Darcy looked up at the sky, shading her eyes against the sun .''Sooo... are you sure Thor's coming?''
Darcy's close friend Jane Foster, came up next to her .''Of course he is.'' Jane said, unperturbed by their long wait in the hot desert sun.
''You miss him, huh?'' Darcy asked, looking at Jane thoughtfully before going back to staring at the sky.
''Yeah, I really miss him. And I-'' Jane cut off and shaded her eyes a little better and straightened up .''Here he comes.''
Sure enough the sky had opened up revealing the portal in wich Darcy herself would soon be entering. A searing beam of light struck down, hitting a space of sand barely a few feet from where Darcy and Jane both stood. And for the fourth time in Darcy's life she saw the Bi-frost. As soon as it had came it vanished leaving a blonde long-haired man in a red cape and silver armour, wielding an impressive hammer at his side.
''Lady Darcy,'' Thor boomed, striding over to them, ''Jane Foster.'' Thor said much more quietly, seeing Jane standing next to their tattered van. Slowly, as if she were the finest china ware Thor took Jane's small hand in his hand and pressed his lips against her skin, eyes never leaving hers.
Darcy felt a flash of jealousy. She had liked Thor, but then she turned her face away from them and chided herself .Thor's not your type. Jane and Thor were perfect for each other . Even though this helped console her, Darcy still felt hints and flashes of rejection here and there. The way Thor and Jane stared at each other like no one else was there.
''It's good to see yah Thor.'' Darcy said, interrupting their intense focus on each other.
''Yeah, it really is,'' Jane added, then she looked at Darcy ,''Let's get the equipment.''
Darcy nodded and went over to the back of the van, opening the doors that led to the trunk of the scraped up vehicle. She opened and checked each bag, making sure all the supplies and what not were secure, and actually there. Strangely nervous, Darcy glanced back at the still glowing celtic runes, engraved onto the sand where the Bi-frost had touched.
''Hey Darcy,'' Her longtime stand in father, Dr. Selvig called, stepping out of the van called ,'' You and Jane be safe up there. You hear that Thor?''
Thor nodded, taking Darcy's suitcase and rolling it over to where the Bi-frost would touch down again.
Selvig sighed and held Darcy at arms length ,''No wars or excitement... Be safe.'' He whispered the last part and gave her a hug .''I'm very proud of you.''
''Thanks.'' Then she gave him a hug and put her bag on the ground next to where Thor had put her suitcase.
''Ahhh. Dr. Selvig, how fares lady Kathy?'' Thor asked in his medieval accent. He was referring to Selvig's wife, Katherine Selvig, who was currently undergoing chemotherapy due to lung cancer.
''She's been better. A couple more weeks and the doctor says she'll be all better.'' Selvig replied.
'' Go.'' Darcy urged. She could tell all he wanted was to be with her and he'd already spent enough time away from Kathy.
''We'll be fine. She needs you right now.'' Jane added.
''Okay.'' Then, before he could say any more he got in the car and drove off towards town. Leaving Darcy, Jane, and Thor in the hot New Mexico sun.
Taking Jane's hand and smiled at her warmly, then yelled up to the sky ,''Heindal! Open the Bi-frost.''
As if on cue, the sky split open once more, and the beam of light enveloped them all.
Darcy opened her eyes. It looked almost as if she had stepped straight into a fairytale.
They were standing in a solid gold structure shaped like a dome, intricate designs crisscrossed the ceiling, and before them stood the largest man she had ever seen in her entire life.
He wore gold armour and wielded and an immense sword at his side ,''Welcome, Darcy Lewis... To Asgard.'' His hazel eyes stared back at her steadily from behind his helmet.
''Heindal,'' Thor said, walking up to the dark skinned giant ,''Tell father I have returned, and will speak to him shortly. It will be hard getting through new Asgard fast as I have yet to tell of my quest.''
''Yes oh Thunderer'' Heindal replied calmly.
As they left the building Darcy felt herself glancing back at Heindal. How had he known her name? She wondered. ''Thor. What do you mean 'new Asgard'?'' She asked him as they crossed a multi-colored bridge.
''Because of the war Asgard endured between the dark elves,'' He replied grimly ,''There is much me and my father have yet to do.''
As they entered the city Darcy began to understand what Thor had meant. Among the great buildings and exceptional pieces of architecture were ruins, and among the rubble slaves and workers clearing the debris and in the distance Darcy could see a building being reconstructed.
Jane leaned into Thor, shuddering.
Darcy instinctively wanted to comfort her friend. Jane had been in Asgard during the war, thanks to Thor's abrupt abduction of her the year before. Jane was haunted by the event and still suffered trauma issues. Many a night Darcy would wake to the cries of her friend and ran to comfort her in her hour of need.
Thor stopped and called out to one of the constructors.'' Sif, I have returned victorious from my quest in the Jotunheim!''
'' For a moment I dared to think you would ask about how the reconstruction was doing. But that is good news, did the Jotuns give you much trouble?'' A black-haired woman called from her perch on a ladder.
''Nay, they do not prove as much of a problem as they used to. Their new ruler is willing to listen to reason.'' He replied laughing.
''Darcy, as this is your first time on Asgard, I will have to accompany you and Jane and give you a 'tour'.'' Thor said spoke the last word oddly, unused to modern words. He began to walk away and Darcy followed.'' But for now I think you should just see your rooms and the castle.''
Up ahead of them, out of the ground rose a solid gold palace. A foreign language was engraved on the walls, inlade with jade, and assorted gems including diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, they were decorating the ceiling and walls.
Thor pushed open a set of oak doors and strode in purposefully, Jane at his side and Darcy not far behind.
''Father,'' Thor called out ,''Did Heindal send word of my return?''
A weathered looking old man with a snowy white beard looked up at them.'' Yes son,'' His head turned in Darcy's direction and she realized with a start that he had only one eye. The other was covered by a golden colored eye-patch.'' I see you have a new guest into Asgard.''
''Ahh, yes father. This is Darcy Lewis, of Midgard.'' Thor informed his father.
''I have heard of you from my son and Heindal. You speak and think much of Asgard.'' He eyed her sternly, then his face split into a small smile.'' Son, how did your quest go in the Jotunheim?''
''It fared well, I made sure their new ruler understands Asgard is not weaker because of the war.''As Thor said this he led me and Jane out of the throne room and into a smaller hallway.
Jane moved her hand from Darcy's eyes and let her see the room.
It was huge, far to big for Darcy, who was used to being able to touch the ceiling if she stood on her bed. The whole room was way to big, the furniture, bed, bathroom.
''Wow. Just wow.'' Was all Darcy could say.
Thor quietly closed the door and left, informing Jane that he would be catching up with everyone.
Jane looked at Darcy and smiled,'' Aren't you excited? You're first time in Asgard!''