I have written this fanfiction from the idea that popped into my head. I, in no way, am responsible for the creation of the plot of Thor, nor any of its characters. I have merely introduced my own character into the plot in which some things may have changed. This work on a large part is not original. I am only responsible for the OC character.
When I was a small child, my mother was summoned to reside in the palace of the mighty Allfather. She was renowned for her healing capabilities and it was thought to be beneficial to have her remain close. I don't remember much, but I do remember a boy. Dark hair amongst a group of light headed children. They were being spoken to by Allfather. I can't remember what was being said. There wasn't anger, just a firmness that qualified it as a lecture. When Allfather walked away all the light headed-ones turned to the other boy and one even shoved his shoulder slightly. They gathered around him, upset. I remember him being left alone, crying in anger; a seething anger that is now more than just a memory. I had knelt down next to him. He had emerald eyes. What had I asked? What had I said? I remember a smile, his smile. Did I smile back? But, the one thing I remember most was the promise I made. I can't remember my own voice, or his voice in return, just the words.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you! No matter what, okay?"
Looking back, that was probably the start of it all.
Today is a glorious day in Asgard, for a son of Odin is to become the new King and protector of the nine realms. Thor Odinson, after many, many years as an accomplished warrior and wielder of Mjolnir, shall ascend to the throne. Hundreds of thousands of Asgardian citizens are crammed into the ceremonial hall, their cheers roaring off the golden walls. They all love their crown prince. Not that there isn't much to love about Thor. He's handsome, a brilliant warrior, and an excellent friend. I have known him for many years and can attest to that! He is one of my closest friends, and today I could not be any more proud of him.
He's walking toward us along the long stretch of red carpet, waving and cheering along with the citizens. As is his nature, he cannot resist showing off for them even if just a bit. I roll my eyes at his antics and I hear Sif mutter to herself beside me. I bump her slightly with my shoulder. "Oh, let him enjoy his day. He's been waiting for this for years."
Sif smiles to herself and continues to watch Thor as he waves and calls out to his people. I smile as well and lean in closer to her and whisper "It's not as if you don't enjoy it." Her shoulders tense slightly and she nudges me. "Quiet, Astra." I have known for a rather long while that Sif is, shall we say, sweet, on Thor. And while I express my opinion that she should let her feelings be known, she remains steadfast in her desire to keep it hidden. It is not my place to say anything to Thor for her, so what else can I do but tease her affectionately every now and then?
As Thor draws closer to us, I chuckle and glance back to briefly to the man standing only one step above me. Loki is already looking at me. I smile at him, and he smiles back briefly before rolling his eyes and returning his gaze to his brother. While I am not a person of dignified rank, only a healer, I have been given the privilege of standing with the royal family. Due to my mother's friendship with the Queen, I have been close to them for some time. However, after the death of my mother, Queen Frigga saw it upon herself to bring me under her personal care. From that moment on, I was regarded as one of the family. I have known Thor and Loki for as long as I can remember, but there isn't a memory that I still hold that does not include Loki in some way. There is no other being in all of Asgard whom I know better, and none who know me just as well.
Thor reaches his destination at the bottom of the steps, right before me. He kneels, removes his helmet and smiles up at his mother. He winks at her, but I am unable to see her reaction. I imagine it must be comical for Thor's smile only widens. After a few moments, Allfather silences all voices present.
"Thor Odinson, my heir-," Allfather begins. At the mention of Thor being his heir I feel Loki change his weight from one foot to the other. I reach back slightly and take hold of a portion of his cloak and tug gently. Loki cannot bear the thought that Allfather chose Thor over him as the heir, but this was not the time nor place for him to be expressing his displeasure. When Loki changes his weight from one position to another, he feels compelled to move, to pace, to rid himself somehow of his agitation. Loki is a man of many masks, but every now and then he'll let his emotions get the best of him. Perhaps my tug reminds him of the timing, perhaps it does not. Regardless, Loki looks down to the floor and regains the composure no one else realizes he had lost.
"-my first born, so long entrusted with the mighty hammer, Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star…" Allfather continues on with his speech, as is customary for such passings of power. He asks whether he swears to abide by the Oath of the King, to act as a loving and understanding King, to be selfless for their happiness and protection. Thor, without hesitation, swears. However, just as Allfather is about to proclaim Thor the new King, he stops, and looks away, as if some unheard alarm had just resounded.
"Frost Giants," he mutters, but no one can react quickly enough before he lifts his staff and allows it to fall back down to the ground with a loud ring. Everyone's eyes are on Allfather as the ring fades. He sighs.
"My sons," he calls, before he turns and walks away with Loki and Thor not far behind. The people begin to talk amongst themselves. As the Queen attempts to silence and console them, Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral make their way over me and Sif.
"Did he say Frost Giants?" Volstagg questions.
"Yes, he did," Sif confirms.
"Thor isn't going to take very kindly to that," he responds smiling slightly. It was true. The ceremony was incomplete, and Thor will now have to wait another day to become king. Depending on the cause of this unexpected delay, the wait may be indefinite. We left the hall to wait for the princes' return, no doubt with unhappy news. By the time we were able to find the brothers, they were sitting in the dining hall with the table overturned and food littering the floor. Loki and Thor are sitting on the steps, the former looking at us over his shoulder.
I sigh and gesture to all the wasted food. "I planned on eating that, you know. Forget your coronation; the feast is what I was more excited to attend. My day, totally ruined." A smile crept its way onto Loki's face for a moment, before he faces his brother again.
"If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything. If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defenses once who's to say they won't try again? Next time with an army," Loki tells him. I stand next to Sif, listening. For a moment, I turn my attention to Volstagg, who offers me a plate of bread and cheese he is holding. I smile and wave it off, telling him that I was just teasing. He is such a sweet friend. I am brought back to attention when Loki starts saying "No! No, no, no, no! I know that look!"
"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders!"
"Thor, it's madness," Loki states. At the word 'madness' Volstagg lifts his head and turns to Loki.
"Madness? What sort of madness?"
"We're going to Jotunheim," Thor says.
"What? This isn't like a journey to earth where you summon a little lightning and thunder and the mortals worship you as a god," Fandral claims, finding the idea ludicrous. He is watching Thor intently. If he is trying to place any reason into Thor's mind it certainly isn't working. Thor is far too stubborn for that. Once he has a plan in his mind, he will stick to it no matter how hard one may try and kick him back onto the right path. "This is Jotunheim."
"My father fought his way into Jotunheim, defeated their armies and took their casket. We would just be looking for answers," Thor responds. Loki shakes his head before holding it in his hand. Sif steps forward, unafraid to confront Thor. "It is forbidden!"
Thor simply laughs. I sigh and throw my hands up. He never takes anything seriously. He thinks this is good for his people, and his intentions are good, but the whole idea practically screamed 'suicide!'
"My friends, have you forgotten all that we have done together?" Thor asks, walking towards us. "Fandral. Hogun. Who led you into the most glorious of battles?"
"You did," Hogun answered.
"And, Volstagg," Thor continues turning to the redhead. "To delicacies so succulent you thought you'd died and gone to Valhalla?" Thor puts his arms around Volstagg, who has been happily arranging what food he can in front of him. Volstagg chuckles and provides the same answer as Hogun.
"Yes!" Thor exclaims, laughing. He turns to Sif. "And who proved that a young maiden could be one of fiercest warriors this realm has ever known?" Sif smiles and claims that would have been her doing. As he continues on with his speech, I sit next to Loki.
"It seems like we've been excluded from this warrior group, don't you think, love?" I ask, resting my chin on my palm. Loki chuckles and continues to watch Thor as he excites our friends over the prospects of success. "They just can't handle the fact that we fight as a unit instead of individuals."
"When you actually fight, you mean," he remarks turning toward me slightly with a grin. I shove him on the shoulder.
"I am a strong, defensive fighter. I don't actually fight unless I have to. I heal. I'm much better that that than I am at throwing punches. I don't exactly hear you complaining when I'm watching your back," I retort. He smiles and reaches down to gather my hand in both of his. He raises my fingers to his lips and kisses them.
"And what satisfaction it must bring you to know you are the only one to be able to do so," he says with a smirk, placing my fingers against his cheek. If I am honest with myself, it actually brings me more happiness than anything else that he trusts me and me alone, with his back. For as much as I love him, Loki is not a trusting man. He suspects everyone of hating him, and he hates and despises in return. I know many who see Loki as sly, cunning, and mischievous. They are right to believe so. I have to protect him from these people. I have to make sure Loki does not fall completely into darkness. But how much can I protect him from when he has been exposed to so much of it already?
Thor excitedly backs away to see all of us together. Loki lowers my hand to his lap, but does not let go. "My friends…we're going to Jotunheim."
Within minutes of his decision, Thor is pushing us all out the door urging us to don our armor. While I am not the most physically strong fighter, I carry the most armor right after Thor. My armor is made of titanium plates that protect all points of my arm (with the exception of my hands), shoulders, legs, and chest. Due to my fighting style, my armor must be strong, but cannot hinder my movements. I do not know how to wield a sword, or any other weapon other than perhaps a small knife. Loki is the one to deal the damage. I take the blow and he strikes. Should I find myself in a situation where Loki or anyone else is not there to strike for me, I have been taught throwing techniques that allow me to either distance myself from the opponent, or short range strikes that render them unconscious if performed correctly. Being a healer, I know all the points that allow me to do so. I have rather good reflexes when it's just me and my armor but put something in my hand and I am doomed to fail. Something Loki never ceases to laugh about.
Together we walk to gather our, their, weapons. Thor, already with Mjolnir in hand, muses out loud. "First, we must find a way to get past Heimdall."
"That will be no easy task!" Volstagg says, looking over to the rest of us. "It's said that the Gate Keeper can see a single drop of dew fall from a blade of grass a thousand worlds away." Fandral rolls his eyes and laughs at the thought.
"Yes, and he can hear a cricket passing gas in Nifelheim." Sif is smiling, finding this all very amusing. Hogun doesn't smile. He never smiles. They don't call him 'The Grimm' without reason, I suppose. He's a very good friend, despite his lack of mirth. Fandral, who never has any lack of it, constantly attempts to get him to smile. He never gets one. Every now and then Sif and I can drag one out of him, much to Fandral's exasperation. I'm positive he does it on purpose.
With all this discussion going on, it won't be any time at all before someone reports it to Allfather. That would just ruin all the fun, now wouldn't it? I roll my eyes at the two once more before turning and walking up to the guards lined up a little ways back. They tilt their eyes down slightly, but say nothing to me.
"I'm sorry to be a bother, but I ask you to not say anything of this? It would be a bit of a disappointment if we were caught before we even get to the gate," I explain to them. The man closest to me smiles briefly.
"You know you have no chance of getting past the gate keeper, Lady Astra," He says. I return the smile. One of the reasons I enjoy using my abilities is you get to meet so many people. I am acquainted with many of the guard since they've all been injured at one point or another. I do not know many of them into any depth, but some of them, such as this man, I know due to their extended stays or some members of their family had been under my care at one point.
"We'll see about that, now won't we, Idasson?" I respond with a wink. "Tell me, how is your sister? No reoccurrences with her last sickness, I hope?"
He would have answered me, but he stops and lifts his eyes to something taller behind me. A hand comes to rest on my waist and another places itself on Idasson's shoulder in brief greeting. I look up and back to see Loki smile at the guard. "Thank you, it is much appreciated, but we must go now." Idasson nods his head.
"My lord," he responds. Loki turns me to the side and continues to walk with his hand on my waist. I can feel my lips twist in several different motions before I manage to simply grin. "You're a little possessive today," I comment idly. Loki clucks and gestures to the group walking ahead of us.
"I thought it would be best if you didn't find yourself left behind," he replies. I laugh. Loki is very possessive. He is graceful in how he will show up if I am in the presence of another man other than Thor or medically under my care, but behind the smile he offers I can very clearly hear him warning the other. He does not like it when others get to close to something that is his. And though I tease him about it, it is something we do argue about from time to time. I am not something he can claim like his multitude of other possessions. Still, I don't always mind the attention.
"You're going to be the one left behind if you don't hurry up!" I say through a laugh and jog forward to catch up with the others who have begun to mount their horses. He soon follows suit. I place myself into my saddle and run my hand over the grey flesh of my horse. Her name is Hadda and she is as beautiful as her name. Her coat is the same shade as ash with eyes as green as the first leaves of spring. We have been together for many years and there isn't a day I don't pay her a visit. She's very calm, but loves to run more than anything else. I am happy to oblige to her wishes when we ride together. She was given to me by Frigga as a gift a few years after the death of my mother. I love her more than I can express.
Without any other reason for delay we all set out to the Bifrost. We are confronted by none and as we draw close to the golden gates I can smell the salt of the water. Above us, the sky fades from gold to that of color webs of color and bright collections of stars. The towering doors open to us and we continue to ride across the bridge until we reach the end, where Heimdall, the guard to the entrance of Asgard stands waiting.
A/N: This is honestly so fun to write. And I understand that I am just following the main plot of Thor, but I wanted to see how things would turn out if something had been different. And for clarification, I do not see this character as a heroine. I actually see her partially insane and obsessive. While Loki is one extreme, she is the other and I think that is what makes them fit together so well in my mind. These characters are just so much fun to work with. Please, leave any comments or questions you have in a review. And I understand constructive criticism, but honestly, if you tell me I'm just copying the plot and this isn't original, then just keep it to yourself. As I have said, this work on a whole is not original. Thank you!