Author's notes: apparently 'questor' isn't a word. Bah, I do what I want.
Well, my lovelies, this is the last you'll be hearing from me for a while—NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow, and guess what I'll be doing? That's right, Green & Gold! The goal is to write 50,000 words. Here's hoping I make it! :) If I'm able to keep up with my goals, I'll try to post the odd update through November.
Right. NaNoWriMo, ho! And what has Thor been up to all this time?
Warnings: none. Well, spoilers-ish for the first episode of Once Upon A Time Season 2. Yeah, I'll have spoiler alert here as well.
Thor and his mother were walking through Asgard's broad halls, on their way to see Loki. Thus far neither of them had said anything, for Thor had something weighing heavily on his mind, and he was struggling to find the words to release it.
"Mother," he began, brow furrowed anxiously. "Do you suppose Loki will ever become again the brother and son we so greatly loved?"
"It is all his choice, Thor," Frigga answered, her gaze sad. "And your brother is very bitter indeed."
"I just wish… I just wish that Father had told him," Thor burst out. "That he had told both of us. Things would have been different!"
"He was thinking only of yours and Loki's protection, Thor."
"Was he?" Thor challenged, a shade of his former defiance toward Odin reappearing. "Or was he protecting himself?"
Frigga didn't answer, taking on a distressed look. Thor immediately apologized. "I am sorry, Mother. There is much on my mind, and it is not my right to wield my stress against you."
"I'm your mother, Thor," Frigga responded, surprising Thor with her patience. "If I couldn't handle your little explosions of temper I would be a poor parent indeed."
"It is Father I should be speaking with, not you," Thor argued. "After all, it was his choice that has had repercussions thus far."
"Then speak with him," Frigga replied. She noticed Thor's hesitation. "Ah, you fear his response," she realized, nodding. "That I understand. As great as your temper is, Thor, your father's temper is even more so. But you should know that you have nothing to fear; Odin learned to bridle his anger long ago, and the concerns of his son he will readily listen to.
"But come," she continued, and nod to the two Einherjar positioned outside Loki's quarters. "We are here."
Mother and son were permitted into Loki's chambers. He had been sealed within immediately after he and Thor returned from Loki's attack on Midgard, bound by magic-stifling shackles forged in Svartalfheim. Thor and Frigga had to blink for a few moments after entering the room, for Loki had drawn the thick drapes as close together as they could come, making it nearly as gloomy as the night inside.
Thor looked to the corner where Loki could usually be seen brooding, but he wasn't there. Thor checked the other corners, growing increasingly frantic.
"Thor?" Frigga had instantly recognized that something was wrong.
Thor met her eyes with an expression of deep fear. "Loki's gone."
Frigga paled and spun around, shouting for the guards. "Einherjar! Issue a search throughout the Realms; Loki has escaped!"
The guards flew away and Ratatosk, the messenger of Asgard, ran in. "Allmother Frigga," he said, bowing (how he did not heave after running such distances was what Thor wanted to know). "The Lady Idunn seeks an audience with you immediately. It is regarding the Tree."
Frigga's expression was grave. "Loki," she growled, apparently certain that no one else could be responsible for the Lady Idunn seeking an audience regarding the Tree. Thor started to follow her, but decided he would be of better use with the search parties instead. Frigga thought it was just as well.
The room was now empty. Or so Loki allowed it to seem. He grinned as he allowed his mantle of invisibility to slip away, and smugly dropped his shackles onto the covers of his bed. An object shone gold before he tucked it within the folds of cloak, and then Loki was gone again, on his way.
.
Tom sighed as he sat down on the floor, propped up by a tilted-over bookcase. Matthew plopped down next to him, also releasing a gust of exhaustion. "Is that the last of them?" he asked hopefully.
"Last of the books in this row, yes," Tom confirmed. "However, I still have to fix this bookcase, and there are all the rest to take care of as well. Bookcases are something like dominoes, Matthew: you can never knock down just one."
"Sorry," Matthew shrugged.
Tom shrugged, twisting his lips. "I never have enough to do these days anyway."
"What happened here?"
Tom and Matthew looked over to see Sheriff Swan, Ms. Blanchard, and the mayor's son staring in surprise at the mess that was half the library.
"Um… bad things?" Matthew ventured.
"Something broke," Tom informed them.
Matthew started giggling. "Oh yeah, something broke."
Tom shook his head. "Do you know where the myths and legends books are?" young Mills asked.
"What are you looking for?" Tom inquired.
"Oh!" Matthew exclaimed. "You should read Mixed Fables. I love that book; it's clever."
"Mixed Fables is a good collection," Tom agreed. "And a dark one, to be sure. Kitsis and Horowitz provide the most interesting reimaginings of classics. We used to have a books of their fairytales; Once Upon A Time, I believe it was called."
Mills gave a tremendous start. Ms. Blanchard and Sheriff Swan took notice as well. "Could you show where that book is?" young Mills asked excitedly. "Are there any others?"
"Only three that they've written as a duo," Tom replied. "They've each done a number of original tales separately. But those won't be the ones you're interested in." He started to get up. Ms. Blanchard offered her hand but Tom made a point of ignoring it. "This way," he said, and led them to the section the book was shelved. Of course, it was one of the fallen bookcases, so Tom was faced with the awkward task of crawling underneath and retrieving Mills' desired book.
He placed it into the boy's hands himself, and he instantly opened it up and scanned the list of contents. Tom noticed Lillian approaching and figured his job here was finally done, and headed back to the Bookcase Disaster Zone. Matthew stayed with the mayor's son, and Tom told himself he didn't mind.
"The Trickster's Deal?" he heard Mills read aloud.
"That's one of the best ones," Matthew told him. "Magic and lies and a fight; it's really cool."
Tom reached the broken bookcase and realized that Matthew was by his side. "What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be?" Matthew replied. "Hey, Mr. Hemming, could you teach me how to make bookcases like you do?"
Tom hesitated. "I don't teach people."
"You mean you never have before," Matthew returned. "That doesn't mean you can't." He looked over the area, now cleared of books. "Where do we start?"
Matthew was presumptuous indeed if he thought he could convince Tom into something he was fully disinterested in doing. But he would deal with that argument later, right now it was more important to get this large area of the library in a functional state again.
"Neither of us have what it takes to move this bookcase," Tom said. "But we can take out the shelves and push the case upright."
"Awesome!" Matthew enthusiastically hopped forward and then paused. "Hey, I found another book."
Tom took it and read the simply printed title: Quest. Below the word was a representation of a young man swirled in blue with a drawn sword, and the terrible monster he faced. Unsurprisingly, the author was Kitsis.
Tom thought briefly of a young, naïve face, keenly listening whilst he read a story out loud, the both of them sitting outside on a balcony wrapped in green and blue blankets as their breath formed white clouds in the dark. He then recalled his brother sniffing as his nose chilled, and then spreading his fingers apart to form a little bauble of flame to warm his sibling, and both of them looking up as a fair-haired boy came bouncing in, dragging his red blanket behind him. Tom shook his head and dropped the book into the cart, wondering where he had read that story. He didn't have any brothers.
Matthew had nearly squashed himself under a shelf, the overeager fellow. Tom smiled slightly and transported himself to the boy's rescue.
.
"Nowhere," Thor cried as he burst into the room. "Every one of the Nine Realms searched, and Loki is nowhere to be found!" He sank down onto a step in despair. "It has now been twelve days, my friends, and not a sign of my brother has been detected. Loki has vanished."
"With a stolen item, what's more," Fandral added worriedly.
"What are we going to do?" Volstagg asked.
"Even Heimdall's farseeing eyes cannot find a trace of my brother," Thor said despondently.
"The best thing for us to do is to find one who is adept at seeking things out," Hogun said. "And returning them to where and whom they belong."
Sif nodded in agreement, her fingers tugging slightly at her long tail. She seemed even tenser than everyone else in the room. "An excellent proposition, Hogun," she concurred. "But there are huntsmen and seekers in the thousands, and Loki has bested each that we have ever encountered."
"Then it is not a huntsman or seeker we need," Thor responded. "We need…" He paused, thinking, and then the light of revelation came to his face. "A questor. My brother Balder, of course! No one is more skilled at finding and restoring than he."
Fandral leaned over to Volstagg's ear. "Which one is Balder, again?" he whispered.
"Thor's youngest brother," Volstagg whispered back.
"Oh, you mean the one that looks so much like him?"
"That's the one."
"I always forget him."
"I know." Volstagg almost sounded derisive.
"Balder is indeed ideal for such a task," Sif agreed. "But the question remains: where is Balder?"
"I…" Thor wilted. "Don't know."
"Perhaps Heimdall can find him," Fandral suggested.
"Yes, let us speak with him immediately," Thor said urgently. They all jumped to their feet and then started in surprise when they realized Ratatosk was in the room.
"You must find the finder," he told them. "Heimdall does not see Prince Balder, only the shadow of where he had last been. You will need to prepare for a long journey; he is somewhere within the Enchanted Forest, none too distant from the castle of a certain imp." He dipped in a short bow. "This is the message of Heimdall."
Thor thanked him and Fandral shook his head. "I will always wonder how you do that, Ratatosk," he said.
Ratatosk smiled. "And I will ever keep it to myself," he replied. "I shall inform Heimdall you are coming." He left the room, gone almost before any of them had the chance to blink.
The warriors separately collected what they required and went immediately to the stables. "Whatever did happen to your horse, Sif?" Thor asked as they saddled their steeds.
Sif hesitated as she checked her horse's bridle. "I don't know," she replied. "He wandered off and never returned."
"Very strange of him," Volstagg remarked, mounting his horse.
"Do we not have a purpose that must be swiftly met?" Sif said sharply. They rode out of the stables without further comment. Heimdall was waiting for them as they approached the observatory, and each of the warriors dismounted and led their horses into the observatory as Heimdall led the way.
"Finding Balder will not be easy," the Guardian warned them. "Much of the Enchanted Forest has fallen from my view; and what little I can see is dark."
Everyone exchanged worried glances. "That does not bode well for us," Thor said. "We must depart at once."
The Guardian's sword slid into the key, and the Bifrost opened. Holding their horses by the reins, Thor and his comrades strode one by one within range of the bridge and were shot to their destination. A frown came to Heimdall's face as all five of them disappeared from his vision.
.
Balder smiled at the reunited Eugene and Rapunzel. Beholding their happiness was the young Asgardian's true reward, and no better one could he ever ask. Fondly he said his farewells to the couple, wishing them the greatest of joys in their newly rejuvenated kingdom. He swung up onto his horse's back, and the grey stamped the earth, as eager for the next quest as Balder was.
"Patience, friend, we must find a new quest first," Balder soothed him with a chuckle. He kindly refused Eugene and Rapunzel's offers of a great feast in his honor, saying, "I am but a traveler, your Majesties."
"But please, we don't even know your name," Rapunzel said.
Balder smiled back. "My name isn't important," he told her. "Farewell." He turned his horse away and eager stallion devoured the distance beneath his hooves.
"His cloak, such a dark, faded blue…" Rapunzel mused. She looked up at Eugene. "We should call him Dusk."
"Then Dusk he shall be," Eugene replied. "Let's hope he comes this way again." Fingers interlacing, the joined lovers walked back into their castle.
Balder was soon back in the forest, cheerfully whistling in imitation of the birds around him. He didn't notice the gleaming yellow eyes watching him from the shadows. It was only when his horse started to fearfully change step that he looked around, hand falling to the hilt resting against his side. He saw the eyes and immediately started to draw the sword from its sheath, but with a terrific yowl a body launched from the darkness and tackled Balder off his horse. The shocked animal bolted.
"Do not move, son of Odin!" the creature atop Balder snarled.
Balder froze. "How is it that you know my name, panther?" he demanded.
"I have seen your brothers Thor and Loki in times past," the panther replied. "Thor is a good man, but Loki dances with shadows."
"Says the night-black panther," Balder grunted. "Kill me, great cat, if that is what you have come here to do."
"Quite the opposite," the panther replied. "I have come to warn you. Foul things are stirring, young Asgardian, things that will devour this realm. There are few ways that any will be protected."
"Foul things," Balder murmured. "A curse?"
"Unlike any of which you have heard." The panther released Balder from its clawed grasp and gestured with its tail. "Now follow me."
The panther prowled away. Balder retrieved his sword and his horse and followed after.
.
Henry's nose was already deep in his newly-borrowed book as Emma drove them back to Mary Margaret's place. Emma had to call his name twice before getting his attention. "Henry, do you know when Regina's going to be back?" she asked. "If she sees me with you, we're both in deep trouble."
"I don't know how long she's going to be gone," Henry answered. "But if the look on her face was anything to go by, she'll be out all day." He looked back down at the book in his lap. "I can't believe there was a whole other book I didn't know about," he marveled. "These are totally new stories. They even have the same kind of pictures. But I haven't found that Tom guy yet."
"I'm sure you will eventually," Mary Margaret said helpfully.
Emma's phone rang. She answered. "Pull over and let my son out of the car immediately," Regina said flatly. Emma checked the street and saw Regina standing by the corner at Mr. Gold's pawnshop, glaring fiercely.
Frowning, Emma pulled over and told Henry he had to get out of the car. He desperately stuffed Mixed Fables into his pack and got out of the car. Regina pulled him in protectively and flashed her hostile smile at Emma. "This is the second time I've seen you with my son today, Sheriff Swan, are you so quickly forgetting the rules?"
"He wanted to go the library," Emma answered.
"Yeah, for homework," Henry supplied. "Emma was giving me a ride."
"We were just about to drop Henry back off at home," Mary Margaret added helpfully.
Regina glared at them suspiciously. "Can we go home now?" Henry asked. "I want to get my schoolwork done."
"On a Saturday?" Regina questioned.
"I want to get it finished early," Henry persisted.
Regina gave Emma and Mary Margaret a tense nod. "Of course, Henry." They left, climbing into Regina's car and driving home. Once there, Henry fled up to his bedroom. Regina didn't follow him this time and left the house, locking the front door.
Immediately she headed to her office. After arriving, she sifted through all her files and, as expected, she now had a folder on Mr. Tom H. Hemming. Mr. Gold had certainly been thorough. There wasn't much there, just that he was the librarian's assistant and that he had been in Storybrooke for thirteen years.
It wasn't enough. Mr. Hemming came from out of town, and though the chances were slim, Regina might be able to find something from outside sources. She turned on her computer screen and began to search.
.
"My, my, you've certainly been a busy man today, Rumplestiltskin," Regina remarked as she came in. "A sorcerer and a lady warrior within hours of each other, I hear."
"Desperation seems to be on an increase lately," Rumplestiltskin replied. "What do you want, Regina?"
"I've been looking for a certain enchanted item," Regina started.
"And let me guess, it is currently in the hands of a rival witch," Rumplestiltskin interrupted.
Regina made an exasperated face. "Well, it would be, if that fool of a king she gave it to hadn't given it away to some traveling hero."
"So you wish to know where it is," Rumplestiltskin said.
"No, actually, I want to know who has it," Regina corrected him. "Where I can take care of on my own."
"I see." Rumplestiltskin paused as he thought of a price. "What's the name of this item?"
"You don't need the name," Regina purred. "You'll easily manage without—"
Oh, it was so amusing when people tried to be difficult. "Sorry, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said, cutting off what Regina obviously thought was a persuasive speech. "More important business calls. Don't fret—I'll be back."
Regina frowned. "When?"
"Eventually." Rumplestiltskin grinned at her playfully.
"Wait!" But Regina made the mistake of blinking; and Rumplestiltskin was gone. She sighed irritably and shook her head, thinking to herself how annoying it was when Rumplestiltskin did that. "Fine, I'll just find someone else to do it," she muttered to herself, turning around and stalking out of the castle.
.
Thor, the Warriors Three, and Sif looked around warily at their surroundings. "It looks… much the same," Thor realized.
"Why would this be kept from Heimdall's vision?" Volstagg wondered.
"There is hostile magic in the air," Hogun said tensely. The five stayed close to their horses, knowing the animals keyed into unseen things more efficiently than they did.
Volstagg looked around cautiously, his ax at the ready. "I do not see anything," he said at last.
"Nor I," Fandral concurred.
"But you can feel it," Sif said. The grim silence spoke everyone's agreement.
"Balder?" Thor called, gaze sweeping over the moon-lit territory. "Are you here, brother?"
Fandral stopped and put a hand on Volstagg's shoulder. "Look," he managed to eep. Everyone turned and froze. Gigantic, smoky black and purple, a terrific monster loomed behind a small village house.
"Nobody move," Volstagg whispered. "Perhaps it won't take notice of us." The monster's head whipped around and glared down at them.
"Of course," Thor sighed.
