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Chapter 5

Informer

"I shouldn't have left him alone."

The palace's dining hall was in tension, with the awkward silence being broken every five seconds with a harsh sound of nervous stomping boots or something breaking. Thor was pacing back and forth. His body was tensed as he clenched his jaw and his hands forming tight fists, ready to punch anything or anyone who stood in his way.

No one dared to talk or even flinch a muscle. The future warriors three and lady Sif were only watching the blonde boy walking around, kicking the crystal vases in the corner of the room and crashing the sets of chinaware on the table to the ground.

It had been just over an hour since the queen rushed into the room and told them to stay there while she went to find Loki.

"Thor… calm down, I told you everything is going to be fine." Sif, who was following Thor with her eyes, stepped in and approached Thor, trying to soothe him. But he didn't pay any attention.

His head was cast down and he was trembling out of anger while mumbling under his breath and panting like an outraged dragon. "We were too careless…"

Sif let out a sigh of frustration and glared over her shoulder at her friends, wanting them to intervene.

Volstagg's head was deep in a plate full of bacon; the orange haired juvenile boy swallowed a lump in his throat and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he looked at Sif, eyes wide. The future warrior-lady creased her brow at him and then looked at Fandral, who shrugged unknowingly. Hogan was looking glumly at her, not speaking a word. Inevitably, Sif took another step towards Thor, putting her hand on the prince's shoulder.

"Listen to me, Thor… Loki is probably somewhere around the castle. You know how he is. He likes getting attention like that." The dark haired girl smiled softly at the boy as she patted his back. "You are worry for nothing."

Thor lifted his head and took a glance at Sif, his brows still quirking. "My brother is out there! " He scowled. " If anything happens to him… it's… it's…" He spat, slapping his huge palms on the table, sending vibrations through it and causing the various foods and fruits to fall on the ground. "It's our fault!" He shouted, looking at his friends indignantly.

Sif looked at Thor's shivering body worriedly. She had never seen Thor like this before. Her heart started to beat faster and harder as she tried to think of something else to say. But she was cut off before she could even manage to breathe a word.

"It will be my fault." The blonde boy muttered desperately, his azure eyes glittering with tears as he looked at Sif. She thought he would now break into tears. Sif never wanted to see Thor like this; in pain and agony. It was clear to the young maiden that the older boy was blaming himself. But for what? She felt her hands clench into fists. She hated that Loki was causing pain to him. And obviously it wasn't the first time. The raven haired boy had a thing for falling or causing trouble.

She was never fond of Loki, anyway. He was sneaky and deceitful: a little snake who always tricked them over and over and thought he could get attention with that. Maybe he was just cloaking his incapability and weakness with all those lies and magic. She hated to see Thor like this, and it all made her infuriated. She tried to calm her friend down, but now she herself was angrier than him, but not because Loki was lost: it was because he had caused discomfort to Thor.

"I can't stay here …" The older boy announced as he blinked the tears away from his eyes. He frowned and straightened his back. He held his head high and his arms hung firmly at his sides. "I will go and find him!"

Sif looked at the boy for a mere second. She thought over what he was saying. That was when her eyes widened with fear… but more than that, shock. "What?" She breathed.

Thor looked at his other friends. Fandral slowly got up to his feet, his expression similar to Sif's. He looked at Hogan and Volstagg just to see that the orange haired boy had choked on his drink, and the dark haired boy narrowed his eyes.

"I cannot stand here while a monster is out there and my brother might be in danger!" Thor exclaimed as he turned to walk out of the golden doors.

"Thor!" Sif almost screamed, making Thor look over his shoulder. "Listen to yourself! Are you mad? "

"This isn't a simple training, where you defeat a few guards with just your fists!" Fandral finally stepped in. "This is a monster we know nothing of!"

"Allfather made it clear we should stay in the palace. If we disobey, we will be punished!" Sif shook her head. She still couldn't believe Thor was committing such stupidity.

"I fear we wouldn't get back alive to be punished!" Volstagg said anxiously.

Thor turned back and looked at them, his expression softening. Sif tried to take advantage of his amenity, gingerly leaning closer to him. "Thor, Allfather and the others went to fight the monster; it is not our place to intervene."

"Intervene?" Thor laughed dryly. "Intervene?" His look sharpened. "My brother is out there!" Sif stepped back when the muscular boy frowned again. He walked passed her, opening his arms. "How could you name yourselves warriors when you hide in the palace like cowards? If you want to carve a name, " He walked to the table, taking his place between Fandral and Hogan, placing his hands on their shoulders. "If you want to be remembered, " He looked at Volstagg, who was stunned in his chair. " You have to start somewhere… My father did so in his youth," His eyes fixed on Sif as he walked to the head of the room, "We're going to find my brother…" He smiled brightly. " And if necessary, fight the monster! Sentence it to death!" His voice thundered in the room. " Now… " He took a look at their faces with enthusiasm. "Who is with me? "

Silence fell on the room, every eye on the blonde boy. A good minute passed, yet no one answered. Thor's bright expression fell as his shiny blue eyes cast down with disappointment. "Very well." He said dully as he turned and pushed the double door. He hesitated for a moment more, but he didn't look back at his friends. Still not even one person flinched; he let out an agonized sigh and walked purposefully out into the long hallways of the palace.

Sif was still looking at the half opened door before her. She couldn't believe it… it had all happened too fast. Her face was getting too hot, as she felt the tears starting to build up in her eyes. Instantly she wiped them away before they could fall down her cheeks. She determinedly cloaked her sadness and anxiety with a deep frown covering her brunette face.

Allfather entered the rounded area where the gatekeeper was standing on the high platform in his golden armor. His expression was firm and serious while he held the hilt of his sword in his hands. His hazel eyes shifted to the side as he greeted the king.

"Your majesty," He bowed his head in respect.

"Where is this monster that has caused so much terror, Heimdal?" The king asked irritably.

"I first observed a shade of a crimson tail on the other side of the Bifrost, near the edge of the bridge," He pointed as he started to come down the stairs, "It then vanished, even from my sight. After that, I saw the monster's jade wings, directing it to the other side of the bridge," He focused his hazel eyes on the king as a deep frown appeared on his forehead under the golden helmet. "It flew to the Mystic Forest." The gatekeeper raised his right hand as he pointed to the other side of the bridge, at the forest that was located in the outskirt of the town.

The king narrowed his one blue eye as he followed Heimdal's direction. "It's not near the city." He nodded his head in approval. "Good, then… I shall send a group of the soldiers to look for it now." Allfather said while turning on his heels to leave the room.

"I'm afraid… it is not sufficient." Heimdal expressed gruffly. The king stopped, turning back suspiciously.

"And why is that, Heimdal?" He asked in skepticism.

"Allfather… the monster you seek… it's an Echidna, a mother of all."

The king's eye widened, disturbed, as he frowned abruptly and walked to the gate keeper once again. "What is An Echidna doing here?" He almost shouted furiously.

"I do not know, my king," Heimdal answered with perspicuity as the king shook his head in anger and sighed. "Allow me to continue, allfather: I have also seen your son in the forest."

Abruptly the Allfather lifted his head as he pounded Gungnir to the polished floor harshly. "What?" Odin exclaimed aguishly. "How is that possible? Thor has been seen at the palace earlier!" He said with a thunder-like voice.

"Loki…" Heimdal corrected.

Odin scowled. "Was he not at the palace?"

"I fear he was not, my king ," Heimdal's gaze shifted on the other side of the bridge once again. "He was on the hill near the forest and… he was not alone."

Odin grew only more irritated as his grip became tighter around his scepter. The gate keeper paused before saying, "I witnessed a girl the exact moment the monster appeared."

The king looked away from Heimdal. Now his stern stare was on the commander, who wore a blue cape and had dirty yellow hair, "Vidar! Prepare the soldiers; we're going to the Mystic Forest!" He exclaimed loudly before leaving the room.

Loki changed his sitting position uncomfortably; the cave was too small to move and too dark to see anything, so he cautiously raised his hands and tried to make a magical glowing ball in order to light the solemn cave a little. The light was weak and it flickered every five seconds, but it was better than eternal blackness.

He turned his head and looked at the still-unconscious girl on his lap, bewildered. She looked extremely pale, and it scared the boy. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know if the girl was alive and well and he had no idea how to be certain. Hesitantly he put his hands on the girl's chest to see if he could feel her heart beat.

He let out a sigh of relief when he felt a light beating beneath his hands. Slowly he pulled back his hand… perhaps she had just gotten really tired, he thought and glanced at her face. A few freckles exposed on her cheek. She was pretty in a way; maybe it was because she looked more delicate than the other maidens Loki had met. But then again, he hadn't met that many. Well, other than Sif and her mother's servant. But this girl… she had long, curly, ginger hair, and locks of it were spreading all around his lap. Her figure was small, making her look not much older than him.

Loki felt a little uncomfortable: this girl confused him. What was this girl doing at that hour on the hill? And how could he have not noticed her presence.

Loki was a sharp boy, and his magic always helped him to notice those who sneak up upon him. Loki could almost always detect them immediately. But this girl… there was a strange aura around her. An unknown feeling Loki couldn't put his finger on, but still… he could sense that she was familiar to him, like he had known her all his life.

She had a faint smile on her pink lips, though he had witnessed how much pressure she'd endured when she was trying to protect him with her magic. Magic? That was even weirder. No one in Asgard used magic. At least, not anymore. Well, except for himself and Frigga. People of Asgard were slightly afraid of magic and its power after the first war with Vanaheim many ages ago. Mainly it was the reason why his power of sorcery was never appreciated enough.

Aside from the confusing feeling he had inside, he was a bit happy and excited. He didn't know why even looking at the peaceful face of this girl made him smile. Even though he knew of the danger right above them and the existence of anything dreadful, he felt calm, revived, and sacred in a way. Gingerly, he raised his hand and put his fingertips on the girl's hair. In the glimmer of the glowing ball, her hair seemed to shine extremely. And though he could feel that her cheeks were freezing under his fingertips, he sensed a great amount of warmth from the girl.

The corners of his lips went up a little, forming an assuring smile, but it didn't last long when the girl started to inhale deeply and her shiny eyelashes started to bat. He inched away a little and drew his hand back immediately.

The stranger girl opened her eyes; she blinked several times, trying to adjust her eyes to the weakened light in that dark. She then sharply looked up when she heard someone cough above her.

I opened my eyes. My eyesight was blurry as I tried to get a glimpse of my surroundings. My mind was fuzzy… I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there. All I felt was an extreme numbness in my body. Like I'd been drained out of my magic. I tried to move my feet and get to them but the pulsing pain coming from my right ankle made me cringe.

I felt something beneath my head move, and my eyes shifted lazily above my head, just to see a pair of jade eyes fixed on me. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make a clear picture of the person. It was foggy. I blinked several times. The darkness around me made it hard to recognize. But slowly my eyes adjusted to the dark, and in the dimness of the weak light, the image above me started to get clear. It was him.

With the sound of coughing, I slapped myself internally and sat on my heels, ignoring the breathless pain that took over me. I couldn't believe I was still with him, and it wasn't a prophecy. I started to remember. We were in that forest… we escaped from the monster… and ran to this cave… and then I… I didn't remember what happened next. All I knew was that I was sleeping in his… lap.

I felt my cheeks start to get hot as the blood rushed to my face. I should've sounded or looked like a proper idiot. I inched myself a little while I was crawling on the ground.

"You've awakened?" The dark haired boy in front of me smirked as he looked me up and down.

I smiled sheepishly. " Y-yes."

They looked at each other for a moment as the awkward silence fell in between them. He looked into her eyes. They were wondrously blue. Not that kind of blue like Thor's eyes. They were different; so deep, like the ocean.

Loki cleared his throat when he noticed the staring was now getting awkward. He raised his eyebrow, trying to maintain his attitude. "So…What happened out there?" He asked dryly.

The girl shifted in her position, rubbing the injured ankle gently. "I'm not certain where the monster came from." She answered candidly.

"I'm not talking about the monster," Loki said coolly. "I'm talking about what you did."

The girl cast down her head immediately as she bit her lip. " I…I… " She paused and inhaled deeply. " I… have no idea. " She looked back at the boy.

I didn't lie. I didn't know how that happened either. It was too fast. Even I didn't know how I cast the spell. Maybe that time when I was nothing but a child my mother had taught me the spell… but, no… that wasn't the reason. Making an intense shield out of magic used an astronomical amount of energy that scholars like me had to spend a large amount of time practicing. I didn't know how I managed to do it. All I remembered was that I was panicked. Undoubtedly I couldn't tell him any of this, so I simply tried to steal my eyes.

"You have no idea how you created that shield?" Loki sounded more mocking than shocked or amused. " Hmm… maybe you have no idea where your magic comes from, or how to use it, as well?"

"What? No!" She looked up, a little offended by his harsh tone, but still she gave him a soft smile. "I know how to use magic; I just… don't know how I created the shield."

Loki's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such an honest answer. And truly, he could see that the girl didn't lie. Immediately he shook his head. " So how do you use magic? No one in Asgard is using magic." His tone softened ever so slightly.

"I'm not from here." The girl answered, still smiling.

"Wait!" Loki half raised from his sitting position, now utterly confused. "Then where are you from? How did you even get here? "

She swallowed in nervousness before saying. "I…I…I can't tell you."

"Why not?" Loki creased his brow.

"Be-because…" She bit her lip again as she pushed her palms together.

She couldn't lie nor tell the truth. Instantly she cursed herself because of the rules she had broken as a predictor. If she told him of her realm, it could be followed with other various questions. It was enough that she revealed herself; she wasn't willing to go further… at least, not now.

"I'm… sorry." She looked at him, her own eyes glittering as she breathed another phrase. "I… just can't."

Loki didn't break the eye contact. His brows quirked as he tried to figure out the girl, but he couldn't. He opened his mouth to protest but silenced himself before even making a sound. Slowly he nodded. " I assume you can't give me your name as well. " He said briskly. "How come you know mine?"

The stranger girl seemed to lighten up all of a sudden. She smiled brightly. "That's because you're a significant person, my prince."

The dark haired boy seemed amazed. " Am I ? " The girl nodded in conformation. "Then, I suppose I am. May I have your name, my lady?" He proclaimed haughtily.

The girl giggled at his boastfulness, then widened her eyes and carefully opened her mouth. "My…my name is… " She hesitated for a moment then closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. It was only a name. It wouldn't harm; and besides… she was willing to give him something of her own anyway. And seeing as she didn't have anything with her, it was just a name, "Sigyn." She smiled jauntily and looked up at him.

He was stunned for a second. The voice, the name, and even now the appearance seemed so much more familiar than he thought, so strange, yet it was precious. For a mere second, the young prince lost himself in thoughts. " Sigyn… " He whispered. The word had a nice taste in his mouth. But then he realized how the girl was still staring at him, so instantly he shook his head and sobered his expression.

"Very well, Sigyn… it is…" He realized how weak and soft his voice sounded. He cleared his throat immediately. " It is a pleasure to meet you and… um… Thank you. "

Sigyn tilted her head, the bright smile still shining on her lips. "And what is that for, my prince?"

"You know the reason." He looked somewhere else, trying not to even scratch his pride.

Sigyn found herself chuckling. "My pleasure, Prince Loki, and thanks to you as well."

"It is accepted." He smirked at the ginger haired girl. At the sound of roaring breaking into their warm and soft atmosphere, both of them looked stunned. Horror had returned once they realized where they were and why.

"Where did that monster come from?!" Loki asked no one in particular while covering his ears.

"An Echidna only follows her relic." Sigyn said in a loud tone.

Loki looked at her questioningly. The harsh roars went on a few more minutes. When they stopped, Loki looked up and slowly shifted so that he sat close to Sigyn, "What is that? … An Echidna? "

Sigyn pushed her hair aside and raised her eyebrows, looking surprised. "You don't know?"

Loki straightened quickly. "Should I know?" slightly offended.

"Well, not exactly," She managed to smile again, though her eyes still looked terrified. "An Echidna was basically called the mother of all monsters. I read about it once in an old book. My father told us stories about them as well, I always thought it was all just legends."

"You said it follows her relic?" Loki asked, amused.

"Yes, you see, above the Yggdrasil, where the Norn lives, there is the world of beasts. Echidna is the queen and the guardian of a gem, one of the infinity stones."

"I have never heard of it before, and never read it in any book either." Loki finally claimed vaguely as his eyes met with Sigyn's once again.

She was too stupid; Vanir's knowledge was always a hundred times ahead of other's realms. She swallowed a knot in her throat; now that she had started it, she couldn't just let it stay unfinished.

"Well, The Norns have always been known as powerful beings. They protected the six sources of great power in order to stabilize the peace across the nine realms. But then, when Titan's attacked the Nornheim and requested the six gems or they threatened they would destroy the Yggdrasil, The Norns had no choice but to either surrender or let them destroy the source of life in all realms. Instead they chose another path; they scattered the powers across all nine realms and destroyed the Titans. " Sigyn paused, just to look at the thoughtful expression on the younger boy's face. " Well, one of the gems was placed in Muspelheim, where the beasts live. "She finished, waiting for Loki to say something.

He was deep in thought, as he slowly nodded in realization. " And Echidna was the guardian of that gem… then if she's here… " He looked up at the girl, slightly frightened. " It means that someone has taken the gem and brought it here, to Asgard." He said in shock.

Sigyn nodded and opened her mouth to say something else, but was instantly interrupted. " But how is that possible? How could anyone go to Muspelheim and steal such a relic? This is … this is weird, in so many ways… how could father have not known that sooner?" He asked himself more than Sigyn.

"It might not be the exact thing I said, though." The girl announced unsurely "I mean… there might be other reasons for her presence here. She might seek revenge or… or something else. "

"But the infinity stones…" Loki went on just to be cut off by the girl's plea.

"Please… don't tell anyone about this." She looked a bit scared, and Loki recognized that and he nodded slowly. But then his expression turned to a mischievous smirk. "But you have to tell me more about them."

Sigyn nodded, but quickly squeezed her eyes shut when another wave of screams came from above them. "How do we get out of here?"

Loki looked up as he covered his ears. "Help will come soon… "He looked at the girl and gave her a weak smile. " I hope. "

Thor tugged the bridle in order to hush the terrified white horse. Gray clouds started to fill the sky as the god of thunder tried to get on his horse. He scowled and tightened his grip around the sword he had picked up from the armory. Slowly, the angry clouds met, and the deafening sound of thunder echoed across the golden city.

He pulled the bridle, guiding his steed outside the stable.

"Going somewhere?" Thor turned back at the source of the voice so quickly that he thought his neck broke. There, right behind him was a dark figure in a black cloak, standing. Thor narrowed his eyes. " Who is that? " He shouted before the figure in front of him took another step closer. Then the boy's eyes widened with shock.

"Think we will let you go alone?" A delicate voice came from the hooded figure.

"And crave greatness and glory all by yourself?" Another hooded figure said sarcastically as he stepped closer.

"We will never allow that." Thor's eyes shifted to another hooded figure as it joined the other two. He was noticeably bigger than the others.

"We all are together here… as warriors." A hoarse voice followed the other three.

Thor's eyes flickered as he broke into a huge grin from ear to ear; he bound his horse's bridle to a wooden scaffold. "My friends!" He rushed to them as the four figures lowered their hoods and exposed themselves, smiling brightly at him.

"We never leave you alone." Thor looked at Sif, whose smile was reassuring.

"Thank you, Sif." Thor patted the three boys' shoulders and lowered his head respectfully for the young maiden. He then turned and breezily got on his horse. "My friends… This is going to be a glorious night… we are leaving to save my brother and slay the dragon!" He exclaimed haughtily as he raised his sword to penetrate the dark sky.

"Thor, I believe it's not a… dragon." Fandral got elbowed by Sif as all of them yelled as warriors' tradition before going to battle, and got on their horses, marching through the dark forest.