A/N: Erm hello again, I'm still alive and kicking, well sort of. (Bloody exams damaging my tail bone). After weeks of sitting and staring at the screen, I managed to get a chapter down for you folks. I'm super nervous about this one since I'm returning to the world of fanfiction, after focusing on nothing but exams, but I don't regret it though some actually well, and I'm having a full nerves crisis writing this, so I'm going to get on with it or I'll just ramble and write a new chapter before I know it. So on with the actual chapter five of Surprising Revelations. (and a little recap for you). Enjoy!
Warning: Not Beta'd.
Hallelujah. Tony silently thanked at Thor's words before he stood and dragged his feet towards the large oak doors. It was just his horrible luck that a different bloody soldier wearing the most worried face ever walked the doors. Tony couldn't help but notice how young and small he looked in the over clad armour and the stupid yellow cape. The guard bowed in Thor's presence before rising and moving to talk to the prince in hushed tones. Luckily for the Avengers they were close enough to hear the conversation. And that the little guard whispered loudly.
"My liege, there is something wrong with prisoner Loki." Despite the size of the man,, his voice was incredibly deep.
"What is wrong?" Thor grimaced wearily and he visibly tensed.
"It's his chambers, your majesty. The doors are covered in layers of thick ice and won't grant entrance to anyone."
Tony inwardly groaned and rushed after the now on the move Thor. Why couldn't this day just end?
The evening light began to fade, letting all its occupants know that the end of the day was upon them. One of them sighed in exhaustion and looked down at the sketches lying on the ground in front of her. A glistening tear slid down her face as she examined the outlines of her family. They were the products of her day, a mere distraction to the procession of events she knew had happened in the Throne Room. Frigga sniffed away her tears, as maidens and servants passed her by. She wanted to be there for Loki's trial but she couldn't actually bring herself to attend. It was her fault that his children were being brought into his punishment.
Frigga didn't it on purpose of course. She was never subject Loki's precious children the mercy of the Council. She knew exactly what the Councils attitudes were towards Loki. In the past they would often blame Loki for any misdeeds that had happened within Asgard whether he was guilty of them or not. No matter what she would say or sometimes even did their opinions of Loki had not changed in the past couple of centuries and it would always come of the worst for Loki.
Frigga sighed again and stared down at the gentle pencil lines of Loki's eyes, despite the receding light and whispered a small sorry at them. She had not meant for Loki's secret to become public. She knew in a matter of hours due to drunken and spiteful citizens the news of Loki's children would spread through the main city and in a couple of day's time, it would spread to the outlining villages. In her heart, she dreaded that Loki would never forgive her for what she had done, even if it was an accident. Loki and she had been extremely close before he found out about his heritage. When the time came, she knew that Loki deserved the truth about his parents and she wasn't hesitant to give him that and felt no guilt by doing so. All she hoped for was that he would see that she was still his mother no matter the circumstance and that wouldn't change for anything.
Frigga took one last look at the drawing of her son and slipped it into her leather binder that sat beside her; collecting all of her other sketches and placing them in their own proper order in the binder. Just as she was about to stand, her personal servant flashed into her view, running through the gardens with her face all red and gasping for her breath. Despite her exhaustion she helped her to her feet, even though Frigga insisted she could do it on her own. Her health had been deterring lately and only her and her personal servants/healers knew about it. Frigga knew her time was coming but it was far away at this moment in time so there wasn't any need to worry anyone at this moment in time. Her servant, Aida was her name, took her binder without a word but faced her Queen with a look Frigga dreaded to see on the poor girls face.
"What is troubling you so, Aida?" She asked staring down at the girl. Her golden hair was ruffled and messy in places from her journey and her blue eyes shone disturbingly.
"It is Thor your highness. He has required your presence at Loki's chambers. There seems to be a problem."
"Do you know what problem?"
Her locks shook negatively and the look of the normal servant disappointment in their personal failure appeared on her petite face. Frigga gently touched her shoulder and rubbed it reassuringly, her collective appearance intending to calm the girl but she was far from anything on the inside.
~oOo~
One of the most treasured buildings for any man in Asgard was not the Royal Place, nor the Training Grounds or the Bifrost. It was your humble tavern. Definitely a location for any common man and almost certainly for any Einherjar guards off duty. There were lots of taverns hidden throughout the streets around the Palace and was one of the main sources of business and trade for the people. It was also generally a place where the brave and mighty warriors of Asgard would spin their tales of battles and victories, diverting far away from the truth as Asgard was to Midgard. Even beyond that on occasion. However, the "humble" tavern normally got the reputation of being dark, dangerous and revolting places, especially the further away from the Palace you got. It was certainly considered not an appropriate spot for a higher class young woman to spend her valuable time.
Amora was without doubt thinking about that fact and questioning the reason why she was stood outside a tavern that she couldn't for the life of her distinguish the name of. The hanging sign that hung on the buildings left corner was half destroyed, the rest being covered in moss and some other substance that she really didn't want to think about. Amora's face dropped in disgust and pulled out her silk handkerchief from the inside of her black woollen cloak. She grimaced as she wrapped the material around her hand and used it to push open the wooden door. She would have used her magic but the streets were practically screaming danger and the drunken people wolf whistling at her were enough to persuade her not to risk it.
A sudden roar of noise hit her eardrums and she shied away from the loud chatter of men drinking the night away. She discreetly made her way inside and leaned in the corner between the wall and door frame. The room was large; common for the bottom floor of any tavern with the bar taking centre stage. There were tables and chairs dotted around the room that had occupants crowding around them like packs around their kill. It was a dimly lit room from the candles suspended from the ceiling and Amora had to squint to get minor details. There was an incredibly uncomfortable source of heat next to her and when she peered round the hood of her cloak, a confident fire was burning away. Amora altered her clothing, trying to stop the warmth seeping into her robes and set about hunting for the reason why she was actually in this dump. She eventually spotted it looking depressed and so pathetic in one of the secluded corners by the bar; nursing a half empty tanker of mead.
She sighed despite her determination and the promise she made to herself and headed over to the man that she hadn't spoken to in many years. With a little difficulty dodging the many people in the crowded room and avoiding the spillages of mead, Amora managed to make her way to the corner and slip onto the remaining seat at the table for two. How convenient.
"Go away woman. I'm not up for a good time just privacy." A gruff voice almost immediately sounded behind the large black fringe lying limply over his chiselled and muscular face. Amora didn't say a word in response but instead slowly lowered her hood. She fully knew the patience of the man in front of her was as short as a wick of burning candle and waited for his annoyance to kick in. Shock was needed for this to work. A heartfelt reunion and pleading was really going to work in her favour. The man growled at her silence and she almost broke into a broad grim at his predictable personality. A thump of his fist on the poor wooden table didn't shock her as he began to speak again.
"Look woman did not hear me? I said..." He trailed off when he looked up at her. Amora fought the urge to smile as recognition pooled over his features and he let his mouth hang in a large O. He must have come to senses as his mouth snapped shut with an audio able thud; anger thinning his lips and his eyes narrowed into the smallest slits she had ever seen them go. His whole body tensed and Amora could taste the shock, anger and a whole manner of emotions pulsing in the air around them.
"Amora."
"Skurge."
"What are you doing here?" Amora almost winced at his tone. Almost.
"Looking for you." A hint of her normal playfulness came into her voice and she scolded herself for not sounding completely serious. Skurge raised an eyebrow over his gradually relaxing eyes.
"Why?"
"I need your help. Information to be specific." A bubble of harsh laughter escaped from him and she watched him clutch the table desperately in order to steady himself. Amora didn't move a muscle – she expected this. It took him a while to calm down and whilst she knew this would happen, it was started to irritate her. Time wasn't exactly and ally at the moment. Skurge took a large swig of his mead and a horrible smile plastered itself over his face.
"And why would I help you? Especially after what you have done to me in the past."
"One," she smiled, holding up her hand to tick off her reasons, "the past is the past and surely we can be grown adults and put it behind us. Two, someone of valuable importance would be indebted to you. And finally three, I can always result to blackmail."
Amora aimed a sly grin at him and Skurge sighed, looking down into the large tank and through the alcoholic beverage. She tapped her fingers impatiently, calculating the time she had left before she could do nothing to help. Finally the large man gave in and gazed up at her slowly.
"What sort of information?"
Amora fought down her victorious grin and settled properly into her seat.
~oOo~
People were still roaming around the castle, despite the time of day, so Frigga had to rush her way to her son's chambers as regal as she could. With her husband being on the verge on falling into Odin's sleep, tension and stress were running high, especially with forwarding of Loki's trial and reputations had to be upheld. Sometimes she hated being the Queen; many times she had pictured herself as a simple farmer, with simplicities that would satisfy her even though her situation was less to be desired but it would be enough. Turning the corner onto the upcoming corridor with Aida by her side, she spotted Thor pacing, shouting at the guards beside. The group of people around him she knew they were Thor's companions from Midgard that she had yet to meet. They all look rather unnerved as she got closer, the air filled with uncertainty on why they were actually here.
As she approached the guards fell silent, causing Thor to stop too and notice her. She nearly smiled at the relief flowing over him but resisted and kept her collected mask present.
"Mother, thank the Gods." He came to her, hugging Frigga briefly and rotated her round with haste towards the pair of doors that led into the chambers behind them. Patterns of ice splintered out from the groove between the doors and sealed it so tightly she could feel the pull in her magic. It was Jotun ice. Loki was the cause of this.
"The guards cannot enter and neither can I. I have even tried Mjolnir but the ice only cracked and froze back over after a couple of seconds."Thor's voice vibrated in the air behind her. She began tracing her delicate fingers over the smaller splinters and icicles. The Jotun magic behind the ice barrier attacked her own magic and started snapping at her fingers with a mild cold burn; causing her to jerk away on occasion.
"You wouldn't be able to anyway. This is Jotun ice my son. The magic behind this is purely for defence purposes and will not wield to such force. You know of your brother's capabilities."
She could almost feel Thor's frown in the air. "Loki has had all his magic dampened and withheld from him. He cannot use it."
"Only his sorcery that he has learnt is withheld from him, my near. This is Jotun magic and it is natural part of him and cannot be dampened so easily." She turned towards him and smiled, noticing his worn features. His friends behind him were staring at her intently; she also gave them a smile and let her eyes light up for a brief moment to reassure them.
"Thor my dear, I'm sure your companions are exhausted. The day has been tiresome. Take them to their chambers and I expect that you escort them to have breakfast with me. It would nice to meet them properly on a less dramatic occasion." She suggested turning back towards the doors.
"But mother what about Loki?"
"I will inform you as soon as I am able if there any changes. Now off to bed or do I have to treat you like a child?" Frigga tilted her head at him; giving him a stern look and he shook his head, making his long blonde strands sway. Thor ushered his friends back down the corridor. Whilst turning her attention back onto the ice dilemma, Frigga hear the shuffling of feet echoing down the corridor and a few sniggering laughs, most likely directed at Thor.
It was slightly off putting with the guards standing right beside her and scrutinising her every move. So with a firm scowl she sent them away, declaring the, to more useful elsewhere. They left, with difficulty, and with the privacy she needed, she got to work. Mentally noting each splinter and putting together all the patterns together and how they flowed and worked in perfect harmony, Frigga could feel the defensive spell of runes behind the ice that were basic enchantments. Being well practised in sorcery as she was, Frigga instantly recalled the reversal spell that she could use to break the ice barrier.
Frigga breathed in slowly, outstretching her right arm and pressing her palm firmly against the ice; ignoring the way the runes reacted to her touch and stung at her skin. She started to whisper in her thoughts the sequence of the spell and after a few minutes of repetition her efforts proved to successful. Frigga watched in satisfaction as a series of cracks fractured along the ice barrier like small rivers forcing their way through. The ice fell in large shards and Frigga had to jump back to dodge their sharp edges. The doors were finally free once all the ice completely disappeared and she slowly approached the doors with caution. Turning the handles and pushing them open just enough for her slip through, Frigga was immediately hit by the extreme temperature change and staring shivering under her garments that normally kept her at a comfortable degree of warmth. Once inside, Frigga spotted Loki curled up on his bed and she ran to his side.
A little note:Um because what's coming up next and has been a particular (pardon my language) bitch to write and plan about, please bear with me. :) Reviews are very much welcome, they make me jump around in joy and sometimes sit there and cry like baby and just makes my day!