A/N: Hey guys! I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far! Again, thank you for all the reviews, followers and favourites, it really does mean a lot!

Hope you enjoy!

The throne room felt darker than usual as Karina walked in, her heels echoing loudly on the marble floor. Loki sat on the throne, Gungnir in hand and a smirk on his face as Karina approached. He subconsciously stroked the arm of the throne as Karina stopped before him frowning.

"Am I expected to curtsey?" Karina asked, resisting the urge to put her hands on her hips and stare him down.

"Of course not," he replied, standing up from the throne and walking down the stairs to hug her. She embraced him tightly, allowing herself a moment to pretend that things hadn't changed at all. Slowly, she let go, taking a step back and taking in how much Loki had changed in just a few hours.

"So," she began, "your King for now?"

Loki let out a sigh. "Indeed, I am, until Father wakes up at least." Karina nodded. "Karina…"

"What?" She asked, wariness in her voice as she asked.

"I can't rule by myself," Loki began. "I need someone to help me. To rule by my side like a consort."

"And you want me to recommend someone from the council who'd be the best fit?" She asked, wandering up the stairs to the throne.

"No, I want you to be my consort." Karina froze on the stairs and whirled around to face him, disbelief on her face.

"What?"

Loki walked towards her, taking her right hand in his. "I want you to be my consort." Loki smiled his trademark smile. "I can think of no one better than my sister, who always has a cool head and whom half the council are slightly intimidated by!"

Karina took a breath and smiled at Loki. "I'd be honoured," she replied, letting out a sigh as she spoke. Loki beamed and hugged her tightly. Karina returned the hug but the smile fell off her face. She most certainly had not anticipated this happening.

"Excellent," Loki said as he walked up to the throne and sat down in it. "Now, we can talk about what we're going to do." Karina forced a smile on her face and stood next to Loki. The doors to the throne room opened and both looked up at the intrusion as Sif and the Warrior's Three walked in. They bowed down and Sif began to speak.

"AllFather, we must speak with you urgently –" she stopped and stared in shock at Loki sitting on the throne with Karina by his side.

"What is this?" Volstagg asked quietly, taking a step towards him.

"My friends…haven't you heard? I am now Ruler of Asgard," Loki told them.

"Where is Odin?" Fandral asked, suspicion in his voice.

"Father's fallen into the Odinsleep. My mother fears he may never awaken again," Loki admitted. Karina stood there silently, questioning every word that came out Loki's mouth as he spoke.

"We would speak with her," Sif said quickly. The Warrior's Three and she shared a Loki, one that didn't go unnoticed by Loki.

"She has refused to leave my father's bedside. You can bring your urgent matter to me, your King," Loki said, standing up from the throne.

"We would ask you to end Thor's banishment," Sif stated, covering over her early mistake remarkably quickly.

"My first command cannot be to undo the AllFather's last," Loki said. Karina narrowed her eyes as he continued speaking. "We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim. Our people must have a sense of continuity in order to feel safe in these difficult times." Fandral looked up at Karina and the two locked eyes, a silent message conveyed between them as Loki continued. "We must stand together, for the good of Asgard."

"Of course," Fandral said, bowing. The other's followed his lead before leaving the room. Loki stared after them, an unreadable expression on his face.

Karina cleared her throat and took a step down from the throne. "If you'll excuse me, my King, I'm going to retire," she said. Loki merely nodded and Karina quickly left the room.

Fandral was standing in an alcove just down the corridor from the throne room, waiting for her. She grabbed his wrist and dragged him behind her as she hurriedly made her way towards her chambers.

"Karina?" Fandral asked as she shut the door behind them. She spun on her heels to face him.

"I'm going to find Thor," she told him.

"You're what?"

"I had a vision, a bad one." She began pulling her swords out from her wardrobe and throwing them onto her bed. "We need Thor. Heimdall already knows and has said he'll make up an excuse."

"We could come with you," Fandral offered, holding out her armour to her as she hurried past.

"No, he'll get suspicious. You need to stay here until things get really bad or I call you," Karina replied. She paused, standing in front of Fandral. "As much as it pains me to say this, I can't trust anyone other than you, Sif and the Warriors. Everyone else has bowed down to Loki already." She sighed. "There's an east wind coming, Fandral. And it's going to rock this realm to its core."

Karina walked up to Heimdall, sword in hand. She was still wearing her blouse and skirt except she'd untied her hair and it was currently sitting on her shoulders.

"Are you sure?" Heimdall asked when she stopped next to him. "This is technically treason."

Karina let out a quiet sigh. "I'm sure. Loki cannot be allowed to rule Asgard. If what my vision showed is true then – I don't know what I'd do. But Thor does." She took a deep breath in, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear as she did so. "How is he?" She asked quietly.

"He's fine. He met a young woman and is currently staying with them. His hammer is in a crater just south of the town he's in and is currently surrounded by American Government workforces." Heimdall looked down at her. "Stay away from there, you don't know what they're capable of."

"I'll be careful," Karina replied.

"I'm presuming you know the rules down there?" Heimdall asked. "No swords on display etc."

"Yes," Karina said and waved her hand over her sword, causing it to disappear from sight. "Anything else?"

Heimdall shook his head. "Should I be aware of anyone else joining you?"

"Possibly," Karina said as she walked over to the portal. "But I can't be certain." She hesitated for a moment and sighed. "Heimdall," she said turning around to face him, "am I doing the right thing?"

Heimdall paused for a moment, considering her answer. "As much s it pains me to say this to you…yes. Only you, and you alone know what you saw in that vision. And if it's managed to frighten you as much as it has, then you are definitely doing the right thing."

Karina nodded and smiled sadly. She heard Heimdall push the sword into the Bifrost and felt the portal suck her into it. Her sight was blinded by the bright colours of the bridge and a fierce wind whipped her hair into her face. Seconds later she felt herself land on solid ground and the bridge disappeared from view. A cloud of dust swirled around her as the light from the Bifrost faded away leaving behind its mark on the dry and cracked ground. Looking around, Karina saw she was in a large desert with the only sign of civilisation a good few miles away. Her fingers twitched for her sword if only to feel it's reassuring weight in her hand. But she kept it hidden from sight with her magic, not wanting to terrify anyone.

A gun clicked behind her.

"Ma'am, please put your hands up where we can see them." Karina froze, raising her hands in the air and slowly turning around to face whoever was standing behind her. Five black cars, twenty different men wearing suits and all were pointing their guns at her. She swallowed thickly, silently cursing herself. She'd done the one thing she'd promised Heimdall she wouldn't do. Stay away from the Government.

From one of the cars, two other men got out. One was wearing a suit and had dark sunglasses on, the other was wearing what looked to be a combat suit and was carrying a bow in one hand. They walked up to her and Karina could see the bowman's hand tightly gripped around his bow, ready to most likely shoot her should she try anything.

"Ma'am, I'm Agent Phil Coulson with SHIELD, and I believe you're trespassing on our world." He said it so calmly that Karina was certain that this was a daily occurrence for him. "I'd like to know who you are and what your intentions are on this planet."

Karina took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. She had no choice but, to tell the truth, these people had seen her arrive. She closed her eyes, opening them as she spoke. "I am Karina, daughter of Odin, Princess of Asgard and the Goddess of Fire," she said loudly. She could see some of the men tighten their grip on their guns as she spoke. "I am not here to start a war with your planet. I am here to retrieve my brother and stop a war on my planet."

"Sir," Bowman said. "She doesn't appear to be hostile. She's not carrying any weapons and it would appear that her intentions are honourable." Karina stared at Bow-man in shock and shot him a small, grateful smile when he looked at her. "But I think we would all feel better if we brought her in." Her smile vanished as soon as it appeared.

"Is that your final decision, Agent Barton?" Coulson asked. Barton. That was his name. Barton turned to face Coulson.

"Yes sir, it is," Barton replied. Coulson nodded and Karina tensed up as Barton's hand moved towards his belt.

"Bring me in where?" Karina asked. Barton looked at her intently.

"You'll find out," he replied stiffly.

It happened before Karina even had time to process what had happened. There was a gunshot. It sounded like a lightning crack as it echoed through the desert. Karina felt something hit her, hard. A yell. Then her knees gave way and she fell to the sandy ground of the desert. Her brain was just able to register someone putting something around her wrists and lifting her up, off the ground. Then whatever she'd been shot with reached her brain and darkness descended.

It felt as if she was lying down. There was a pillow underneath her head and what felt like a mattress underneath her back. Slowly, Karina opened her eyes, closing them again when the bright lights above her proved too much for her eyes to bear.

"I've turned them down, try now," a voice said from her right. She tried opening her eyes again and found the lights were indeed significantly dimmer. She turned her head to her right and saw Agent Barton sitting in a chair, a jacket was thrown over the back of the chair. Looking down, Karina saw that the handcuffs that had been placed on her earlier had disappeared.

"Are you planning on shooting me again?" She asked quietly, coughing slightly thanks to her dry and scratchy throat.

"That wasn't actually me," Barton said, handing her a cup of water. "I was happy with handcuffing you and walking you in, but one of the new recruits was a bit trigger happy." He leant forward, elbows on his knees. "You were telling the truth, weren't you?"

"What reason do I have to lie?" Karina asked as she sat up. She surveyed the room quickly. Only one door in and out and now windows.

"I'm still trying to figure that one out," Barton replied, a frown appearing on his face "How old are you?"

"In Midgardian terms or Asgardian terms?" She asked softly. A headache was beginning to form and it wasn't doing her any favours at all.

"Come again?" Barton's face was scrunched up in a frown and Karina chuckled quietly.

"In your terms, I'm eighteen years old. In my terms, I'm 1300 years old," she explained.

"Wow. So, you really are a goddess." If Barton was impressed, he didn't let it show.

Karina looked at him. "What did you think I was?"

Barton passed for a moment, thinking about his answer. "To be honest, someone who was high on drugs and had just read a Norse Mythology book."

Karina chuckled. "Well, I'd hate to ruin that allusion for anyone else. Let's just keep the fact I'm a Goddess quiet, shall we." Barton nodded and Karina relaxed ever so slightly. "Where am I?" she asked. "I'm presuming I'm at the pop-up government facility that I noticed."

Barton blinked at her in surprise. "Yeah, yeah you are. How the hell – "An alarm interrupted his next words and Karina sat up in shock at the sudden noise.

"All agents report to the control room immediately," Coulson said over the PA. Karina looked at Barton, who had thrown on his jacket and had a steely look in his eyes.

"Come with me," he said stiffly. Karina quickly followed him out of the room and down a corridor. They emerged into a room filled with computers and agents scurrying about. Lights were flashing and Karina tried to ignore the effect they had on her head as she descended the stairs after Barton.

"Agent Barton," Coulson greeted. "Get yourself over to the truck." Barton nodded and disappeared through a flap in the tent.

"What's going on?" Karina asked.

"The 0-8-4 we discovered is given off odd levels of radiation and is intervening with our technology. We've also just picked up an intruder at one of the gates," Coulson said as he walked her to a screen where a camera was following the intruder through the site. "Recognise him?"

Karina let out a gasp as the intruder turned towards the camera. Blonde hair, blue eyes. "That's a friend of mine," Karina said quietly. She turned to face Coulson. "He has no idea I'm here, I swear."

"I believe you," Coulson replied. "I think he's here for that." He pointed to another screen, this time recording, what Karina assumed to be the 0-8-4.

She stared at the screen and her eyes widened as she realised what it was. "Mjolnir," she whispered quietly. Coulson didn't hear here as his radio crackled to life.

"We need back-up," it said. Coulson looked grim as he turned to Karina.

"Come with me." His voice left no room for argument and Karina followed him quietly. The sudden drop in temperature caused Karina to shiver as the emerged outside. The rain was lashing down against the tarpaulin and lightning continuously forked across the sky. In front of them, an ATV was covered by the debris of the tunnel it had crashed into. Coulson looked even more serious than before as he eyed it.

He pulled his radio out of his pocket as he watched more agents rush over to the ATV and pull the driver free. "I want eyes up high, with a gun." Satisfied with the safety of the driver, Coulson grabbed Karina's wrist and lead her back to the command centre. As they emerged into the tunnel, Coulson pulled his radio out again. "Barton, talk to me."

'So, it was Barton who was the eyes up high,' Karina thought.

"One shot, one kill, sir. Just give the word," came his reply a few moments later. Coulson pressed his lips into a thin line, before gesturing to Karina to follow him.

"Your friend," Coulson began as they walked through the tunnels, "is he a soldier"

"Possibly," Karina replied, not wanting to give away too much. She didn't know what Thor had done and certainly didn't want to get him into trouble. "I'm sorry about the damage he's causing."

Why are you apologising for him?" Coulson asked, stopping suddenly to look her in the eye. "It isn't your fault."

"No, I know. But no one else is going to apologise, are they?" Coulson gave her a small smile as he carried on walking again. They emerged onto the up level of the base and Karina could see Thor fighting one of the agents. Behind them, more agents – armed this time – emerged. Coulson raised a hand in the air, telling them to wait, as Thor ripped open the plastic covering the tunnel and walled over to Mjolnir. He reached out his hand, hovering inches away from it.

"Barton," Coulson called over the radio. Somewhere high above them, Barton readied himself, eyes squinting in concentration. "Hold your fire." Barton relaxed, letting his bow aim down at the ground as he watched.

Karina held her breath as Thor wrapped his hand around the handle of Mjolnir. She knew, deep down, that it wasn't going to budge. And as Thor pulled, and Mjolnir stayed put, her shoulders slumped in disappointment. Coulson relaxed slightly, a disappointed air about him as he spoke into his radio.

"Ground units move in, the show's over," he called. Karina couldn't tear her eyes away as Thor fell to his knees, a broken and lonely expression on his face as the agents rushed in and handcuffed him. Karina didn't stay to watch him being hauled away, instead of following after Coulson who left her in the control room. Barton appeared shortly afterwards, soaking wet. He sat down next to her and began cleaning his arrows, neither saying a word to the other.

"That was quite a stunt your friend pulled," Barton said suddenly.

"Yes, yes it was," Karina muttered quietly. A gust of wind swept through the room and she shivered, regretting her choice of clothes immensely. Barton watched Karina intently as she stifled a yawn and rubbed her bare arms.

"Right, you're going for a nap," he said, standing up and pulling her to her feet. "Can't have you falling asleep in front of everyone." Karina, who was confused as to why he was being pleasant to her, followed behind as he led her to a door that said 'on-call room'. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, flipping the lights on. Inside was a bed, a clock and another door that Karina assumed would lead to a bathroom of sorts.

"Get some sleep. I'll wake you if anything else happens," Barton told her. Karina nodded, shooting him a grateful smile as he shut the door behind him. Once she was sure he was gone, she let out a loud sigh and sat down on the side of the bed. Everything was going wrong and she had no idea how to get to Thor. Karina yawned again and decided that getting a few hours' sleep wasn't the worst idea in the entire world. She laid down on the bed, not bothering to turn the lights off, and closed her eyes hoping that when she woke up, she'd have a plan.

Bright blue, almost white, lightning forked across the sky as the Bifrost spun around. Thor and Loki fought each other within the Observatory, grunting every time a punch or kick hit their mark. Loki kicked Thor, sending him out onto the bridge. Loki smirked, advancing forward when Karina launched herself at him. Without thinking, Loki aimed his sceptre at her and fired, sending her flying. She crashed onto the bridge, rolled over onto her back, and was still. Loki stared in horror as Thor ran to her, cradling her in his arms as she –

Karina awoke with a start. Nightmare or vision, she couldn't tell. She dragged a tired hand through her hair and yawned. She had no idea how long she'd slept for, nor how long. Karina stood up as someone knocked on her door. It opened and Barton poked his head in, a smile on his face.

"You've got a visitor," he said, pointing his head in the direction of the control room. Karina stared at him in surprise but followed none the less.

"Karina," Coulson greeted when she emerged into the room a minute later. "You've got a friend who's said he's willing to bail you and Doctor Blake out of here." Karina looked on in confusion as a man, whose name she'd later learn to be Erik, walked up to her and hugged her.

"Just play along. I'm with Thor," he whispered as he pulled away. "You got yourself into some big trouble there, Karina!"

"You have very powerful friends, Dr Selvig," Coulson commented. "Including one who says she's a goddess."

Erik paused for a moment. "Well, she's helping me with a drug experiment that I'm doing on the side of my other one. The drugs sometimes make her hallucinate," he covered quickly. Karina raised her eyebrows in confusion as he spoke but kept quiet. "Now, the aftereffects of the drug will be setting in soon so if we could hurry this up a bit."

"Of course," Coulson said calmly. If the man suspected something he didn't say. Coulson nodded at an agent who quickly disappeared around the corner. "What was his name again?"

"Donald Blake," Erik replied quickly.

"Donald Blake?" Coulson queried.

"Doctor Donald Blake. He's part of our team." Selvig seemed to have the entire story planned out in detail and Karina had to admire that.

"You have dangerous co-workers, Dr Selvig," Coulson said, staring at him.

"Troubled, not dangerous. He was distraught when he found out that you'd taken all of our research. It was years of his life, gone! He got depressed, started drinking and … well, you know the rest," Selvig replied.

"Uh-huh. You mind if we take a moment to verify his identity?" Coulson asked, moving to stand behind an agent sitting at a computer.

"Certainly," Selvig said with a nod. "You can understand how a man could go off like that. I mean, a big, faceless organization like yours, coming in with their jack-booted thugs and stealing private property…" Selvig trailed off as he realised that most of the agents in the room were staring at him. "Is how he described it."

"That doesn't explain how he managed to tear through our security," Coulson reminded him.

"Steroids. He's a bit of a fitness nut," Selvig said shrugging.

Coulson hummed and turned back to the screen. "It says here he's an M.D."

"He is. That is, he was. He switched careers and became a physicist. He's quite brilliant, really." Selvig paused for a moment. "If you would just release him to me, I promise to keep an eye on him."

Coulson stared the Doctor up and down for a moment before his face broke into a wide smile. "Release Doctor Blake into Doctor Selvig's custody," Coulson ordered an agent, much to the surprise of the agent sitting behind the computer. "Make sure they stay in town for the next few days in case we need to talk to them again." Karina refused to meet Coulson's eye as he shook Selvig's hand.

An agent stepped forward and lead them to the room where Thor was currently behind held.

"Donny, Donny, Donny!" He exclaimed as he rushed into the room. Thor looked just as confused as Karina was as Selvig pulled him to his feet and gave him a hug. "It's going to be all right, my friend. Come on, I'm taking you home." Thor's eyes widened when he saw Karina, but a quick glare had him keep quiet as she stepped forward for a hug.

"I'll explain later," she whispered quietly letting go of him as Selvig lead Thor out of the room, Karina following behind. Selvig led the two out of the base and into the outside area where several tables were piled high with science equipment and what looked to be notebooks.

'Must be the stolen research Selvig was on about earlier,' Karina thought to herself as she walked past. She noticed Thor pick up a notebook off the desk and slip it under his jacket and smiled at him as he caught up with her.

"Doctor Selvig!" All three of them stopped at Coulson's shout and turned around. "Just keep them away from the bars." Karina blinked in surprise but recovered quickly, smiling as Selvig turned her around.

"I will!" He called back, leading them to a nearby SUV.

"Where are we going?" Thor asked as they got into the vehicle.

"To get a drink," Selvig replied gruffly as he put the car into drive.