For a moment the people gathered wonder who Thor is, but as she is still holding Mjolnir in her hand it becomes apparent she IS Thor.
"My father is dead!" She cries as anger and sadness burns her eyes. Thor looks around for the priest that handed her father the chalice but he is gone. It is no matter. She already has a good idea who did this.
"Guards! Search the palace and bring me Amora the Enchantress and check the dungeons and make sure my brother is still there!" Thor orders.
"Come away lad, let the healers take a look at you." Volstagg whispers into his friend's ear. Thor, along with her father's body are taken to the healing hall for examination. Lady Eir is hovering over Thor instantly, trying to undo the spell that has transformed him into her. The creases of her frown deepen as her face contorts to one of frustration and concentration. For two hours Thor lies there as Lady Eir tries to change her back. Spell books are brought in and the healer tries over and over again but nothing works.
"Bring me the book of the AllPowers." Lady Eir instructs. One of her aides rushes off to the library to fetch it. She wipes the sweat from her forehead and takes a momentary break.
"What happened to me? Why did my father die?" Thor asks, her female voice unfamiliar and soft.
"I'm not sure My King."
"I think there was something in that chalice I drank."
"Undoubtedly. Martha, what have you found?" Lady Eir asks her underling. The girl blanches and Thor knows it is something serious.
"My Lady, My King, it is better if that is discussed in private. There are too many ears in this room." She says.
"Everyone out. Now." Lady Eir instructs. When the doors shut Thor and Lady Eir give Martha their undivided attention.
"My Lady I believe the potion of Argi was used on our King."
"You stupid girl. The potion of Argi is used to turn men into women or women into men when their sexual desires and behaviors do not match the body they were born in. Were the Lady Sif not attracted to men we would have given it to her. A potion like that would not work on Thor. He likes females."
"I understand that my Lady but the residual contents have all the same ingredients for the potion of Argi. It can be no other." Martha stands her ground. She knows she is right, and since she is right that must mean one thing about Thor. Lady Eir turns and looks at Thor then and looks her over in a way she doesn't like.
"My King?"
"I have never had a desired to wear a dress, but I must confess I have always been attracted to men. It is why I have put off marrying for so long." Thor says. Lady Eir's eyes go wide. There is a knock at the door.
"Enter." The healer is back with the book from the library.
"Good, good. Now let me see…" Lady Eir thumbs through the book looking specifically at the section about the endowment of powers. After reading a few paragraphs her face goes pale and she looks at Thor with apologetic eyes.
"You can't change me back can you?"
"I am sorry my Queen, I cannot. Under normal circumstances the potion of Argi is reversible, but the endowment of the powers of the Allmother are permanent until your death. I cannot change it. You are now and will be henceforth female for the rest of your days."
"Can you not give me a potion to transfer the powers to another?"
"No. Unlike the powers of the Allfather, which can be transferred during a coronation, the powers of the Allmother are lifelong. The new queen cannot inherit them until the old queen dies."
Thor does the only thing she can do. She cries. She cries hard, long, and loud into a pillow as her sense of identity melts away. Lady Eir and Martha take their leave to let their new Queen have some privacy. Outside the door, Sif and the Warriors Three are pacing as they await news of Thor's condition. Several members of the royal council are there as well.
"Is Thor alright?" Sif asks immediately. Thor was going to announce their engagement at the feast following the coronation.
"The Queen…..is in perfect health. But I regret to inform everyone that the change is permanent and irreversible. Thor will be a woman and the Allmother for the rest of her days. We were unable to revive Odin. He is gone."
"Then Asgard is without a King!" One of the dusty old men on the royal council cries.
"Hold your tongue! Thor is still Thor, still the wielder of Mjolnir, whether he has a cock or not! Whether he is your King or your Queen, he…she is your Sovereign." Volstagg barks at the man.
"Is Thor well enough to make a public appearance my lady?" Another councilman asks.
"Physically yes." Lady Eir says.
"Sif lass, I think it would be best if you went in there and assessed the situation. Besides, the two of you should probably talk anyway. If you can, try to talk Thor into coming to the feast. It would allay a lot of fears and calm the people." Volstagg says. She nods as she tries to hold back tears. Her hopes and dreams of love and ruling have been dashed, but she must put those feelings away right now. Thor needs support.
"Thor?" She shuts the door quietly behind her. Thor's wailing has tapered down to quiet sobs. Sif fully soaks in Thor's new appearance. She is still tall, still golden of hair and skin, still has the same bright blue eyes. But now she is smaller. While still muscular, still fit, still tone, she is just…less. She is like Sif now, athletic and strong, but all woman. Where Thor the man was the epitomy of desirable male features, Thor the woman is for female traits. Her breasts are large and perky and her once broad shoulders are now broad hips. She is beautiful. Thor sits up to look at Sif. Her face is swollen and red from crying.
"Tell me what you are thinking." Sif says to her.
"They'll all know I'm ergi." She whispers. Sif had not expected that response and gawks at her.
"Ergi? But you and I, we were supposed to marry. What do you mean you're ERGI?" Sif's voice gets incrementally louder as sorrow is replaced by anger.
"I'm sorry Sif. I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell anyone. I had my duties to the crown and one of them is marrying and having an heir. Of all the females you were the only one I found bearable to bed."
"Bearable!" Sif slaps Thor and storms out of the room.
"You talk to him." Sif says to Fandral as she leaves to find the nearest tavern to get drunk in. Fandral ventures into the healing room and shuts the door.
"I gather the engagement is off." He says lightly.
"Aye." She sniffles.
"Thor, I know you are having a personal crisis at the moment but I need to ask if you are up for a public appearance. The people are nervous and there are already rumors flying around that you died."
"You want me to go out there looking like this?"
"You're going to have to eventually. If Lady Eir is correct in her assertions then you are going to look like this for the rest of your life."
Thor looks around the room then and spots a mirror on a far wall. She gets up and walks to it so that she may see her new face. Her lips are full and soft and her hair is the color of honey. Her eyes are remarkably still familiar and yet she doesn't look like herself at all.
"I look like my mother." Thor gives a small smile, though it is sad. She then notices her armor and tunic which is hanging her like a child wearing their father's shoes.
"That's not a bad thing." Fandral says.
"I look ridiculous. These clothes…I need to change into something that fits."
"Normally I would have Sif lend you some clothes. You two look to be about the same size. Did your father ever throw away any of your mother's clothes?"
"I don't know. I don't think so."
"I'll have the servants search their chambers to try and find you something."
"Fandral, what I am supposed to say to everyone? How do I explain this?"
"You don't have to. We can have Lady Eir explain the situation to the crowd before you get there. You go in. Say some encouraging words about continuity and the strength of Asgard. You lift Mjolnir into the air so that the people can see you still wield it, and then it is over. No one will begrudge you excusing yourself for the evening."
