CHAPTER TWO

Just be myself? The trip to Asgard took only seconds, the words were still ringing in her ears as she was deposited into a large golden room with high vaulted ceilings. Behind her the portal whirred as it slowed. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM!" She screamed to no one in particular.

"If I am correct your name is Bri Williams of Midgard." A deep voice boomed, catching her attention.

"Of course…" She muttered as she looked to the man towering over her. He was dressed in golden armor that matched his eyes, his sword still in the contraption in the middle of the room. He was smiling at her but her heart was beating wildly. He was intimidating. "Hi…sorry about that…I…well…actually I've got nothing…had a moment…" Steve was right she apologized too much.

He lifted an eyebrow at her as he retrieved his sword. "Are you alright?" He swept an arm out and began walking, expecting her to fall into step beside him. She did, though she was practically running to keep up with his long strides and struggling with her duffle.

"Sort of?"

She was gasping and had a stitch in her side. He glanced at her then laughed and shook his head. "I believe Odin will wish to see you before you are shown your new quarters." He slowed his pace a little as they neared the golden gates of the palace. She was surprised they had made it there already, it had looked like miles from the portal. Although she had been almost running, she wasn't that fast. She wondered if it might be some magic trick or technology.

"The All-Father?!" Her voice was high-pitched as he led her through different hallways. "Shouldn't I be talking to someone less important? Like a secretary or a random soldier?" She looked him over. He certainly wasn't an ordinary soldier. "Heimdall!" He peered over at her when she yelled his name, chuckling to himself. She was slow on the uptake. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

They were standing outside of two golden double-doors with guards posted on each side. On the other side was Odin. The All-Father. The most powerful of the Asgardians. Their ruler. She was panicking. She balled her hands into fists, channeling all of her nervous energy into her hands. She was representing SHIELD; she had to keep it together. Ha. Not likely. Heimdall gave her a moment before motioning for the guards to open the door.

When the doors shut behind her the sound echoed through the large hall, rattling Bri's bones. She walked quickly, shifting the bag and grunting with the effort. Odin was sitting on his thrown, two more guards flanking him, and a beautiful woman standing to his right. Frigga. The Queen was tall and regal with golden hair piled neatly on top of her head, a long dress with an armored corset flowing about her.

Bri dropped the heavy bag when she came to the steps, her eyes sliding from Frigga to Odin, wondering if she should bow or kneel. She decided on kneeling, though she just barely touched her knee to the floor before she stood again. What's with leaders only having one eye?! Bri thought, glad that for once her mouth stayed shut. He looked about as cheerful as Fury.

They all stood in an awkward silence as Bri stared between the powerful couple. Am I supposed to be saying something? She started to speak then stopped, nothing coming to mind. Would it be rude to start asking questions? He was probably supposed to talk first. Frigga was smiling at her like a loving mother while Odin studied her intently. She became aware of her frizzy blue bun and wrinkled clothes. She didn't even have make-up on.

"You are Brianna Williams?" Odin's voice was filled with power.

"Yes but I um…I prefer Bri…" She wasn't shaking but every muscle in her body was tensed.

Another silence fell over the group as he continued to watch her. She shifted her weight, tearing her eyes away from them to look out of an archway to her right. It seemed to lead to a garden of some sort. A breeze ruffled the trees outside but didn't reach them. "Bri then." Her attention snapped back to the King.

Frigga had descended the stairs and was standing just in front of her. Bri yelped and took a step backward, almost tripping over her bag but regaining herself in time to keep from falling over. "Sorry…I didn't hear you move…" She straightened her shoulders and met Frigga's eyes. They were warm.

"I apologize for startling you."

"I-It's okay…I should have been paying attention…"

"Bri. You are the liaison that Director Fury has sent here?" Odin leaned forward.

"Yes?"

The question in her voice seemed to amuse him and he smiled. "Why did he choose you?"

"Your guess is as good as mine? I'm supposed to learn about y'all and Loki. He's probably hoping I'll discover…a weakness…" She hated her gift sometimes. They were probably going to kill her for treason.

Odin's eyes gleamed as he nodded. "Frigga will show you your quarters." The Queen reached over and picked up Bri's bag with ease. Bri tried to take it back, it wasn't right for her to carry it.

"I will take it." There was no debate allowed. Bri sighed and shuffled along after the fine lady. The palace was huge but it didn't take long to get anywhere. "Forgive our greeting earlier. Odin has been uneasy with the arrangement." Frigga stopped before large wooden doors carved with a meadow. "Loki has been confined to his rooms for now. He will be allowed to live." She paused as she led Bri into her bedroom, her voice cracking a little with emotion. "You are indeed to find out more about Loki. About what happened to him…"

She trailed off as she noticed Bri was looking at her surroundings. They were bigger than she had imagined. In fact, they were big enough to be a house. The main room itself had a balcony with double-doors, a large canopy bed with light blue curtains, a desk and chair on the wall near the balcony, a vanity desk to the right of the door, to the left there was a big wooden wardrobe, and next to the bed there was a door leading to what looked like a bathroom. It was all so magnificent she had stopped listening to Lady Frigga and just spun around to take it all in. There was even a bookshelf with a few books on it next to the desk.

"You enjoy them then?" The question didn't need an answer, it was obvious. Bri looked back to the Queen with tears in her eyes.

"Yes. It's…are you sure this is for me? I mean…I would be happy with a broom closet…"

Lady Frigga shook her head as she wrapped Bri in her arms, comforting her. "These will be your rooms as long as you are here. You will also have access to the library. Any servant will be able to show you where it is. As well as the kitchen." She pulled back and wiped the shed tears away then kissed Bri's forehead. "This is one of the spare rooms in Loki's wing. His main room is three doors down on the left."

She started towards the door. "I will send a servant with lunch and tonight you will have dinner with all of us." Frigga glanced towards the wardrobe. "The wardrobe is filled with clothes that will fit you. We thought you should dress in Asgardian clothing. The books on the shelves are our histories." She pulled open the door to leave but paused when Bri raised her hand, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"I…thank you." Bri whispered. "Um…why are you letting me talk to Loki? I mean…I'm not exactly a soldier or anything." She tried for a weak smile as she clenched and unclenched her hands. "And…and I've never been very good at lying…or keeping anything to myself…" She felt her cheeks burning with a blush but she kept her eyes locked with Frigga's. "I just don't see how I'm a very good candidate for learning anything about Loki…he's the god of mischief and lies…He'll probably get more out of me than I get out of him…"

Frigga nodded. "Perhaps we see something you have not yet seen in yourself." She smiled brightly then left Bri alone with her racing thoughts.

There was a bath in the floor that she could just walk into; oils and soaps to wash herself with. She had stayed there until her fingers looked like prunes then reluctantly climbed out and checked the wardrobe. There were dresses of every color—thankfully with no corset. She picked a dark blue that had long open split sleeves that hung at her shoulders. Frigga had been right—it fit perfectly.

The vanity had a few creams and lotions she wasn't sure about so she just brushed out her light blue curls and let them dangle down her back. She didn't look human when she saw herself in the mirror. The gown was too fine, her eyes looked almost silver, and her hair made her look like a fairy. She grinned and headed to the desk. She had research to do.

She didn't know much about Norse mythology and she doubted what she knew was actually true. There hadn't been anything in the file about Loki being married and he had no children that she knew of. Even what she heard about Thor had to be wrong too if he was dating Jane. She doubted the Lady Sif would let her husband just run around with another woman.

Her duffle was discarded by a trunk at the end of the bed. She had already retrieved her journals and writing supplies. There had been scrolls and inkwells with pens in the drawers of the desk but she preferred her own things, it was easier. She rolled her shoulders and twisted in her seat as she got ready to work. Ah, research. She felt a little piece of home as she pulled a musty tome to her and flipped it open.

A maid had come to bring her lunch: soup with bread and a pitcher of water. It had been a nice break. The sun was setting now as a soft knock interrupted her reading. Bri looked up and stood, groaning when her back complained. She had been sitting in one position too long. So far she had learned about the nine realms and Yggdrasil, the tree of life. All of it was swimming in her mind, a fog settling heavy. She needed a break.

"Come in!"

The same young woman from lunch peeked her head in then cautiously entered. She was probably Loki's servant. The poor thing must have gone through quite a bit; she glanced around the room like something was going to jump out at her. "My lady. It is time for dinner. I have been sent to escort you." She walked past to take the tray from lunch and lead her out.

"Is what I'm wearing alright?"

"Yes my lady."

"Please. My name is Bri. What is yours?"

"Dagmar my lady."

"Bri."

Dagmar walked faster than even Heimdall. Bri was fighting with her dress as she chased after the girl. She was out of breath when Dagmar stopped in front of an arched doorway. It sounded like they were late, there was lively conversation and the sounds of a feast coming from within. "Will you be able to find your way back my lady?"

"Bri. And yes I think so. Maybe…I'll ask for directions…"

"Would you like me to come back…Bri?"

"No…I'll be fine. If all else fails maybe I'll get lost and find something cool!"

The girl nodded then left Bri alone in the hallway. Her palms were beginning to sweat again and her breathing shallowed. Alright. Just…into the dinner with immortals…you can do this…WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE? She was trying to psyche herself into entering but she was only freaking herself out more.

"You must be Lady Bri." A handsome man with blonde hair stood inside of the doorway with a broad smile on his face. She recognized him from drawings in the book. He was one of the warriors three, though she couldn't remember his name.

"My name is Fandral." Ah, that was it.

He offered his arm to lead her in, it took a few moments before he wrapped her arm within his and let him lead her to a seat somewhere in the middle of the table. "I hope you do not mind sitting next to me." He said with a wink. She eyed him warily then looked to the head of the table where Odin sat with Frigga at his right. She felt completely out of place.

"Of course not."

"Fandral! Already trying to woo the Midgardian?" A booming voice asked from across the table.

It was another one of the warriors three. Her face twisted in thought as she tried to remember his name. He was the biggest of the three with a long red beard. "What can I say Volstagg? I know a beautiful woman when I see one." Volstagg. Okay. Two down. She knew the names of four people in the room. She was on her way to getting this down, she just needed to remember them later. She was pretty sure she wouldn't forget Odin and Frigga, they were too important to forget. Although the two men were renowned fighters. She ignored Fandral's advances, she was a shiny new plaything that he would lose interest in soon enough.

"Are you hungry my lady?" Fandral was offering her meat of some sort.

He took her plate without waiting for an answer, filling it with everything he could reach. When he set it back down in front of her she could no longer see the actual plate. Her eyes widened and she picked up a fork to poke at a few things, her stomach in knots. "I'm a little too nervous to eat." She muttered after Fandral had turned his attention back to Volstagg and a woman she thought might be Lady Sif.

She had meant to say she wasn't hungry or to say nothing at all. It was too late though. Volstagg's mouth hung open and a piece of bread fell out as he gaped at her in shock. "Too nervous to eat?!" She cringed when the conversation died down and others started looking at her. Being invisible would have been a blessing at that moment.

"Sorry…" In hopes that everyone would go back to the feast she got a big bite and stuffed it in her mouth, barely able to close it as she tried to chew it all. "Much better!" Volstagg laughed. Fandral grinned at her mischievously then went back to talking, everyone else followed his example.

Dinner was going to last all night. A few departed but the warriors three were still there, trying to draw her into conversation. She didn't say anything but listened intently. Luckily for her they were too busy retelling war stories to ask her any questions. When Odin and Frigga finally left Bri decided it was time to go.

"Leaving already?"

Fandral stood when Bri did. "Uh…yes…"

"Would you like me to take you to your room?"

"NO!" Volastagg, Hogun, and Lady Sif laughed loudly at the quick rejection and Bri's cheeks turned hot. "I mean…I'm sorry…I just…I really should be going." She didn't want to hurt his feelings any more than she already had.

With a quick bow she rushed out of the dining hall and into the cool air of the corridor. The silence was deafening as she hurried along, trying to find her way back. There were only a few servants out and about at the late hour and she stopped each one to find out if she was going in the right direction. Most of the time she wasn't. At last she found herself in Loki's wing. She counted the doors until she found her own. The only light was from the few torches on the walls, most of them were out but she was almost positive she had found her room.

It was dark when she entered, shadows covering everything. It was colder than it had been earlier but she thought it might be because there was no fire in the corner fireplace. She stared at it longingly but sighed and pulled off her dress, laying it across the back of a chair and going to the bed in her chemise, hoping that the bed would warm her up. Exhaustion took her almost immediately and she succumbed to sleep, the blankets pulled up to her chin. She had been too tired to realize that her duffle was mysteriously absent as well as her journals and pens. As the moon set it shone on the bed's chamber curtains, lighting up the deep green fabric.