Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a great new year from your old pal Steps! Sorry this is later than I had hoped to post it, I've been busy during the Christmas season but I have a heap of chapters prepared to post in the coming days, hopefully if I remember and don't get distracted. I got a game for Christmas and it's addictive :P Anyways, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 10; Coronation

The roar of the crowd was deafening.

They lined either side of the throne room, trying their best for even a glance at their new king as he strode proudly down towards Odin. He was grinning like an idiot, waving to either side. This was to be his day of triumph, his day to take over from his father and serve the nine realms. He turned his gaze ahead, looking at the people who lined the stairs up to the throne. On one side Sif and the warriors three stood proud, hiding their smiles for their friend, and the feast that was to come later. On the other, stood his mother, Frigga, her hair had been beautifully braided with flowers. Loki stood on the step below her. There was a face missing however and Thor caught his brother's eye, silently questioning. Loki gave a slight raise of a shoulder to indicating he had no idea where she was.

Thor looked away and locked eyes with his father as he came upon the bottom step. Kneeling down, he pulled off his helmet and set it beside him.

"Thor Odinson," Odin began, the whole room falling into silence. "My heir, my first born. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer, Mjöllnir, forged in the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal! It's a weapon to destroy or as a tool to build. It is a fit companion for a king. I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across my realms in the time of the great beginning."

Elsewhere in the castle; Elaine had left early enough to get dressed in a green number, and do Frigga's hair, though there was still a ton of work to be reorganised. But as usual, somehow, she had ended up where she was not supposed to be. Elaine lowered her book further and looked around. Where was she? Perhaps it had not been a good idea to pick up a book and read on her way to the throne room. She had been stressed and reading always calmed her well down but she wandered when reading and now she had no idea where she was. She took in her surroundings. The walls appeared to be lined with strange weapons and the grate floor made noises when she walked along. Up ahead she could see a strange blue light and she began to walk towards it.

It was a casket, a strange glowing blue casket.

"Do you swear to guard the nine realms?"

"I swear."

A noise behind Elaine made her whirl around. She sighed seeing a guard.

"Hello! I'm afraid I'm lost!" She called and the man turned to look at her.

"Elaine, you're missing the coronation, Loki sent me to find you, said you probably had wandered." He said, standing at the entrance to the corridor.

"Where am I?"

"The Weapons Vault."

"And do you swear to preserve the peace?"
"I swear."

"I'm not even sure how you got down here…" The guard said shaking his head, motioning for her to walk towards him. He cocked his head at her slightly however seeing Elaine's terrified expression. "What is it?"

"Behind you!" She managed to choke out but it was too late and his throat was already slit. The being stepped into the corridor, followed by two others.

"Frost giants."

The first one came at her and she moved forwards to duck under the attack, constantly reminding herself what little Sif and Thor had taught her about defending herself. The frost giant swiped at her again and she hurriedly side stepped, pushing the ice sword away from her, like Thor had shown her. She let out a gasp as it burned her and pulled her hand back suddenly, clutching it to her.

"Do you swear to cast aside your selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of the realms?
"I swear!"
"And on this day, I Odin, All-Father, will proclaim you..."

In her moment of hesitantly one had moved up behind her and grabbed her, burning her neck as he sunk his dagger into her side. She let out a gasp of pain.

"Frost giants!" Odin cried out suddenly, causing everyone in the throne room too look up at him as he slammed his staff down on the ground, sending out a shockwave.

The bars behind the blue casket slid open and a huge form stepped out. The front giant dropped Elaine and she hit the floor, her book laying open next to her, blood from her wound staining its pages. She watched through blurry vision the frost giants being shot down one by one until they lay dead like that poor guard. She grit her teeth, moving her hand to try and cover her bleeding wound hurriedly. She was not very big and loss of blood would make her pass out, something she did not need. Her hand and neck stun from the frozen burns and her side refused to begin mending itself.

Footsteps hurried towards her as she slowly pulled herself up to sit against the stand the casket lay on. She looked up to see Odin storm in, followed by his sons. They all stopped at the sight of her and the blood.

"Elaine!" Loki ran around his father and brother and over to her side. Thor could only stand and stare as Loki gently pulled her hand away to see the gaping wound in her side. Elaine winced slightly at the pain.

"Take her to the healers Loki, do it now," Odin ordered stepping forwards to look down at her. "Rest now my girl, you'll be alright."

Elaine shook her head, too scared to fall asleep. She let out a small gasp of pain as Loki collected her in his arms and made a dash for the door out past Thor.

"The Jotuns must pay for what they have done!" Elaine heard Thor shout as Loki carried her out.