Chapter Seven

Sif had eventually taken the tray of food into her room and ate in silence, trying to stop herself thinking of Alti's words. A sudden frantic pounding on her door made her jump. She got up to open it curiously.

Loki stood there, his pale face looking whiter than usual.

"What's wrong?" Sif asked quickly- something had to be wrong if Loki had sought her out, they were not close friends, and she could not imagine why he would want to see her.

"I think Thor's run away." Loki's voice was worried.

"What?!"

"I saw Mother talking quietly to Father a few minutes ago, she looked like she'd been crying, Father looked furious, and Mother said something about Thor running off! Father is sending some of the Einherjar out to find him and bring him back. I want to go and look for him as well, but I thought it might be easier if two of us went."

Sif nodded without another word, pulling on her boots and quickly donning a cloak. Her mind was racing over possibilities of why Thor might have done something so drastic, but she really had no idea.

"This storm won't make it easy to find him, Loki." She warned. It had been raining continuously for several hours, and any traces of Thor's flight would have been washed away. Thunder rumbled again in the distance, lending proof to her words.

"I know, but I think if he ran off to get away from Mother and Father, for whatever reason, he isn't going to let anyone sent by them find him. He might at least talk to one of us."

"You mean you're just dying to find out what's going on before anyone else does."

Loki scowled. "Sif, as much as I do enjoy learning secrets, I wouldn't do that to Thor! I love my brother, and if he has actually been driven to run away, something is obviously very wrong. Now, you can believe that or not, but I am going to find my brother, with or without you."

He strode away from her, heading for the palace doors, and Sif followed after a moment of shocked silence- Loki never stood up for himself like that normally!

They made their way outside, thankfully not encountering any guards or servants. Walking through the rain-soaked streets, Sif wondered aloud what was causing the unusually powerful storm.

Loki frowned thoughtfully. "Thor has made the sky darken briefly in the past, but that was during fits of anger. I've never seen him unleash anything like this, if it is his doing of course."

"So, assuming it is his doing, he isn't in a bad mood because of a scolding, then." Sif concluded. She and Loki exchanged glances, both feeling increasingly worried.

"Where are we actually going?"

"I thought we should ask Heimdall where Thor is. It will save us having to scour the entire city, and your brother is supposed to be all-seeing."

Sif froze briefly, having forgotten that Loki was unaware of her recent discoveries about her family. She considered for a moment- she did not really want to see Heimdall, but finding Thor was important, and Loki was right. Asking him where Thor was would save a lot of time. Anyway, Loki could do the talking.

As it turned out, Loki did not need to ask for information. Heimdall was waiting outside the Observatory, and answered the question before Loki got round to asking it.

"Prince Thor is currently in the meadow that is surrounded by the forest of Lillitha."

Loki blinked. "He went out there in this weather? I don't suppose you are going to explain what's wrong with him?"

Heimdall shook his head. "It is not my place to reveal private matters. If Thor wishes to tell you what troubles him, he will do so himself."

Loki nodded, and walked away without another word. Sif muttered a quick 'thank you' to Heimdall, though she did not actually look at him. He watched them both go, hoping that in some way, all these emerging problems would be resolved.

The way to Lillitha led them past Lady Freyja's home, though Loki barely seemed to notice. Night was falling, and he wanted to find Thor and be safely back home before true darkness fell. He and Sif were walking fairly quickly, and thus didn't notice the slim cloaked and hooded figure that followed them from that point on. The storm still raged around them, and by now all three of them were soaked to the bone and miserable. Curiously, the storm seemed to be calmer in the meadow itself. Loki and Sif paused when they spotted Thor, sitting in the drenched grass, his face pressed to his knees. Their abrupt stop made the silent follower walk straight into Sif, who gasped and whirled round.

"Sigyn?!"

Loki jumped, startled. "What are you doing here?"

Sigyn flushed slightly, embarassed. "I saw you two walking past my home, and just wondered where you might be going, alone together. So I followed. Sorry!"

Sif rolled her eyes. Leaving Loki to deal with Sigyn, she walked tentatively towards Thor, who had given no sign that he was aware of their presence.

"Thor...?" She kept her voice low.

He raised his head, and she stifled a gasp. His eyes were red, and it looked as if he had wept for hours. He let out a humourless laugh as he looked at her.

"I know how you felt when you found out about your family's lies now." His voice was almost hysterical. "Adults just can't be trusted, no matter what they tell you. I was always so proud, being the firstborn son of Odin and Frigga, half Aesir, half Vanir. And. It. Was. A. LIE!" The last part was shouted, and Sif actually winced at Thor's expression. Loki and Sigyn both started when he raised his voice, and thunder rumbled once again.

"Thor, what in blazes are you talking about? You aren't making any sense!"

Thor's eyes were wild with pain and grief. "I overheard a conversation between Moth- Frigga and Jord earlier this evening. Turns out Jord is actually my mother, but Father gave me to Frigga to raise for some reason." He shook his head. "I knew I recognised Jord's voice from somewhere, but..."

Sif and Sigyn stood in utter shock, finding it hard to believe that the Allfather would do such a thing. Loki took a step towards Thor, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You are still my brother, no matter what your true heritage. I'm assuming you came straight out here after you overheard this?"

Thor nodded glumly.

Loki sat down beside Thor. "Mother's been crying, you know. She's probably really worried about you."

"So? She's lied to me all my life!"

"She raised you as her own when she did not have to," Loki corrected. "And she has always loved you as much as she loves me and Balder. Don't you think it would be fairer if you at least listened to her side of the story?"

Thor shrugged noncommitally, not willing to admit that Loki had a point. The rainfall slowed, and the sky began to lighten. "It's just hard to accept that I am not wholly Asgardian, I am a descendant of the Elder Gods. We all know what became of most of them."

Loki winced, not having thought of it in that light. The story of the Elder Gods, their degeneration into demons, and their eventual destruction, was one of the darkest stories that any of them had ever heard. The few surviving Elders were almost never spoken of, they were so feared.

Sigyn sat down beside them on the grass. "Being kin to Jord is not that terrible, you know. She is one of the only Elders that still remains in her true form. She did not fall as the others did." Her eyes widened. "This means that you and I are related, Thor!" She laughed in surprise.

Thor blinked. "What?"

"Mother and Uncle Frey are children of Jord's as well, although she used the guise of Nertha when they were born. You're my uncle!"

That startled a laugh out of Thor, but his cheerful expression quickly faded.

"I am still a half-breed, not Asgardian..."

Sigyn took a deep breath. "If I tell you three something, will you promise to keep it a secret?"

After three mutual nods, she continued. "I am not pure Asgardian either. Neither are any of my sisters. I suppose you have all seen my mother's fabled necklace, Brisingamen?"

"It's only the most famed piece of jewellery in the Nine Realms." Loki muttered. "But what does that have to do with you and your sisters?"

Sigyn kept her eyes firmly on the ground as she continued speaking. "It was forged by dwarves, as you know, but Mother was desperate to claim it when she saw it. They would not sell it to her for gold or silver, but the dwarves who had crafted it said the necklace would be hers if...she spent three nights with each of them. My sisters and I were the eventual result." She couldn't bring herself to look at her friends, who stood there in silence.

Sif spoke first. "It doesn't matter, Sigyn. You're still the same person we all made friends with. That goes for you as well, Thor," glancing at him quickly, "your relatives do not define who you are." As she said that, she realised it applied to her as well. "In fact, you two aren't the only ones who have had family hide things from you..." She told Loki and Sigyn everything that had occured in Nornheim a few days ago.

More dumbfounded silence followed.

"So it appears I am the only one who has been told the truth of where I come from." Loki said at last. Nothing more was said for a while. The storm ceased completely at last, and the stars in the night sky became clearly visible before any of them thought of moving.

They were walking slowly back into the city some time later, having discussed their personal family dramas in great depth with each other, and they were all looking forward to some rest. As the palace came into view, Loki spotted a lone Crimson Hawk heading in their direction.

"Perfect." He muttered under his breath, wishing there was a way to avoid speaking to Theoric. There was not, however, so Loki settled for glaring at him as he approached.

"My Princes, the king and queen have been looking for you for hours. I-"

Theoric was cut off by the sound of Frigga running across the still-wet courtyard towards them, her eyes on Thor.

She hesitated before approaching him, as much as she longed to hold him close and never let him out of her sight again, she knew he might not want her near.

"Thor, I..."

He shook his head, forestalling her. "Mother, I am tired." His eyes were pleading. "Can this discussion wait until morning? I do not wish to talk about this right now."

Tears swam in Frigga's eyes, but she nodded. Thor managed a half smile before bidding his friends goodnight and walking into the palace, his shoulders slumped. Sif nodded politely to Frigga before following him inside.

Theoric turned to Sigyn. "Surely you have been missed by now, my lady? If you wish, I will escort you home."

Sigyn almost jumped out of her skin- she had nearly forgotten that she had snuck out, in light of everything that had happened! Gathering herself, she smiled at Theoric.

"That's very kind of you, but I had intended to ask Prince Loki if he would care to escort me to my home."

Loki grinned smugly at that, and was about to agree, when Frigga interrupted.

"I am afraid that isn't possible, Lady Sigyn. Loki is no doubt eager to explain why he disappeared after supper without informing anyone where he was going. Theoric will see you home safely, I'm sure."

Theoric nodded, and took Sigyn's arm as her face fell slightly. She called a 'goodnight' to Loki as they left.

Loki was scowling. "I only went to find Thor." He muttered sullenly.

Frigga's expression was stern. "Nonetheless, you should have informed someone that you were leaving the palace. I have been beside myself with worry for hours!"

"Worry for Thor."

"Worry for both of you, Loki. And your father and I will be speaking to Thor about this in the morning as well. He did have a good reason to be upset, but running from problems never solves anything." Frigga hugged Loki impulsively. "Now go inside and dry off, then go to bed. I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Mother."

Frigga stood in the courtyard for a while after Loki went inside, lost in thought. Odin came out and found her, putting his arms around her gently.

"Balder is fussing for attention. I think he may be hungry. Why do you linger out here when all our sons are safe inside?"

Frigga sighed. "I was just trying to decide what to say to Thor tomorrow. He knows the truth now. How will we make him understand why he was raised by me, and not Jord? Perhaps she herself should be present?"

Odin shook his head decisively. "No. I will explain the circumstances to Thor. There is no need for her to be involved."

"And if Thor wants to meet her?"

"That can be arranged later, if necessary."

"I am not sure about this, Odin. Jord is his true mother, surely she has a right to be there when Thor is asking questions?"

"Thor is our son, Frigga. There is nothing she would tell him that we cannot. Now come, it is warmer inside."

Odin led his queen back indoors, and the subject was dropped. Doubts swirled in Frigga's mind however. Was Odin really doing the right thing in excluding Jord from this situation?

To be continued...

AN: The Elder Gods referenced in this chapter do exist in Marvel Comics, further information can be found on Wikipedia.