, but alas, things would soon change, and hardly for the better.
Odin's death, the return of Hela, her hostile takeover of Asgard. It was almost like an inescapable nightmare.
Just as her father refused to accept Asgard would meet its end at the hands of Thor's maniacal sister, Laila never gave up hope that her husband would return and make things right.
Even as they all stood on the bridge of the Bifrost, surrounded by Hela's army as her husband engaged in a brutal fight for the throne, she kept her faith.
And it carried her even as she stood beside Thor and watched the destruction of Asgard and the demise of Hela for now, surely, the storm was over.
At least, that's what was hoped for.
Not even hours later, they were faced yet again with another setback, but this time….this time, something felt different.
Laila couldn't explain it, but even as Thor ordered for everyone to start loading onto the refugees ship, she felt uneasy.
For more reasons than one.
"That's most of the children and elderly," Brunnhilde confirmed as Laila nodded, taking count of all the rest of the Asgardians who still waited to be boarded.
"Good, now-"
"Both of you join them."
Laila looked up to see Thor approaching, Loki on his left and her father at his right.
"What?" She frowned as he approached, hands moving to her hips. "What are you talking about? I'm not leaving."
"Neither am I," Brunnhilde stressed. "I made an oath to protect-"
"The throne," he finished for her, motioning to Laila. "Of which I share with Laila. You will go with them. That is not a suggestion."
Recognizing there was no room for debate, Brunnhilde nodded and went to help calm the frightened children.
"Thor, I am not leaving until every person on this ship is-" she was silenced by another blast that either damaged another engine or left a gaping whole in some part of the vessel. The force of the blast sent individuals falling and stumbling, Thor easily catching Laila when he noticed the way her eyes shut and how her hands held onto his arms for more support than what was needed.
"You're unwell," he observed with a small frown as she frantically shook her head.
"I'm fine," she forced out, placing her hand against her forehead. "It's just-a lot is happening, that's all."
"I know," he pressed his lips against her forehead. "I promise, this will all be over soon. Have faith, love." Still trying to gather herself, and not wanting to separate herself from this moment with her husband, Laila missed how her father moved behind her, gently grabbing her. "I love you."
"What? No." She looked up at him, gold meeting gold. "Father-"
"Thor is right," he began. "As queen, your safety is a top priority."
"What are you doing?" She questioned helplessly as he started to pull her into the ship. "Please."
"Thor! Father! Please!" With tears in her eyes, Laila gave one last heartfelt plea before Brunnhilde interceded and held her still while her father closed off the doors. "No!" She shouted, breaking away and pounding on the door. "Let me out! Thor!"
With eyes on the two men she loved more than anything, a heartbroken Laila watched as Thor authorized Heimdall to deploy the ship, once again separating her from her other half.
All parties unaware of just how tragic the following events would play out.
—
So much had occurred in such a short period of time that Thor barely had time to process, the king handling everything as best he could given the situation.
Loki. Heimdall. Half of his people.
All….gone.
All at the hands of one man, Thanos.
To say that imagining the sight of Thanos dead body at his feet fueled him would not be inaccurate. The Titan was the cause of so much loss, so much pain, but the real reason Thor forced himself to power on was somewhere, hopefully, far away and safe.
Of course, he hoped and prayed to the Allfathers that everyone who boarded a rescue ships made it out safely, but Laila….she was his number one concern.
She…she was all he had left, and he was going to do all he could to ensure that Thanos could never again take from him someone he loved.
It was what kept him during his near suicidal mission in the effort to obtain a new hammer.
Kept him during the bloody battle in Wakanda where he demanded Thanos's presence in an unforgettable arrival.
However, what also kept him, was his desire not just for retribution, but revenge.
Just as Thanos had forced him to watch his loved ones perish, so he wanted to gaze upon the sociopath's face as he gave his final words.
Perhaps a bit of ego was involved, perhaps he felt it appropriate to remind the madman he always made good on his word, whatever the case…nothing….nothing was worth what a few final words cost him.
—
"The frost giants continue to secretly plan a rebellion-"
"Then why do I hear you telling me of their plan instead of informing me that they've been killed, their maimed bodies thrown into the fiery pits?"
Brunnhilde rolled her eyes at her king's response, wondering if he'd let this foolish advisor make right on his mistake or kill him as he stood just as he had the last five in the past week.
The man gulped and bowed. "My apologies, my King. It will be handled."
"Yes, it will," Thor spoke lazily. "But not by you."
Brunnhilde covered her eyes and blocked out the screams of the man as Thor directed a string of lightning into his body, purposely extending the time it took for him to die, to burn.
When silence commenced, Thor looked around with a bored expression. "Anyone else?"
"I fear at this rate we shall have more corpses than subjects," Brunnhilde muttered, nodding for the guards to discard of the dead man. "And here I thought today was a good day for you."
Thor offered nothing but a glare, Brunnhilde taking a brief moment to think of just how much things had changed in the five years since The Snap.
No one would have figured such a devastating loss could turn even the mightiest of individuals, The Avengers, into what they were today: sadistic tyrants.
In a bid to avoid ever having history repeat itself, the remaining heroes decided it best to assign overseer's across the universe. The Panther, Widow, Ronan, Steve, Tony, and Bruce all controlled various parts of Midgard with Thor, being the strongest of them all, having control of everything else.
It started out as a way to help but quickly turned sinister as objection came from various political leaders, all of which were struck down when they refused to pledge their loyalty.
Suddenly, the desire to protect was overshadowed by the need to be obeyed.
Loss of unfathomable proportions turned Earth's Mightiest Heroes into the Universe most feared rulers.
And while Brunnhilde herself hardly agreed with half of the heinous acts committed by all parties, she too had her heart hardened by loss.
However, it truly saddened her whenever she looked at her king and was reminded of the once jovial man who'd convinced her to make meaning of her life.
He was a far cry from that confident man, drenched with the guilt and pain of losing everything….everyone, he held dearly.
"My king!"
Brunnhilde broke from her thoughts and prepared for another brutal killing as a guard came rushing into the throne room.
"You dare approach the king without permission?" Thor hissed, his fist gripping the handles of his chair.
"My apologies." The man was terrified and understandably so. "But-you must see this."
"He will see nothing but this room bathed in your blood if you do not-"
"Leave me alone!"
Brunnhilde's mouth dropped at the terrified shout that came from outside the throne room. Her heart stopped as her grip on her sword loosened.
That….no…it couldn't.
Looking over at Thor, she realized her mind wasn't playing a cruel trick on her for the ghostly pale expression of her king confirmed he too had heard it.
"Get away from me!" The next shout was muffled by Thor jumping from his seat and making his way out the throne room only to stop in his steps as the person shouting stumbled their way into the sacred halls.
Head down, hands against the ground, sobbing profusely, Thor nearly fainted, his own heartbeat erratic and unhinged.
"Laila?"
Brunnhilde covered her mouth as the battered, bruised, and bloodied body of her queen caved at Thor's whisper of her name.
"Please…"
Thor stumbled back, her repeating the last words he heard her speak almost forcing him to his knees.
"Queen Laila," Brunnhilde murmured, stepping forward, stopping as Laila quickly looked up and revealed her bruised and cut face. "Wha-"
"Where am I?" Laila cried as Brunnhilde glanced at Thor who seemed just as surprised by her question.
"Laila," Thor whispered, inching toward her only for the emotional woman to back herself into a corner, clearly frightened.
"Please don't hurt me," she sobbed as he gulped, blinking away his own tears.
"I would never-"
"Who are you people?" She asked, pulling her legs up to her chest. "What do you want with me?"
"What?" Brunnhilde whispered. "Wait…..," she gulped. "Queen Lai-"
"Stop calling me that!"
"Why?" Thor breathed. "Please, let me-"
"What is your name then?" Brunnhilde had a guess, but she wanted to be wrong. God, she wanted to be absolutely wrong.
Laila's jaw trembled as she shook her head. "I-I don't know. I don't know anything."
She shut her eyes. "You don't know who we are….do you?"
In response, Laila cried harder, continuing to beg for them not to hurt her.
"Her memories….," Brunnhilde met Thor's devastated eyes, seeing emotion and humanity she thought had perished along with his beloved. "They're gone."