Chapter 3
All of Asgard was gathered in the Great Hall, awaiting the arrival of their prince who was to take the throne. But he was a bit late due to him just returning from one of the other realms. He strolled in and was greeted by Loki who stood in full armor and helmet with a small smile on his face.
When the two stood side-by-side did Loki speak, "Nervous, brother?"
Thor bellowed out a laugh, "When have you ever known me to be nervous?"
"There was that time in Nornheim."
"That was not nerves, brother. That was the rage of battle. How else could I have forged my way through a hundred warriors and get us out alive?" the blonde rebuked.
"As I recall, I was the one who veiled is in smoke to ease our escape." Loki argued calmly and received another laugh from his brother.
"Yes. Some do battle, others just do tricks."
A servant who had approached with a goblet chuckled at Thor's comment, frustrating Loki to the point that he turned the wine into snakes causing the servant to drop the goblet to the floor.
The trickster chuckled as the warrior groaned, "Loki, that was just a waste of good wine."
"Oh it was just a bit of fun." When the servant retreated, a soldier stepped up and offered Thor his helmet, "Nice feathers."
Thor smirked and turned to his brother, "You don't want to start this again, do you, cow?" he mocked towards the horns of gold on Loki's head.
"I was being sincere."
"You are incapable of sincerity."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Loki smiled genuinely, "I have looked forward to this day as long as you have. My brother, my friend. Sometimes I am envious. But never doubt I love you."
The warrior was moved by his words and gently patted his face, "Thank you."
"Now give us a kiss." The sorcerer joked making them both laugh for a moment before becoming serious again.
"Really, how do I look?" Thor asked.
Loki looked at his brother for a moment and answered, "Like a king."
Moments later the celebration began as Thor walked down the expanse of the Great Hall to kneel before Odin's throne. He flashed a wink at his mother who did her best not to smile, and another at Ashryn who stood at his father's side in a regal gown of blue as the crowd cheered.
The room grew silent as the Allfather stood and banged his javelin staff once, "Thor Odinson, my heir, my firstborn. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star, its power has no equal, as a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build. 'Tis a fit companion for a king. I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms from the time of the great beginning. Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"
"I swear."
"Do you swear to preserve the peace?"
"I swear."
"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and pledge yourself only to the good of the realm?"
"I swear!"
"And, do you swear to pledge your loyalty to this woman," Odin reached a hand out to Ashryn who took it and allowed herself to be led down the steps to stand before Thor, "for as long as the Nine Realms shall stand."
The blonde Warrior hesitated at first because he did not want to get married and especially not to Ashryn for he knew of the love that Loki harbored for her. But he wanted the throne so he took her hand, "I swear."
"Then on this day, I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you…" Odin hesitated which made Thor and Ashryn turn to him in confusion.
"Frost Giants!" he then banged the javelin and dismissed everyone but ordered Thor, Loki, and Ashryn to follow him to the Vault.'
When they arrived, they found the Destroyer retreating back into its cage and the entire Vault was covered in ice, pieces of dead Jotuns, and two dead Asgardians.
Thor growled as he looked at the destruction as the group headed to the end of the walkway, "The Jotuns must pay for what they have done."
"They have paid, with their lives. The Destroyer did its work, the Casket of Winter is safe, and all is well." Odin stated as he stared at the shimmering casket of swirling blue light.
"'All is well'? They broke into the weapons vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics-"
"They didn't."
"Well, I want to know why!" Thor argued.
"I have a truce with Laufey, King of the Jotuns."
"He just broke your truce! They know you are vunerable!"
Odin then turned to his eldest son, "What action would you take?"
Without hesitation Thor answered, "March into Jotunheim as you once did. Teach them a lesson. Break their spirits so they'll never dare try to cross our borders again."
"You're thinking only as a warrior."
"This was an act of war!"
"It was an act of but a few, doomed to fail."
"Look how far they got!" Thor shouted.
The Allfather responded calmly, "We will find the breach in our defenses and it will be sealed."
"As King of Asgard-"
"But you're not king!" Odin yelled, "Not yet." Then walked out of the Vault without another word.
Ashryn who was standing behind Thor during the argument, gently placed a hand on her husband-to-be's arm to try and calm him only to quickly recoil when he yanked his arm away and stormed out.
She and Loki locked eyes for a moment then she looked away.
"You chose him." Loki stated simply.
"I chose freedom…"
"You chose a prison worse than what you were already enduring." The prince argued, making Ashryn turn her gaze back to him in surprise, "Oh yes, I know about Sellos. How he would beat you in rage for returning to their pathetic existence. I know because I followed my mother that day. I heard it all. Why didn't you contact me?"
"I didn't want to reopen old wounds… Loki, you and I… We were just never meant to be. I'm sorry. And whether both of us like it or not, I am marrying Thor… I'm sorry." She stepped up and gave a gentle peck to the sorcerer's cheek then hurried out of the Vault.
The blonde warrior lifted and flipped the feast table over in rage, spilling food and dishes across the floor. He then sat on the steps nearby with a tired growl of anger.
A figure stepped out from behind a pillar and slowly approached.
Thor glanced over his shoulder and spoke when he saw who it was, "It's unwise to be in my company, brother. This was to be my day of triumph."
"It'll come." Loki stated as he sat beside his brother, "In time."
"What's this?!" Volstagg gasped as Sif and the Warriors Three entered to find the feast in shambles and the table overturned.
Loki ignored them and lowered his voice a little, "If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything. If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defenses once, who's to say they won't try again? Next time with an army."
"Exactly." Thor agreed immediately.
But the raven-haired brother was quick to add, "There's nothing you can do without defying father."
Thor then locked gazes with Loki and the sorcerer could read his expression as if he were reading a children's book, "No, no, no. I know that look."
"That's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders." The warrior stated as he stood up.
"Thor, it's madness."
Just then Ashryn walked in dressed in a light blue sundress, "Madness? What sort of madness?"
She and her husband-to-be locked eyes as he answered, "We're going to Jotunheim."
Volstagg chuckled in disbelief, "What?"
"This isn't a journey to Earth where you summon a little lightning and thunder, and the mortals worship you as a god. This is Jotunheim." Fandral argued trying to help his friends see reason.
But it went right over the prince's head as he rebuked, "My father fought his way into Jotunheim, defeated their armies and took their Casket. We would just be looking for answers."
"It is forbidden!" Sif shouted.
Ashryn quickly approached and tried to reason with him, "Thor, Loki is right, this is madness you speak of."
Thor chuckled, wrapped his arms around Ashryn's waist, lifted her a spin and with a protest from her, then set her on the steps beside Loki, "My friends, have you forgotten all that we have done together? Fandral, Hogun. Who led you into the most glorious of battles?"
With a sigh, Hogun answered, "You did."
"And Volstagg, to delicacies so succulent, you thought you'd died and gone to Valhalla?"
A chuckle then, "You did."
"Yes!" Thor laughed then turned to the last person, "And who proved wrong all who scoffed at the idea that a young maiden could be one of the fiercest warriors this realm has ever known?"
"I did." Sif stated.
"True, but I supported you, Sif. My friends we must do this. You're not going to my brother and me take all the glory are you?"
"What?" Loki asked a bit breathless and in surprise.
Thor gazed down when he heard the question and his smile faded, "You are coming with me, aren't you?"
Loki turned and looked up at his brother with the biggest smile, "Yes, of course. I won't let my brother march into Jotunheim alone."
"And I." Volstagg called a bit nervously.
"And I." added Fandral.
"And I. The Warriors Three, fight together." Hogun proclaimed.
"I fear we'll live to regret this." Sif stated then bowed to the princes and left the Great Hall.
As everyone was getting ready and their horses were brought out, Ashryn appeared and helped Thor with his cape.
"You cannot come, dear heart." He said sweetly as she stepped in front of him to secure his cape.
Ashryn did not raise her gaze as she answered, "I am aware. But I can at least accompany you to the Bridge, can I not?"
Thor smiled, "Of course." He then lifted her by the waist and placed her side saddle then climbed up behind. After everyone was mounted the group took off down the main road that led to the Gate of the Bifrost.
Upon arriving within a hundred yards the group dismounted then began walking towards the looming figure clad in gold with eyes of amber and a sword of great power clutched between his hands.
Loki cockily strode past Thor and Ashryn, "Leave this to me. Good Heimdall-"
"You're not dressed warmly enough." The Guardian stated calmly..
"I'm sorry?" Loki asked bewildered.
With a nervous chuckle the sorcerer tried to redirect the conversation, "You must be mistaken-"
"Enough!" Thor ordered as he stepped past his brother and addressed the Guardian, "Heimdall, may we pass?"
"Never has an enemy slipped my watch until this day. I wish to know how that happened." Heimdall responded.
"Then tell no one where we have gone until we've returned. Understand?" without waiting for an answer, the blonde passed Heimdall, who made no move to stop him.
The rest of the group began to follow and as Volstagg passed Loki he commented, "What happened? Silver tongue turn to lead?"
Both he and Fandral chuckled as Ashryn took her best friend's hand in her own, "Remember, they're just trying to get a rise out of you."
The sorcerer scowled then looked at the woman he loved with calm eyes, "I will be back soon."
"Just… Stay safe. Please." She answered, smiled slightly, then released his hand and hurried inside after the others.
The group moved to the other end of the dome and stood before the opening as Heimdall got into place. Ashryn quickly moved to Thor's side and gave his hand a tiny squeeze then asked him to come home safe to which he agreed and laid his forehead against hers.
Heimdall slid his sword into the center of the stand and activated the mechanism that made the dome begin to spin while electricity pulsed around them.
Ashryn stepped back as the Guardian spoke, "Be warned. I will honor my sworn oath to protect this realm as its Gatekeeper. If your return threatens the safety of Asgard, Bifrost will remain closed to you and you'll be left to die in the cold waste of Jotunheim."
"Couldn't you just leave the bridge open for us?" Volstagg joked nervously.
"To leave the bridge open would unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jotunheim with you upon it." Heimdall explained.
Thor smiled, "I have no plans to die today."
"None do."
In a flash, the group disappeared one by one and the Bifrost closed.
Heimdall took notice of Ashryn's worried expression, "Do not worry, Your Highness. Thor can handle himself."
"It's not him I worry for, Heimdall." The young lady stated then turned towards him while wrapping her arms around herself self-consciously.
The Guardian chuckled briefly, "The trickster. What fell magic has he placed on you, young one?"
"No magic! I love him!" she shouted then covered her mouth as tears threatened to escape her eyes.
Heimdall took notice and his smile faded, "Forgive me, princess. It was just a jest."
Ashryn sniffled and sat down on one of the steps in the center of the dome while saking her head, "No, forgive me, Heimdall. Saying it aloud like that for the first time… It was, liberating."
"I know what it is like to not be able to be with the one you love. I was engaged before the Allfather made me the Gatekeeper. We tried so hard to make it work, but in the end, I had an oath and she wanted a family. We parted ways and I have not seen her since."
The redhead wiped her eyes and turned towards the looming keeper as he spoke, "But you see all, don't you?"
"Some wounds never heal with time, Your Highness." Heimdall answered solemnly and pair grew quiet as they waited for the away party to return.
