When he left, her world came crashing down. He was her world. She just couldn't believe he had gone. He didn't even know about her feelings for him. She wanted to be noticed by him, but was too afraid to speak up. She hid her true feelings behind a mask of friendly banter and sarcastic jokes. She was his closest friend. That was better than being one of his toys, right? Why did he go?
"Sayrah." A voice called her from her musings. She looked up, her vision hazy. It was Sif. "Odin has requested everyone's presence for a meeting."
"I don't want to go." Sayrah blinked at Sif through bleary eyes. "Tell him I'm busy."
Sif gave her a hard look. "It concerns Lo- the Prince."
Her curiosity peaked. "Fine."
"Brothers and Sisters, I have called you all here to discuss an issue that concerns all of us. All of Asgard. Maybe even all of the nine realms." The entire Hall fell silent and stared at him. "Many of you know the recent conflict over the throne. As a result, there has been a loss that has devastated all of us."
Sayrah scowled, knowing that not everyone in the room was "devastated" by Loki's disappearance. She glanced at Sif, who wore an unconvincing look of solemnity upon her face.
"We have searched valiantly for my son. Heimdall has turned his all- seeing gaze on every imaginable plane. He was somehow shielded from us. I have done my best to discern his location to bring him home safely."
Sayrah clenched her fists. Odin could care less if Loki came back to Asgard. He was only a pawn to him.
"I know that his loss has caused a great grievance among Asgard. My family's pain has been unbearable."
She gripped the edge of the table, trying to calm herself down.
"I love my son and will do whatever it takes to get him back. With that, I-"
"STOP LYING!" Sayrah leaped out of her seat, knocking her chair to the ground. Her voice resounded through the quiet hall. "YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BAT AN EYE IF HE DIED!"
"Sayrah, please calm down. You don't know what you're talking about." Sif placed a hand on her arm, trying to force her to sit back down. "You're embarrassing yourself."
"NO!" Sayrah brushed her off. "Tell them the truth Odin. Tell them the truth about your 'son'. Tell Thor the truth about his 'brother'." She fixed her gaze on Odin's blank face. "Tell them."
Thor turned to look at Odin. "Father? What is she saying?"
Odin ignored him and turned to Sayrah. "I don't think that this is relevant to this conversation."
She slammed her fist on the table. "IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THIS CONVERSATION! IF YOU DON'T I WILL."
"ALRIGHT, ENOUGH!" Odin bellowed.
Sayrah fell silent and looked round at the faces behind the table. Sif was horrified, Thor had confusion painted across his face, Odin looked furious. Everyone else sat stoically. They were used to Sayrah's outbursts.
Balder broke the silence. "Odin, if what she says is true, then it might be absolutely important to Loki's return. It's not going to do us any good if you keep us all in the dark." Sayrah rolled her eyes. Leave it to Balder to be the voice of reason.
The other aesir nodded in agreement. Odin glanced around and sighed. "I suppose that this is a good time as any to tell you all the truth." He slumped back into his throne, defeated. "Long ago, when the world was still new, and we battled the Frost Giants to protect the humans, I happened upon a child. He was small for a giant's offspring. He was abandoned, in suffering. He was left to die. I took in him hopes that he could one day unite the two kingdoms, but those hopes have withered. It was all my fault."
"It was, wasn't it?" Sayrah growled. "And now he's gone because of you. Because he wanted to prove himself to the likes of you. You disgust me."
"I will not tolerate such insolence to the All- Father!" Sif shouted at her. The aesir sat in stunned silence. How could this be true? Thor cast his eyes downward, avoiding Sayrah's accusatory gaze. She stood and strode to the doors in a huff. "As far as I'm concerned, this council is over."
"Wait." Odin called. "We might have found him."
She paused, slowly turning to face him. "How is that possible?"
"Heimdall reports that an unusual disturbance of energy has been located on Midgard. A place called S.H.I.E.L.D. It is possible that Loki could have activated the Tessaract, unwittingly sending a signal of his current position. Or perhaps knowingly."
"The Tessaract? How in Valhalla could he get that?" Balder gasped.
"I don't know." admitted Odin. "But somehow, somewhere, my son is out there, and I want to bring him back. Safe and sound…. and alive."
"For what? So he can be locked up and never be able to do anything? So he can live here knowing that he will never be important enough to you?" Sayrah snapped.
Odin looked calmly at her despite her harsh stare. "Whether of Jotun origin or not, Loki will always be my son. I love him as much as I do Thor. When he returns, I promise that he will be treated with the utmost respect and honor. We shall hold a celebration upon his safe return."
"You give your word as the All- Father not to harm him?" she challenged.
"I do."
Sayrah smirked and crossed her arms, satisfied.
"That is joyous news, but how are we supposed to get to him back, father?" Thor asked.
"I have given that part a great deal of consideration. It would take too much of the Odinforce to bring him back, and even then, it is too risky. With the Bifrost destroyed, travel between worlds is impossible. The only way I can think of to bring him abck is…. the Infinity Gauntlet." Odin regarded the Aesir's reactions gravely.
"But wouldn't that take a lot of power?" Balder asked, after a long silence.
"I am prepared to use the Odinforce to charge the Gauntlet. Thor, I ask you to go to Midgard in my stead. Retrieve the Tessaract and bring Loki back. Do whatever it takes to bring him home. With us."
Thor nodded his assent solemnly. "I will, Father."
"Now it will take at least a day for the gauntlet to generate the energy. Until then, we all should get some rest. This council is over." Odin waved his hand, dismissing the gathered Aesir. Sif and the Warriors Three gathered around Thor, patting him on the back and murmuring under their breath. Balder conferred with Odin while Frigga stood behind him, looking grief- stricken. Sayrah gave the scene one last glance and swept out the door.
A knock at her door roused her from sleep. Sayrah rubbed her eyes and flicked a finger at the candles by her bedside, lighting them. "Enter."
Thor stepped into her room. "Lady Sayrah, I am sorry to trouble you at this hour."
"What do you want, Thor?"
"I- I wanted to ask how you knew of Loki's, uh, origins. How did you know Odin told him?"
She sat up, swinging her legs around to face him and motioned for him to sit. "After he confronted Odin, he came to me. He confided in me."
"You must be his closest friend then. What did you say to him?"
"I told him that it did not matter. I- er- we would still love him. But he didn't seem to be listening. He was already planning his something. The overthrow of the throne, I guess."
"Did you know about it?"
"Honestly? Yes."
Thor glared at her. "Then why didn't you tell the All-Father?"
"He was already in the Odinsleep, and Frigga was too distracted."
"You should have told someone else. Heimdall, or Balder, or someone!" Thor's voice raised dangerously.
"I didn't ask for you to come here and give me a lecture!" she shouted. He flinched away. "And besides, I don't blame him." she continued. "It was the only way he could cope. He wanted to feel like he belonged. Loved, even."
"But I love him more than anything." Thor said, hurt.
Sayrah looked down at her lap.
"I know." 'I do too.' she thought. A moment of silence passed between them. "So, why are you here, really?" she asked. "I know this isn't just about his origin story."
"I just wanted to let you know that I will promise to bring him back. I know how much you care for him. It will be like old times, you'll see. The three of us, together."
She gave him a tight smile. "Thank you. I know you will."
He stood and bowed. "Goodnight, m'lady."
"Good night." She nodded as he left and extinguished the candles, falling back onto the bed and into a dreamless sleep.