Ten years had passed since the last time she was in Asgard. Iona's gaze roamed around the icy landscape. Everything was light blue and cold. Alfheim. One of the Nine Worlds. It existed on the highest level of the World Tree along with Asgard and Vanaheim. The homeland of the Light Elves. Peaceful, happy, friendly beings. Odin the All-Father appointed the Vanir known as Frey, as the ruler of Alfheim. But she was not in her place. Lady Iona was an Asgardian warrior.
Since Loki died, she asked from the All-Father to leave. Loki, the son of Lafey and… Odin. No, he was not Odin's natural son. But for her he was a lifetime partner. Her grey eyes fill up with tears once more when she remembered that day. "Loki is dead, Iona. He fell into shadows." Those were Thor's words. That day was her last day in Asgard. The All-Father sent her to Alfheim. The Nine Worlds needed protection and Thor wanted her help. It was her task. Ten years there and Alfheim returned to its previous good condition.
What was the point? She was a great warrior but without him, she was nothing. Her broken heart was still open and the wound was still bleeding. Her thoughts stopped when a cold breeze embraced her strongly. Silence around but she was able to hear her own breath. Her long jet black hair waved lightly cause of the breeze and a tear rolled down her cheek. It was hot and she could feel it on her cold but fragile white skin. The skin he loved so much. She blinked several times and wiped the tear away from her cheek. When she raised her eyes a blue light elf was standing in front of her some meters away.
"I'm listening…" Iona said with her stable voice. The blue light elf moved slightly nervous with the eyes on the ground.
"The Bifrost is open Lady Iona. After ten years. No one came. I suppose it opened for you."
Iona's eyes opened widely. The Bifrost was open. Again. A million thoughts burst into her mind. Something was definitely wrong in Asgard. What happened? A new war? The Dark Elves? Why they wanted her back? She ran away from the blue light elf. Her heart was biting way too fast. The frozen ground was crackling at every step of hers. After a while she saw it and her body remained perfectly still. There it was. A huge dark blue hole in the cerulean sky. Silver rays were touching the icy ground, coming from the dark blue hole. The source. The Bifrost was really open.
Without second thought she ran to it and the silver rays embraced her like an old friend. She closed her eyes slowly and her feet parted from the ground softly. She could feel the warm atmosphere around her as her body left Alfheim and delved into space. She was travelling back home. Some minutes later her feet touched the ground. Hard and smooth at the same time. The familiar scent filled her lungs and she opened her eyes slowly, breathing deeply.
"Welcome home Lady Iona." Heimdall greeted her as he removed his sword from the Bifrost.
Iona smiled lightly but the bad thoughts came to her mind again. She frowned worried and opened her mouth to speak but Heimdall spoke first.
"As a guard of Asgard and very good friend of yours, I suggest… to keep yourself calm Iona." His voice soft yet stable.
Iona was confused. What happened really? She wanted answers.
"I need to know why I am here Heimdall." She said with a sigh. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg appeared in the room. Something was absolutely wrong if they were there.
"We can explain Iona." Lady Sif spoke first. Her face was ineffable. Iona couldn't understand.
"Loki…" Fandral started but Iona raised her hand spontaneously. His voice faded at once. Iona's gaze darkened seriously when he spoke Loki's name out loud. For ten years she didn't use that word. She wasn't talking about him.
"I suppose you didn't bring me back for a silly reason. I don't want to talk about him. He is… dead." Iona said and lowered her hand. Her voice sounded broken at the last word. He was dead.
"The thing is… he is not really dead Iona." Volstagg coughed nervously and looked at Iona sadly. Five pair of eyes looked at her, waiting for her reaction. Iona continued to look at Volstagg's eyes lost in her thoughts. What did he just say? He is not dead. Her heart lost her beats for a moment but she remained still. Like a frozen statue. He is not dead. It couldn't be true. Thor told her that Loki fell into shadows. Lady Sif stepped forward cautiously and Iona turned her dark gaze to her.
"Speak Sif!" Iona demanded growling and made Lady Sif to stay there frozen.
"Loki truly fell into shadows, Iona. But he didn't die. One year later we found him on the Earth…" Lady Sif said with trembling voice. A painful groan escaped Iona's mouth.
"We had a war Iona. Loki was really angry with Thor and with all of us. He killed so many innocent people there…" Hogun added without looking at Iona.
"We won the war and we brought Loki back but the All-Father… imprisoned him for his actions. We had to keep you in the darkness. It was an order from the All-Father." Fandral said sadly. Iona couldn't believe in her own ears. Her head was spinning. Too many information. Rage nested deep into her soul and her heart. Loki was alive. For nine years she was away from him. She growled painfully as hot tears filled up her eyes.
"Why am I here?" Iona yelled and a tear ran down her cheek quickly. Lady Sif looked down and frowned feeling guilty.
"Because…" Lady Sif started to talk but she stopped. She looked up to face Iona and Iona saw fear in her eyes.
"Speak!" Iona growled angrily but she was not sure if she truly wanted to hear the answer. After several moments in silence, Lady Sif spoke.
"The All-Father will banish Loki from Asgard. He will send him to Svartalfheim and we all know what it means. Death. The Dark Elves would never accept Loki after what he had done."
Iona raised her hand once more. The air in her lungs was diminished by the hour. She felt rage, pain and loss, all at once. Death. Her own people betrayed her. They all knew perfectly well how Loki loved her and how she loved him.
"Why am I here?" Iona repeated but her voice was like a silent whisper.
"Loki asked to see you for one last time and the All-Father accepted his request." Hogun replied calmly.
"The All-Father…" Iona whispered ironically as her gaze turned to look at them all. One after another. They looked at each other worried.
"He's not my fucking father…" Iona added and her voice was cold. Full of pure hate and anger. Her grey eyes were like hot molten lead. Dark black fire burned her vitals.
"Iona…" Volstagg tried to start a sentence but Hogun grabbed his arm worried. It was obvious that Iona could kill them all at once.
"I want to see Loki." Iona breathed out and her hand moved to her sword spontaneously as she looked at them with eyes like fire.
They all nodded without looking at each other and they walked out of the Bifrost first.
