AN: Hello everyone!

Just thought I should let you all know:

I am going with the Norse mythology spelling of names opposed to the Marvel universe spelling, such as Jötun (Jotun) and Jötunheimr (Jotunheim), because I like the look of them more ^_^ I believe pronunciations are still the same :)

So enjoy!

Fav, review, follow!

~the-elemental-writer

Thora inhaled deeply as the crowd cheered for her when she entered the throne room. She looked forward and didn't let the crowd distract her. At the end of the hall sat the AllFather – her father Odin, King of Asgard, and below him on the stairs to his right, her mother Frigga, Queen of Asgard. Then there was her younger brother Loki below Frigga, and Sif below him. To Odin's left of the throne, the Warriors Three stood, Thora's good friends.

The stroll from the entrance to the stairs where she would be crowned Queen seemed longer than normal, and the crowd's cheering was deafening. The guards that lined the walkway didn't move an inch, adding to her nerves. Thora smiled, hoping she wouldn't look too conceited to her audience, or her brother Loki for that matter. She knew he was jealous that she was to be crowned Queen while he was left with nothing. But that was just how it was. She was the eldest, and therefore, Odin's heir. She tried her hardest not to boast of it, though it was exciting, even that she couldn't deny.

Thora and Loki had always had a rocky relationship, thanks to their father. Growing up it had always been a constant reminder that only one of them could succeed Odin and become the King or Queen of Asgard and ruler of the Nine Realms. Of course, it would always be Thora in the end because she was eldest, making her father seem cruel to her. Had he parented them right, like Frigga, Thora knew Loki wouldn't have ended up so troubled. But she couldn't change that now. The best she could do was hope his jealousy wouldn't turn to hatred towards her. She loved her brother and didn't want to lose him to his own demons.

Thora took a deep breath as she reached the stairs and knelt before her father. Odin rose from his throne and lifted his staff Gungir, then slammed it to the floor, the boom echoing throughout the entire hall, raining them in silence. Thora took a deep breath. This was it.

"Thora Odindóttir, my heir, my firstborn. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mjölnir, forged in the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal; as a weapon to destroy or as a tool to build. It is a fit companion for a Queen. I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms in the time of the great beginning. Today I entrust you with the greatest honor in all the Nine Realms: the sacred throne of Asgard. I have sacrificed much to achieve peace. So, too, must a new generation sacrifice to maintain that peace. Responsibility, duty, honor; these are not merely virtues to which we must aspire, they are essential to every soldier and to every Queen," Odin said to Thora. She kept her eyes on her father, feeling the warmth building in her core, fighting it from travelling up her cheeks.

"Thora Odindóttir, do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?" Odin asked his daughter.

"I swear," Thora replied.

"Do you swear to preserve the peace?"

"I swear," she said smoothly, excitement building within her.

"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of all the Realms?"

"I swear!"

"Then on this day, I, Odin AllFather, proclaim you…" Odin said, trailing off. His eyes moved from Thora and travelled to a column in the hall. Suddenly, Thora felt a shiver run down her spine. She tried her hardest not to turn from her father, but the crowd's murmuring got the better of her. She turned to see what caught her father's attention and gasped at the sight.

"Frost Giants!" Odin announced, hitting the staff to the ground once again. Thora rose angrily, though she also felt fear in her being. How the hell did Frost Giants find their way into Asgard?! She looked to her father who nodded to her and Loki. The two of them trailed behind their father as they left the throne room and her coronation behind.

Thora quickly followed her father into the Weapon's Vault with Loki following her. The Vault walls were covered in ice and the poor Asgardian guards lay dead on the floor. Throughout the room Frost Giant limbs and swords were scattered. The Destroyer had taken care of them swiftly. The Vault was bathed in silence as everyone's eyes travelled to where the Casket stood, still untouched.

"How could the Jötuns have done this?" Thora asked, finally breaking the silence. No one spoke so Thora continued, "The Jötuns must pay for what they've done!" Thora said, almost pleadingly.

"They have paid with their lives. The Destroyer did its work; the Casket is safe and all is well," Odin replied, hardly batting an eye.

"All is well? They broke into the Weapons Vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics -" Thora began.

"But they didn't," Odin stated, cutting Thora off in the process.

"But why!" Thora stated.

"I have a truce with Laufey, the Jötun King," Odin explained to Thora, though she already knew, as he turned to leave.

"But father! He just broke your truce! They know you are vulnerable! We must act!" Thora shouted to Odin's back.

"What action would you take?" Odin tested, turning around to face Thora.

"March into Jötunheimr as you once did; teach them a lesson, break their spirits so they'll never dare try to cross our borders again!" Thora said with hardly a thought.

"You're thinking only as a warrior!" Odin concluded.

"This was an act of war!" Thora pleaded, wishing her father would see this for what it was.

"It was the act of but a few, doomed to fail," Odin replied.

"Look how far they got!" Thora reminded, gesturing to the Vault.

"We will find the breach in our defenses and it will be sealed," Odin said, his tone signalling the end of their discussion.

"As Queen of Asgard -" Thora tried.

"But you are not Queen!" Odin interrupted with his voice raised, "Not yet." This quieted Thora for good. She watched her father's back as he left the Weapon's Vault. It had been foolish – very foolish – for her to argue with the AllFather. She could just feel the smugness radiating off Loki, even if his features portrayed nothing but innocence.

"You know you could try to care for me, brother," Thora scowled to Loki as she took her leave.

Thora knew she was more mature than to just sit in the banquet hall and sulk, yet here she was doing it anyways. She was so angry with the Frost Giants, with the AllFather, with Loki… She wanted to do something but wouldn't dare going against the AllFather to do so.

She heard light footsteps from behind her and knew it was Loki, "It's unwise to be in my company right now, brother," Thora said through grit teeth. Still Loki approached, and finally sat down beside her. "Leave my presence," she commanded.

"If it's any consolation, I think you're right; about the Frost Giants, about Laufey, everything. If a few of them could penetrate the defenses of Asgard once, who's to say they won't try again? Next time with an army?" Loki questioned, testing her. Thora turned her head and looked at her brother. His tone of voice hinted nothing but curiosity, yet his eyes told Thora the truth.

"I know what you're trying to do," Thora accused. Loki moved his head backwards, his eyes showing hurt.

"What might I be trying to do?" Loki queried.

"You want me to go against father, you want me to be reckless and call upon his wrath! Well I won't! You can continue on with your plans and schemes, whatever they may be, without me!" Thora accused.

"Thora… You said back in the Weapon's Vault that -"

"Drop it, Loki!" Thora snapped.

"I know you're angry, but you don't need to take it out on me," Loki softly cooed.

"I told you it was unwise to be in my presence," Thora excused as she stood from the stairs, leaving Loki behind. The Warriors Three and Sif walked into the banquet hall before Thora could take her leave.

"Thora, what's wrong?" Sif asked. Thora remain silent. As if she didn't know.

"I was just taking my leave," Thora said.

"Nonsense!" Volstagg said, walking over to Thora with Hogun in tow.

"I want to be alone," Thora said. She sensed Loki rise from the stairs, but did not hear him advance any closer.

"Alone?" Fandral questioned, looking Thora up and down. Thora returned the thoughts that she knew had consumed Fandral's mind. He was handsome after all.

"Actually…" Thora began, "Come with me Fandral." She took his hand as he shot Loki a wink, leaving the banquet hall behind.