Thank you to all my reviewers.

Valkyrie was still feeling shaken from her encounter with the pirate earlier. She could recognise after years of working for the Sanctuary who had power, and who was bluffing. That man was definitely in the former class.

"Who was that guy?" she asked.

"That was Director Fury, head of SHIELD," answered Bruce.

"Shield?"

"Strategic Homeland Intervention and Enforcement Logistics Division," at her blank look Bruce said. "They're part of the government."

"Oh,"

At that moment, Natasha returned and flopped back down on the sofa. Her position was a lot more open than before, but it looked forced and her eyes were still steely. That meant she was trying to get information and earn her trust. Two could play at that game.

"Where you from Valkyrie? Dublin? Cork?" Steve asked in an attempt to stop a grudge forming. Too late for that.

"Haggard, near Dublin. How about you Captain?"

"Brooklyn." He ignored the obvious hostility in her voice.

"Valkyrie, if you need anything tell us, it's our fault you're here," Romanoff was going for the good cop routine. She saw a potential threat, but she also saw a child.

"I need a way back home."

"Which is why I'm already working on my machine, reversing the process," Tony walked in and said confidently.

"How long?"

"Three weeks maybe more."

Valkyrie groaned, she was stuck here for three weeks!

Whoever was planning the murder would have plenty of time to find her, and release Darquesse.

Plenty of time to teach these mortals to fear my name.

Shut up.

Can't you imagine that power, that invincibility, you want it, I can give it to you.

No

Think about it...

Valkyrie scowled and the shadows in the room sharpened ever so slightly.

Then there was a crack of thunder, a bright light, and a cry of "Friends, I bring woeful tidings!"

Natasha was contemplating about how to get answers out of Valkyrie, the moment she had walked in the girl had become guarded. Her sudden scowl only added more mystery.

Then there was the sound of the bifrost from the helicopter pad.

"Friends I bring woeful tidings!" Thor cried.

"What is it point break?" Stark asked

"My accursed brother has escaped," all eyes in the room focused entirely on him. In the background, she heard Tony calling for Bruce and Fury.

"Not only that the seers in Asgard foretell a dark sorceress, Darquesse, destroying Midgard. Loki may seek to join her," boomed the Norse God.

Darquesse, like the word at the murder scenes, that was now a SHIELD matter.

Valkyrie once again turned pale.

"Who is he? And Loki?" she asked

"I am the mighty Thor god of thunder and storm, protector of the nine realms! Loki is my brother, a silver-tongued serpent who brought an army here just two weeks ago!"

Valkyrie didn't seem surprised by this revelation.

"Thor, there have been three murders, and Darquesse was written in blood at each scene," Rogers said.

"Then we must be fleet of foot, and stop this enchantress!"

"How about I show Val to her room and then we can discuss this further," Stark suggested.

He left without waiting for confirmation, with Cain following.

Tony took her to floor 52 and left her to her own devices. In the bedroom, there was a large bed, a dresser, a wardrobe, and a floor length mirror.

"I wonder…" she muttered

Surely as her reflection was in a different reality this would work. She searched for some chalk and eventually found some in a draw. Then she drew the symbol from all those years ago on the mirror.

"Surface speak, surface feel, surface think, surface real," she then wiped the symbol off and tapped the mirror. And her reflection stepped out. A new one, Valkyrie could tell.

Valkyrie smiled.