Author's Note: Here's chapter 2 (which is more than I can say for my poor Transformers fic that hasn't been updated in over three years; I'll get around to it eventually, I promise :( ). It's a good thing I saw Dark World before posting the rest of the chapters of this that I had written. I was able to write Odin and Frigga so much better than the first draft as well as get some details better, especially of Asgard and the Bifrost.

And OMG, Dark World was awesome! My whole family ended up going, and we all enjoyed the movie so much! 9/10, definitely. I'll refrain from telling any spoilers, but all I can say is Loki stole the show (as usual). Seriously. That was the BEST! Several moments were like, "Oh noes!" D: And then the other moments were, "Oh God, YES!" :D And the two bonus scenes in the credits were so worthwhile as well. Mostly everyone else in the theatre left before the very last one. –sigh– It's a Marvel movie and people still haven't learned. ;)

Anyway, enjoy chapter 2!


Annika clung to Thor as the Bifrost hurtled them through space and time, her eyes darting around at the currents of light surrounding them. She could feel the pull of the impossible speed they were traveling at, but how was the velocity not ripping them apart? How was the energy not scorching them? A bright white light rushed toward them, faster and faster... And then, all of sudden, it slowed and she felt her feet touch down on solid ground.

She let go of Thor and stumbled forward a little as she tried to gain her footing, a little disoriented from the trip. She closed her eyes and pressed her hand to her head, stretching out the other for balance, but when she opened her eyes, her hand abruptly fell to her side and she let out a small gasp of wonder. They had arrived at what looked to be an observatory. The ceiling was covered in graphs resembling constellation charts; the walls, a blur of rapidly-spinning interlocking gears. After staring at them closely for a few seconds, she realized that they must have been what was channeling the bridge's energy. And there was something else. From the moment she had stepped foot out of the Bifrost, she realized that the very feel of the air and the ground beneath her feet was different. Well, this was an alien world, after all.

"Greetings, my friend," she heard Thor say ahead of her and her eyes shifted to a statuesque and rather imposing figure standing at the platform in the center of the chamber. He withdrew a sword from a device on the platform and Annika gazed up as the energy of the Bifrost dissipated and the gears came to a stop with a deep rumble, the walls moving to close off the tunnel of energy that they had traveled in.

"Whoa..." So, the Bifrost was just as much technological as it was cosmic science as it was magic? 'This is weird... But, I am so doing that again.'

Her attention focused back on Thor as he gestured to her. "This is our new ambassador from Earth. She will be joining us for the time being."

Heimdall faced her and bowed his head. "Welcome to Asgard. I am Heimdall, gatekeeper of this realm. I hope you find your stay enjoyable, Lady Annika Rivers, of the order of SHIELD."

Annika awkwardly returned the bow. "Thank you, Heimdall. I'm – wait, how do you know my name if–?"

Thor chuckled, clapping the gatekeeper on the shoulder. "Heimdall knows everything. He sees all within the nine realms."

"Forgive my stating your information prematurely if it made you uncomfortable. It is a habit."

Annika offered a small smile, readjusting her grip on the shoulder strap of her duffel bag. "Don't worry about it."

Heimdall turned to Thor. "My prince, the king and queen await you as soon as you are ready."

"Yes," Thor answered. "They are expecting us to further discuss our plans. Shall we go?"

"Yeah." Annika nodded. She glanced back to Heimdall, offering a short but sincere, "It was nice to meet you, Heimdall," and then made her way after Thor. The walls of the observatory, which she realized formed a dome, rotated down to let them exit and as they stepped out, Annika stopped in her tracks, literally stunned speechless. In all directions, all that could be seen were stars, millions of them, more than she had ever seen in her life. She raised her hand tentatively. It felt like she could reach out and touch the universe itself. She looked to the ground beneath her feet, the thin bridge no more than four yards from side to side. Whatever it was made from, it reminded her of a hardened diamond-like crystalline glass and glinted in rainbow colors, like the embodiment of the Bifrost's energy but in a solid. It extended far out to the land mass in the distance where she could make out a gleaming golden structure standing tall above all the rest. This had to be the fabled palace of Asgard. The sun had just risen above the palace, changing the color of the sky, but was this even the same star that everyone knew on Earth? No, it couldn't be; this was a completely different solar system. 'This is going to take some getting used to...' She wandered forward a few steps, heading toward the bridge's edge.

"Careful," Thor warned behind her. "Do not fall off of the bridge."

"It's okay." Annika halted at the edge of the Bifrost and knelt down, gazing down off of the rainbow bridge into the depths of space. Auroras and nebulas in a multitude of colors danced and swirled against the black of space, leading to points unknown. She let out a trembling breath in pure awe. "Wow... This is just... I have no words to describe it."

"Our ancestors built this marvel thousands of years ago," Thor said. "Even for our people here, it is truly a wonder to behold."

Annika rose to her feet, looking back at Thor. "Thank you for this opportunity to witness it."

Thor smiled. "'Twas my genuine pleasure." He gazed to the palace in the distance. "It is a long walk to the palace on foot." He held up his hammer. "Would you rather fly?"

"No, I think I would rather walk. That is, if the king and queen aren't expecting us right away. Gives me a little more time to become acquainted with you and this place."

"Then, let us walk."

Thor clipped Mjolnir to his belt, and they fell into step together, Annika having to walk slightly faster than usual to keep up with the God of Thunder's long strides. She clasped her hands behind her back. "SHIELD thought it would be a good idea for me to stay here about a month at first and go back to Earth one day a week, if that's okay with you. I still have to report to Fury and manage some of my own things as well."

Thor nodded. "That is acceptable to me. I will arrange it with Father and Heimdall. Well, Heimdall already knows."

Annika chuckled at that and then returned her attention straight ahead where a battalion of soldiers were jogging toward them. Thor moved to the side of the bridge and she stepped beside him, stopping momentarily as the soldiers passed by before they resumed walking.

"Where are they going?" Annika asked, watching as they headed for the observatory. "Is something going on?"

Thor gave a heavy sigh. "Hard times. My actions of destroying the Bifrost have thrown the nine realms into chaos. The other worlds are not as stable as Asgard and many of the smaller villages rely on us to maintain the balance. Returning things to peace has not been easy. Those soldiers are going to quell an uprising in Niffleheim. I am ready to join them should they require my assistance."

Annika mirrored his sigh. "Then I guess it's not just limited to human nature," she said, disappointment in her voice. "The other realms battle and destroy each other for resources and power as well."

"Regrettably, yes," Thor replied. "Alas, even Asgard has not always been immune to it, however much we may pretend otherwise. Everything that has happened throughout history all points to the seemingly inevitable fate of war. I am only thankful that we recovered the Tesseract when we did. We were able to restore the Bifrost sooner and save many lives that otherwise would've been lost."

Annika blinked. "The Tesseract rebuilt the Bifrost?"

"Indeed."

She shook her head. "That's incredible."

"For centuries, Midgard has been closed off from the rest of the Nine," continued Thor. "But the sands of time shift and I am pleased to have come this far in creating an alliance. Though I do regret causing such drastic changes. Tell me, how is your world coping with the changes?"

Behind them, the Bifrost shot out into the heavens, rumbling underneath their feet, transporting the battalion of Asgardian soldiers to another world in the nine realms. "We're...at a difficult crossroads right now. It's sure been weird to say the least. Things that we all thought were impossible and reserved for fantasies are now very much possible and real. Including the Avengers. You know, everyone thought the idea of getting those people to work together was insane, but it ended up saving everybody. And I thank you for returning to help us. That must have been something to travel to Earth without the Bifrost or the Tesseract."

"It was," he replied with a slight wince as if remembering something painful. "But there is no need to thank me. I love Midgard as much I as do my homeland. I was pleased to share the rage of battle with the Avengers. To protect the world," he looked back over his shoulder, "and the people I love."

Annika followed Thor's gaze out to the observatory and then glanced up at him. "Pardon me, but do you have someone important to you on Earth?"

"Jane," Thor said, and the reverence in his voice made Annika smile. "Last year was to be my coronation as king. I believed that I was ready, but my foolish actions destroyed a thousand-year-old truce and almost ignited a war. Father banished me to Earth, and what I thought at the time a curse, turned into a blessing in disguise. She's the love of my life."

Annika grinned. "I'm happy for you."

Thor returned her smile and then gazed up to the heavens. "At one time, it crossed my mind that my Jane would make a very suitable ambassador of Earth, but I decided against it. I wish for her to see Asgard, but I do not want to involve her in our affairs of war."

"I'll be honest, Thor, it is not my intention to be involved in war either," Annika said with a glance over to him. "I mean, I can fight, but I am no soldier. That is not what I came here to do. And I cannot involve myself in the politics of your world either."

Thor nodded. "I respect that. If you do not wish to be a warrior, I will not ask that of you. Only that you possess the ability to defend yourself if necessary."

They walked in silence for a few moments, nearing the end of the Bifrost bridge, and then Annika spoke again. "Thor, there was one other thing."

Thor turned to look at her. "Yes, Lady Annika?"

"It's about your brother, Loki."

"What about him?" Thor asked, a note of tension entering his voice.

"The Battle of New York raised a lot of unsettling questions. Loki and his army were the obvious threats, but no one was able to identify anything else inside that portal, not even Stark. And even though the Avengers won, SHIELD doesn't think that this over."

"You anticipate a possible vendetta?"

"Yes," Annika replied. "You've seen firsthand what the consequences would be if this ever happened again, and next time, Earth might not be the only target. There's only so much SHIELD can tell from the data we've collected on our world. We need to know what other unseen forces were at work, and Loki is the only one who can tell us. I don't know how much or how little he actually knows, but I'm trained in interrogation and Director Fury wants me to try."

Thor heaved a sigh. "You will have to ask my father for access to the prison. He commands the jurisdiction throughout Asgard." They stepped foot off of the Bifrost and Thor perked up. "But enough of that for now. Let us return to culture. Come, I wish to show you Asgard."

And so they went, up through the village at the base of the hill that was bustling with activity and people, through the front grounds with neatly trimmed bushes and underlying waterways, and finally up to the royal palace itself. She was appreciative that Thor walked slowly so that she could take everything in, though he did tease her about many of her reactions to various things. She knew she was gawking, and unabashedly so. The architecture was unlike anything else, grander than any castle or palace she had seen before. There was no earthly comparison. Everything from the refreshing oases, to the perfectly detailed archways, to the tile floors, to the marble vases and pristine green plants lining the outdoor courtyards created a calming atmosphere. Tapestries and murals hung from the gleaming golden walls, depicting battles so ancient she didn't even have a guess as to how old they were. It felt sort of like she had stumbled into a medieval fantasy, but this society was just as much futuristic as it was old-fashioned. From anywhere on the grounds of the front-facing side of the palace, the brilliant rainbow colors of the Bifrost bridge could be seen leading into the heavens. To construct something like this, they clearly possessed knowledge more advanced than anything known on Earth.

By the time that Thor had shown her the grounds and the lower levels of the palace, hours had passed, and they had to return to the remaining business at hand. It was time to meet the king and queen. Leading up to the throne room, Thor had given her a brief rundown on etiquette and how to address Asgard's royalty.

"I have already told them of SHIELD and what we endeavor to accomplish, but they will wish to hear it from you as well. You can leave your belongings out here and retrieve them after." Thor looked to her. "Are you nervous?"

"A little," she admitted as she set her bag down by the wall.

"You'll do fine. If in doubt, follow my lead, and above all, make sure that you show proper respect. Even though I am their son and prince of this world, I still kneel before my father, the king."

"Of course," Annika said and after a brief pause, two guards pushed open the grand doors and they were led into the most magnificent chamber yet.

The throne room spanned an enormous space with golden walls, golden floors, and a dizzyingly-high ceiling. The long red carpet beneath their feet extended to the bottom of the centerpiece of the room; a circular set of stairs, atop which sat the Allfather, King Odin, on a massive golden throne. In one hand, he grasped a long staff with an intricately pointed tip, like a spear. One of his eyes was covered with a patch like Director Fury, and the deep-set lines in his face of told of many battles long past. To the king's left, in a smaller, but no less splendid throne sat an older woman in a long, flowing teal gown. She appeared serene and very wise, even more beyond her considerable years. This could only be his wife, Queen Frigga.

Upon reaching the base of the stairs, Thor knelt down and Annika followed suit, lowering herself to her right knee, bowing her head slightly.

"Mother, Father," Thor announced to the king and queen. "I have returned, and with me," he gestured to his right, "I present to you, Lady Annika Rivers of Midgard."

The king, Odin, struck the end of his staff against the floor, the sound reverberating around the room. "So, you are the one that Thor has spoken of. The ambassador your people of the organization referred to as 'SHIELD' have chosen to represent Earth."

Even his voice was impressive. Annika nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

"I must admit that when Thor first told me of this idea, I thought it inconsequential. Asgard stands strong without the influence of any other power. But he and even Heimdall have advised me of the great feat of your team of warriors designated 'the Avengers' and perhaps, an alliance could be of some use. I have to say that I remain skeptical. Midgard has always been rather...behind the times in regard to the rest of the nine realms. Even with recent events, humanity still has a long way to go."

"Y-yes," Annika answered. "It will undoubtedly take many years before the majority of the people on Earth accept this new reality. But there are others who accept it now, and I assure you, this alliance is proposed whole-heartedly by those people."

"What makes you suitable for this task?"

"At SHIELD, my skills are considered one of the best in my division. I am well-versed in many fields, including diplomacy, social relations, and negotiation. I also possess the highest recorded form of eidetic memory. I only need to experience something once and I will never forget it. This makes me a very fast learner and the perfect candidate to study your culture to its fullest extent. Not only that, I wish to learn your culture. To establish bonds between our realms, not so that we may interfere with the internal affairs of our worlds, but so that we can act together against adversaries that threaten the greater good of all."

"What of the lifespan of your race? I was able to maintain a tentative but lasting truce with King Laufey of Jotunheim for over a thousand years. But human lives are insignificant. Everyone who is rallying for this alliance now will be dead in well less than a century, including yourself. What's to be spoken of the enduring result of this effort?"

Well, it sounded terrible when put like that. Annika paused to think. "The future is always uncertain," she finally said. "For all. SHIELD is focused on the present and what we are capable of accomplishing here today. And when the time comes, the next generation will be even more informed than its predecessor and I believe we can make this last."

"Eloquent words, my dear," the queen, Frigga, said. "You speak well your intentions on behalf of your organization. But I also wish to hear how you feel, inside." She placed her hands over her chest. "Tell me, in your own words, why do you want to do this?"

Annika blinked and glanced to Thor, who nodded encouragingly. She turned back to the royals. "Well... I think that this is a very important objective. There are many changes taking place, not only on Earth, but in all the worlds, and conflict is unfortunately inevitable. I've seen many – too many – people get hurt. This is..." she gazed around the throne room, "a lot to take in, but no matter how foreign, how strange, how different we are from each other, if I can help make even the slightest difference, I will. We have to protect what we love, and I believe standing united betters us all."

Frigga smiled. "Now, that was spoken from your heart."

Odin was silent for several moments before he gave a nod. "You have made your case and I accept your proposal." He gestured with his hand. "The palace is open to you, wherever you wish to go. Learn well. I shall reserve a counsel for you once a week and in the meantime, you may ask Queen Frigga or Thor any questions you have. Now, if that is all..."

"There...is one other matter that I wish to discuss with you, Allfather."

"Continue."

Annika drew in a breath. "It concerns your other son, the war criminal, Loki."

Odin's expression visibly hardened and Frigga also seemed to tense, moving slightly forward as if to listen more closely. "He is no son of mine," Odin spat. "What business do you have inquiring about him?"

Annika halted, rather taken aback at the king's harsh tone, but regained her composure and continued. "In a constantly changing reality where new enemies threaten us every day from places we never even imagined existed, we have to work harder than ever to understand and protect ourselves from what's going on around us. During the Battle of New York, the focus was on fighting the Chitauri, but there's always something unforeseeable that we ca–"

"Your point?"

"Loki acted as the face of the war, but SHIELD has strong reason to believe that the army had secondary intelligence behind it," Annika said, fighting to keep her growing irritation out of her voice. "Earth prevailed, but we believe that the conflict isn't over. That the threat is still out there and that it will seek retribution someday. Do you or anyone," she looked from Odin to Frigga and back, "here in Asgard have any idea at all as to who or what was on the other side of that portal?"

"No, we do not," Odin answered shortly. "Whatever it was, it is beyond the borders of Yggdrasil."

Frigga's hand tightened on the armrest of her throne. "I sensed a...malevolent presence when I discovered Loki's location shortly before he attacked your world, but I could not make out anything further." She turned her eyes down, looking regretful.

"Then we need answers," Annika replied. "And we all know there's only one man who has them."

"The information is irrelevant," said Odin. "It is over. Loki cannot cause any more harm and this concerns us no longer. There are much more important matters demanding Asgard's attention."

"Father, if I may speak," Thor cut in. Annika looked over to him. "I believe Lady Annika raises a valid point. Just because it is beyond the borders of Yggdrasil does not mean that we should ignore it. The threat was troubling to us too, and no one, not even Heimdall, eye of the Nine, could identify it. Father, I realize the events that are upon us and I know you would rather not return to this, but if there is an opportunity for answers right in front of us, we should at least consider it."

Annika looked back to Odin. "Believe me, my king; I am not particularly fond of the idea either," she said. "The actions that Loki has taken against my world, I cannot forgive. I would've preferred never to see him again rather than take on the responsibility of his interrogation. But for the sake of the knowledge he possesses, in the event that it could prevent further lives from being lost, I am willing to attempt it."

Odin leaned forward. "This is not a game, nor is it a simple matter. I do not think you understand exactly what you're dealing with. Do you not think we have tried this before? Nothing we have tried under the circumstances," he said to which next to him, Frigga suddenly looked angry, "has inclined him in any way to talk. What makes you, a woman with talents slightly superior to the average mortal, believe that she could do any better?"

Annika closed her eyes, her hands closing into fists. A second's pause passed and then she slowly rose to her feet, lifting her gaze to meet Odin's.

"Annika," Thor whispered.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, I realize that in comparison to those in Asgard, my abilities are probably considered next to negligible. You're right, I am only mortal. But there is a reason that I was given the second name of Enigma, and I assure you, there's a lot more to me than I look. At SHIELD, I am the unknown factor that has the potential to decide a victory over a failure. My superior officer has complete faith in me and I as well or I would not have come here." She crossed her right fist over her heart in the Asgardian pledge of loyalty Thor had shown her. "I believe I can make the difference, if you would only let me try."

Odin's eyes narrowed in a glare and she held his stare steadily, showing that she was serious and not backing down. "Hmmph," he finally said and reclined back on his throne. "I do not believe you will be at all successful, but if you wish to waste your time, then very well. You may visit the prison for one hour a day. That is all."

Annika bowed her head. "Thank you, Allfather."

Frigga rose from her throne and stepped forward. "Thor, would you please show Lady Annika to the chambers I have prepared for her arrival?"

"Chambers?" Annika glanced in confusion at Thor and then back to Frigga.

"Well, of course, we would not have you residing down in the village when the majority of your work is here." Frigga clasped her hands together and smiled. "Enjoy your stay in Asgard."

Annika returned her smile. "That's..." She bowed again. "Thank you, my queen."

Thor rose to his feet and with one last glance at the king and queen, Annika turned and followed him down the long carpet and out of the throne room, briefly stopping in the hall to pick up her duffel. It wasn't until the guards shut the doors and they had passed through a couple more hallways and turned a corner before she let out a huge sigh, pressing her hand against her face. "Oh my God..." she whispered under her breath.

Seeing her sudden show of anxiety, Thor smirked. "You did well. I could tell that Mother was impressed with you and though Father can be overbearing at times, you did not yield."

"I apologize if I came across as rude," Annika said as they turned another corner, entering another corridor. "I meant no disrespect, but..." She sighed in frustration. "I realize that I am small and not of this world, but I will not be treated as though I have no value. Do not underestimate me because I am from Earth. True to my word, I will start learning immediately."

"Slow down." Thor chuckled. "It is barely the middle of your first day here. You must allow yourself time to settle in and get some rest. We still have dinner, our nightly feast in the Great Hall. You must dine with us."

"That is learning," Annika replied. "To taste the fine delicacies and mingle with the people of Asgard, that's experiencing your culture. I will collect my thoughts from today and begin my studies and exploration of the palace first thing tomorrow morning."

"Shall I assign you an escort? To show you around so that you do not get lost?"

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Annika answered. "I'll be able to find my own way. I meant it when I said that I only need to experience something once and I'll never forget it for the rest of my life."

"I shall have to hold you to that." Thor stopped abruptly and gestured to a door on their right. "Your chambers, Lady Annika."

He opened the door for her and they stepped into the room. If it could even be called just a room. Annika blinked. And blinked. And blinked again. For a second, she was convinced that they had ended up in the wrong place, because how could something as grand as this be hers? While not as impressive as the other parts of the palace she had seen, it still carried a regal magnificence. It had the same golden walls and lavishness of the furnishings. A dresser and large mirror adorned the wall to her far left; to her right, several trunks and another door, leading to a washroom, she presumed; and in the center of the chamber, a luxurious-looking bed complete with a wispy canopy hanging above it. She dropped her bag down and shook her head, laughing with astonishment as she moved further into the room, staring up at the vaulted ceiling, her hands on her hips.

Thor smiled. "Are these chambers to your liking?"

"They're only about ten times bigger than my whole house back on Earth." Annika turned back to Thor with a wide grin. "I think they'll do."

Thor chuckled and glanced around the chamber. "I can only hope Jane would receive things this well if she ever saw Asgard."

"She would, Thor," Annika replied in earnest. "Really, it's beautiful." She cocked her head to the side. "Maybe you should consider bringing her here sometime soon."

Thor clasped his hands in front of him, averting his eyes to the floor. "Maybe so," he murmured quietly, more to himself than to her. "Maybe so." He sighed and looked up. "How do you intend to approach my brother about the information you seek?"

Annika exhaled and folded her arms over her chest. "I don't know yet. I'll make studying this world's culture my priority first. See if I can learn more to help me better understand your people before I try."

"I must warn you," Thor said. "Loki is unlike anyone you have ever encountered before. He is a master of magic and trickery as well as of the mind. It will be no easy task to get him to give up an answer."

"I know." Annika turned to face him. "But nothing I've ever done in my life has been easy. I'll figure it out. Somehow."

Thor nodded and backed out into the corridor. "Then I bid you farewell for the time being. The feast will begin in the Great Hall at sundown." He pointed down the hallway. "You travel back the way we came, past the throne room, and it is two corridors down to your right."

Annika walked up to the door frame and gave a small smile. "Great. I'll see you there."

She watched as Thor turned and retreated down the hall a ways and then closed her door, which produced a rather impressive echoing rumble. She leaned back against it and sighed, before shaking her head and wandering back into the spacious expanse that was her new living quarters. She stopped in front of the bed and sat down on the end of it, resting her elbow on her knee, and her forehead on the back of her hand. There were so many emotions, so many thoughts coursing through her, that it was nearing painful. Part of her was astounded, fascinated, and excited; the other part uncertain, intimidated, and anxiety-ridden. 'Overwhelmed' was one feeling that belonged to both, but whether it was leading in good or bad, she couldn't tell yet.

She let out a small groan and flopped backward on the bed, vaguely noticing how soft the blankets were underneath her as she stared up at the intricately carved patterns in the ceiling. She had definitely had some strange days in her life, but this had to top them all. She was in a completely different world. Annika couldn't help a grin from spreading across her face. Okay, this was cool. No, cool couldn't even begin to describe this. This was beyond incredible.

She heaved herself up with a grunt into a sitting position and glanced around the chamber. Well, if she was going to be staying here, she might as well make it a tad more comfortable. And she still had a dinner to dress for and attend. She rose to her feet, heading to get her bag that she had left by the door. Creating an alliance, learning culture, Loki... For now, her responsibilities could wait. Right now, there was unpacking to be done.


Author's Note: Something to note early on is that while Annika displays a confident outlook to others, she's still very much overwhelmed and uncertain about everything. But, without making promises, she has to maintain an optimistic outlook to everyone (including herself) that she's capable of succeeding, because after all, if she doesn't even believe she can do something, why should anyone else? And also, if she finds herself in a tough/tricky situation, she'll rise to the occasion, but only if pushed in the right way. Or insulted/underestimated enough, as in the scene with Odin. XD You may also notice that she starts altering her speech pattern to talk more proper when she converses with the people in Asgard.

Please R&R!

~UniverseDreams