A Note: I, of course, own nothing here (save the plot). I hope you consider submitting a review. Thank you for reading! The second chapter will be published on Monday.
Thor was stunned, for what he had thought was not possible was indeed real: Loki had survived his descent into the void.
The message had been communicated to Odin by Heimdall in a report regarding "a sudden disturbance in the realm of Niflheim." That the Asgardian gatekeeper withheld a significant amount of details while discussing the issue in Thor's presence was apparent, though the latter little understood the purpose of doing so at the time.
Odin considered this matter for only a few brief moments before dismissing Heimdall with a curt nod and carrying on with his other affairs. Yet, Thor could not content himself with his father's decision to ignore Heimdall's report. Niflheim had certainly never been acclaimed for its peace, being a land full of murderers and miscreants. But, while Niflheim had proven itself to be a nuisance to the Asgardians in past millennia, neither Odin nor his father before him had bothered to intervene in the ongoings of this chaotic realm.
And that was precisely what troubled Thor now—what sort of disturbance, in a realm notorious for the terror which is wrought upon it daily, would cause the wise gatekeeper to come directly to his king? There were a few possibilities which crossed Thor's mind, but he could only be certain by confronting Heimdall.
As the being who could see and hear all things which transpired throughout the Nine Realms, Heimdall knew very well the purpose for Thor's visit to the end of the Rainbow Bridge that day. He allowed Thor to dismount from his steed and to close the short distance between the two, Thor standing directly behind him. The warrior prince waited patiently for Heimdall to acknowledge him, but his breathing was tense as he prepared himself to put the question to Heimdall.
Having determined his response to the inquiry which he was anticipating, Heimdall turned to face Thor whose face was composed despite the anxious manner in which he curled his thick hand around the handle of Mjölnir.
"My Prince Thor," Heimdall greeted the younger god in his typical formal tone, "how may I be of assistance to you this day?"
"You must tell me all that you know of this incident on Niflheim," Thor responded gruffly and without hesitation. As an afterthought he added a softer "please" for fear that he had otherwise caused the well-respected and proud Heimdall to be uncooperative.
"I am afraid I cannot disclose particular information regarding the event, for I am bound by confidentiality to the Allfather. If you wish to know something, you must seek an audience with him," came the gatekeeper's passive reply.
"My father will refuse to answer me; you know this." Thor persisted with his demand: "As the future king of Asgard and protector of the Nine Realms, I believe I have the right to know what has happened on Niflheim. And you, as Asgard's gatekeeper have a duty to me to keep me informed of such matters."
At this appeal to his loyalty to the brave and honorable prince, the ever-faithful Heimdall felt his resolve sway.
Thor noticed this change in his attitude and, with more confidence, repeated, "Tell me all that you know of this incident."
"I have already told you that I may not speak of what has happened on Niflheim; however..." Heimdall looked closely at Thor who was listening attentively.
"However, there is perhaps one detail that I may share with you. It is that Prince Loki still lives, and at this moment he treads upon that forsaken realm."
Once he had recovered himself of the shock which followed this great and thoroughly unexpected revelation, Thor thanked the gatekeeper for his help and returned to the palace, to his own chambers where he knew he would be permitted the privacy he required to think. He sat himself in a large chair upholstered with rich, luxuriant red cloth placed before a blazing hearth which his servants had lit that evening. His eyes focused on the high leaping flames as his mind fell into a trance. With the back of the forefinger of one hand he subconsciously rubbed the golden beard growing beneath his jawline, a motion he was apt to do when a pensive mood took him.
Loki, my dear brother, still lives, Thor thought ceaselessly. Nothing had ever brought him greater joy than this knowledge, but his happiness was tempered by worry and paranoia. For the sake of his younger brother, Thor was concerned with Loki's involvement in the trouble on Niflheim; there was no doubt in his mind that Loki's sudden reappearance was related to the incident which had caused Heimdall to stir from his post. Furthermore, he could not fathom the reason for which the Allfather had treated such information in so offhanded a manner, nor the reason for which he neglected to share it with his son and heir. Thor wondered if Odin had even bothered to tell Frigga, his queen and Loki's adoring mother.
For hours Thor pondered this line of thought. When dinner was announced, Thor chose to remain in his chambers. His mind was far too preoccupied to be troubled with social responsibilities. Anyway, by this time Odin would have learned that Thor knew the truth about Loki, and Thor did not particularly wish to discuss with his father what he was planning to do in light of this fact. So Thor continued to stew on his own, moving restlessly throughout the night.
Early the next morning, Thor awoke to the first light of the day streaming in through the grand windows opposite his bed. The brightness of the room was rather disorienting, and Thor wiped a hand over his eyes to clear them of sleep. He did not recall retiring to his bed the previous night, but he was mightily glad he had, for his mind felt well-rested and prepared for what he suspected would be a fairly challenging day.
As he sat up in bed, he remembered the news of Loki's survival, and a tender smile grew on his lips. There was yet hope that the younger prince could be brought home, and Thor yearned to be reunited with his brother again.