Author's note: I don't really know how often I'll be updating but hopefully it will be once a week.
Across the Helicarrier, alarms and warning bells resounded. The agents jumped to respond, dashing to computers to analyze the situation. Somewhere deep in the Helicarrier, two agents were strapping their weapons into place. A petite redhead was securing a quiver to her partner's back, who in turn adjusted the holsters on her thighs, where she secured two handguns. They strode out onto the main deck and quickly surveyed the situation.
"What's going on?" Clint called to Director Fury.
"Energy levels are spiking, unnatural atmospheric occurrences. All signs point to the arrival of another Asgardian." Fury informed before disappearing to the armory. Clint tensed immediately, remembering the last time he faced an Asgardian. Natasha put a hand on his arm, and he relaxed. She wasn't normally one for touching, but he was a special case.
A funnel of bright lights and a smoking imprint on the airstrip cleared away to reveal Lady Sif, one of Asgard's fiercest warriors. She'd been to Midgard twice before, more recently when she had teamed up with a SHIELD group to capture and disarm the enchantress Lorelai, She grabbed Natasha by the arm, looked heavenward and in another explosion of light and energy, and they were gone.
The bright gold warmth of Heimdall's chamber appeared in from of them, and they dropped down into it. Natasha almost stumbled, but recovered acrobatically. Sif gave her an impressed look that brought Natasha back to reality.
"What the hell is going on here?" Natasha screeched. Heimdall winced and looked elsewhere. Sif remained stoic for a moment.
"I am Lady Sif. Thor and his Lady Jane are in grave danger. I require your assistance." Sif explained as if that was all the necessary information. She had been taught that when a warrior called for aid in battle, one must stand and fight. Natasha was very different in that respect. She had learned to obtain every possible detail about a mission before execution. She was analytically minded and mistrusting, but she at least knew of Sif and her affiliations with SHIELD.
"Danger from whom?" Natasha asked. A mantra of Don't say Loki, don't say Loki began in her mind. Sif looked searchingly at her before replying.
"Lorelai." Sif spat. Natasha visibly relaxed. "And Loki."
Natasha's jaw clenched and she emitted a low hiss. Sif didn't comment but nodded towards the door and led Natasha toward the Palace of Asgard. Natasha tried to stay focused on her objectives, but found herself distracted by the sheer vastness and majesty of Asgard, especially the palace. Upon entering, she was led to a throne room where Thor sat uncomfortably in the place of honor. Sif put her arm stiffly across her chest and kneeled. She looked up at Natasha expectantly, but Natasha did not follow her lead. Sif stood.
"Why do you not show respect to the King of Asgard?" Sif seethed. Thor gave a hearty chuckle as he descended from the throne.
"She does not kneel because she is not my inferior, and neither are you Sif. I have asked you many times to end this foolish tradition. I do not think myself above you." Thor boomed, his voice echoing off the cavernous walls and vaulted ceiling of the throne room. Sif nodded stiffly and turned to Natasha, who had stayed silent. Thor looked at her in a new light. "Lady Natasha, to what do I owe this honor? Is the archer Clint here also?"
"Clint couldn't come. I'm here to-"Natasha began before Sif cut her off.
"Help me prepare for you and Lady Jane's wedding. We have grand plans, which we will execute in Frigga's place, may she rest peacefully in Valhalla." Sif supplied, and Thor nodded solemnly at the mention of his lost mother. Thor was glad that Sif approved of Jane and was even more glad that Natasha, his other sister-in-arms, was here to celebrate his marriage. Perhaps because she heard her name, a blue satin clad Jane appeared from the hallway and took her place beside Thor.
"Lady Jane, this is Lady Natasha. She fought alongside me in the battle for Midgard." Thor introduced Natasha to his bride to be. Jane outstretched her hand and Natasha shook it with an observant look settled on her face.
"You can just call me Jane." Jane said warmly.
"And you can call me Natasha."
"Forgive me, but I must speak to Lady Natasha in private." Sif interrupted. Natasha nodded, then followed Sif to her chamber. When the door was closed, Sif secured a heavy lock and turned to Natasha, who had now dropped all politeness and let her confusion cloud her features.
"Why can't Thor know why I'm here? Does Jane know? Where is Odin? And Loki and Lorelai?" Natasha fired questions at a mile a minute. Sif too had dropped all false pretenses and it was now clear just how much weight was on her armor clad shoulders. She sighed, drew breath, and began to explain the predicament.
"Odin is in the Odinsleep, from which he may never return. Loki took his form and the throne directly after faking his own death as Thor fought to bring peace to the nine realms when the Convergence occurred. Recently, Philip Son of Coul aided me in detaining an enchantress named Lorelai. She has to power to bend the will of any man. When I hunted her, I still believed Odin was Odin. Loki, in Odin's form, had ordered me to bring her back alive, which I regret to say I did, when I had the chance to kill her. I believe Loki wants to use Lorelai to make Thor kill Jane. When he realizes what he's done, he'll be crushed. The shock of it may end his life. We cannot allow this to happen. If Loki succeeds, he may openly take the throne and rule Asgard. I'm sure it is apparent why I require your aid." Sif spoke rapidly, and Natasha took in every word silently.
"You need me because I can't be affected by Lorelai's powers." Natasha stated simply.
"Precisely."
"How did you find all this out?" Natasha asked.
"Heimdall can see the lives of everyone in the nine realms."
"So Thor could find out that Loki is alive?"
"Only if he asks. He will not ask after a man he believes to be dead. He only ever asks about his Midgardian allies and friends, like yourself and your teammates."
Natasha was speechless for a moment. She had assumed Thor only cared for Midgard because of Jane. She would never have thought he cared also for the team known as the Avengers. It made her feel much more comfortable about being in Thor's palace, and much more obligated to help him.
"I will help you. Now, show me where I can sleep tonight. Tomorrow we will begin planning Loki's demise." Natasha added with a devilish smirk on her face, the one she learned from her partner. Suddenly, she remembered that he'd been left on Midgard. It had only been a few hours, but she missed the rakish grin of her arrow shooting best friend. She put him out of her mind as Sif led her to her chambers.
"I hope this will suit you. There is Asgardian battle armor and formal wear in wardrobe that you may wear tomorrow. It may not fit you, for it is mine and I am quite a bit taller. You may be better off borrowing from Jane, but she has no armor. I bid you goodnight." Sif said and began to walk away.
"Thank you for leaving Clint on Midgard." Natasha called softly, making Sif turn back around. She nodded sympathetically and went on her way.