Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or Thor

Taking Hold

Chapter Ten

Thor paced at the door of his chambers. The Healers were being absolutely useless, he thought angrily. Honestly, how hard was it to figure out why someone had fainted? Odin had arrived a few moments ago, but was still being utterly quiet.

"Father, what don't they know?" he hissed, making sure everyone was out of earshot.

"They know of everything, and have been asked to remain quiet until such a time as we announce it," he replied. "Being that she was infected by the Aether, this could be all from that. Or it might be her body simply adjusting," he added. Thor fumed silently, a muscle in his jaw ticking. "Thor, it is very possible that we might lose her. The damage from the Aether may have been too great," he said quietly, grasping his son's shoulder. But Thor shrugged him off angrily.

"I will not lose her, Father," he declared, moving to her bedside and reaching for her hand.

"Inviting her to become Asgardian was not a cure-all," Odin stated. "It was our only option and it still held risks."

"Sire," a Healer said quietly, brazenly touching Odin's forearm. His gaze snapped to hers and she meekly pulled her hand away. "Tis just a side effect of the Apples. Her body has undergone much and she merely needs rest. Tis only been a week and she has gone from human to Elven and now we are asking her to become Asgardian. T'would be too much for any mortal. Let her sleep and I believe that she will be alright," she finished, giving a short bow and exiting the room with the other Healers.

Thor gave a visible sigh of relief. He relaxed, as if Mjolnir itself has been lifted from his shoulders. Odin stepped closer and grasped Thor's shoulder.

"I will return later to see how she is doing," he said. Just as Odin reached the door, Thor spoke.

"I am sorry for my outburst, Father," he said. "I fear losing her now that I have only just gotten her back. I think I would be lost without her."

"Tis understandable, son," Odin replied. "I am lost now, without your mother."

"What is to become of Loki?" Thor asked, remembering that his brother was still roaming the Asgardian streets.

"He has been granted a reprieve for his help defeating Malekith. Provided he behaves as a prince is expected, it will remain indeterminate," Odin replied.

"And what of the repercussions of my actions?" he asked hesitantly.

"I think the worry of losing your beloved is enough for now," Odin replied quietly, a twisted bit of pride in his voice. It was not the response Thor had been expecting. And it angered him beyond belief.

"Get out," he growled under his breath. He had to force himself to let go of Jane's hand for fear of gripping too hard. Instead, he gripped the arm of the chair he was seated in. Within moments, the wood snapped beneath his fingers.

"Begging your pardon?" Odin asked, staring at Thor incredulously.

"I said, get out," he growled more loudly, leaping to his feet and pointing at the door behind Odin.

"Thor, you would do well to remember who you speak to," he threatened.

"I know well who I speak to: my father," Thor bit out. "The man who claims to have welcomed Jane, my betrothed," he stressed, "into our family and now is emotionless about her health or the love I bear her. This is the third time I have faced losing her, and you think it all to be a game!" he shouted, voice rising with every word he spoke.

"Are you seeking out my anger?" Odin questioned, just as loud as his son had become. Before Thor could answer, Loki calmly opened the door.

"Be gone with you, brother," Thor griped, turning back towards Jane.

"Out, both of you," he said in firm but quiet voice. Thor and Odin just stared.

"Who has died and made you king, brother?" Thor demanded, glowering now at Loki.

"No one yet, but if you do not listen and get in the corridor, the Healers just might," he snapped out. His emerald eyes were betraying his anger and displeasure in his so-called family. When neither listened to him, as he had guessed, he gave a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. "The Healers believe that your fighting is going to make Jane more ill. They want you to leave and take the 'disagreement' elsewhere," he surmised, still thinking that it was a full blown argument.

Thor threw a last lingering look towards Jane sleeping on the bed before storming past Loki and Odin. They glanced after him to see that he was storming out of the tower where his chambers were situated. When he had passed around a corner, Loki looked back at Odin, eyebrows raised. Odin scoffed, uttering a small noise of disgust, before brushing past Loki and back to his throne room.

Loki sighed, wishing that Odin would stop playing his games with him and Thor. It no longer mattered; Thor would never give up the throne and Odin would never give it to Loki. That much had always been clear. The only question that remained is why Odin continued to insinuate as much.

"Thank you, Prince Loki," one of the Healers said quietly after Odin had left. Loki paused, taken aback slightly by her words. Not many remained in Asgard that would look at him twice, let alone speak with him.

"No problem at all," he replied, turning to look at the Healer. She was roughly half a foot shorter than him, with raven black hair and eyes that were bluer than his mother's. "I don't believe I caught your name," he found himself saying. When he realized what he'd done, he cursed himself. Surely he wasn't falling for this Healer? He had just laid eyes on her!

"We don't give our names, but you can call me Sigyn," she smiled, brushing past him and into Thor's chambers to check on Jane.

"Have you found someone to steal your fancy?" Thor asked with a light chuckle. There was still some anger in his voice but it seemed to fade when he noticed that Odin was nowhere in sight. Loki sent a frown his way and walked down the corridor. He was heading to his own chambers, which were in a nearby corridor.

"Didn't we send you away?" he asked grumpily. He knew exactly how Thor was going to act now.

"Yes, but since they are my chambers and my betrothed within, I felt it pertinent to return," he replied. "At least once I was certain that Father had left. I wish to know what his game is now," Thor mused angrily. So it appeared that they were on the same line of thinking.

"Because of your argument?" Loki questioned lightly.

"Exactly that!" Thor said, keeping pace with his brother despite Loki's attempts at hurrying. "He claims to have welcomed Jane into Asgard and has even gone so far as to offer her Idunn's Apples. But now, he is neither hurt nor worried about her condition."

"How did your argument start in the first place?" Loki questioned, looking at Thor beside him. He grimaced, scratching at the back of his head. "Surely it can't be that bad."

"It probably is not," Thor replied, watching the tiles beneath him as he walked. "Do you remember when Father told me that I would still have to pay for my actions of breaking you and Jane out of prison?" When Loki nodded, he continued. "I had inquired after it and his response was that worrying for Jane's life was fitting enough for now." He had adopted a sullen look and Loki could see exactly why Thor had reacted in such a way.

"I do not know what to tell you, brother," he replied lamely.

"Tell me she is going to be alright?" he asked stupidly, eyes clouded with worry. Loki didn't know what to do; Thor's eyes were pleading for help but he was too stunned to do or say anything. After too many seconds of quiet, he gathered himself together.

"Go and be by her side. When she wakes, she will be looking for you," he suggested. Thor nodded, rubbing tiredly at his face, before turning back the way they had come. "Brother," Loki called a moment later. Thor paused and glanced at him. "She'll be fine. I can feel it," he added. Thor managed a weak half-smile and disappeared around the corner.

When he was gone, Loki let out a sigh. Avoiding his brother's questions had always been a tiring thing. But now that he was so wrapped around Jane, Loki was forced to field the emotions as well. And that was something he didn't do very well so he tried to avoid it all costs. And now that Thor had brought up Jane's plight, he was forced to remember Mother's death.

With an angry sound, he slammed his chamber door shut and dropped onto his bed. He snapped his fingers and brought a book from his bookshelf towards him. He hoped that reading one of his favorite novels would be enough to distract him. About a chapter in, the main character had found himself in an awkward conversation with a woman. Loki could only imagine Sigyn, regardless of the description. The image of Sigyn's playful smile as she brushed past him stuck in his mind.

He tried to push it out of his mind and turn back to his book. The Healers rarely took to love; their first, and oft times only, love was caring for those who resided on Asgard. It was highly unlikely when one of them took a mate. But he couldn't get her smile and bright eyes out of his mind and he found himself rereading the same page three or four times before he realized it. With a disgruntled sigh, he flung the book carelessly onto his bed and padded to his desk. Resting atop it was his treasured scepter from the Chitauri.

After carefully retrieving the weapon, he noticed that it's gleaming golden handle was a bit scuffed. He frowned, thinking that he had taken care of it after dealing with Malekith. Apparently, he had not been as thorough as he had hoped.

It was nearly dusk when he finally set the scepter aside. With a small sigh, he found that he was going to have to head down for the evening meal and deal with more people. He wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but his stomach had been making noises for the better part of an hour.

The spot he chose was deep in the corner where few would see him but he would see all. Odin was at the head of the feast, scowling at his plate of food. Apparently something had been bothering him. A closer look revealed that the spot at his right hand, usually reserved for Thor, was completely empty. Loki was gobsmacked and he frowned, peering around the hall and seeing if Thor had perhaps chosen a shadow much like his own. But Thor wasn't even there. There were only two possible reasons for Thor to miss a meal and it somewhat worried Loki.

He hurried his way through two plates of quail and roasted vegetables before scampering down to the kitchens. The women jumped when he walked in but the one guy in the whole room glared him down. Loki cleared his throat and tried to appear bigger and more like a prince.

"Have you heard word of Thor?" he asked calmly.

"Ain't heard nothing since the morning meal," the man replied in a voice that was obviously from the lesser part of Asgard. Loki scowled at the comment before looking gently at a woman retrieving clean platters. She quailed under his gaze.

"Would you be so kind as to prepare a meal for the Crown Prince and Jane Foster?" he asked, careful not to reveal Jane's new position. He would not be that cruel to his brother. She nodded meekly and immediately went about gathering food. When she was finished, she was ready to brush past Loki and carry it to Thor herself. Except Loki easily plucked the overladen tray from her hands, grabbing one hand and kissing it gently.

"Thank you. I can take it from here," he said, smiling sweetly.

"Do not bother with the kitchen help or we will have words," the man, obviously a butcher, threatened, waving a cleaving knife at him.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Loki swore, making his way back up to the tower housing Thor's chambers. He truly wouldn't dream of it; thoughts of Sigyn were still floating through his mind. When he arrived, he knocked gently. A quiet voice from within bid him entry. When he opened the door, he found Thor practically lying in Jane's lap. She was sitting up and laughing at something Loki had just missed. The smell of roast quail must have wafted from under the lid on the tray as they both stopped everything and stared at him with wide eyes.

Jane rushed out of bed, dislodging a now grumpy Thor in the process. He grumbled as he sat up on the bed and brushed the hair out of his face.

"Careful, it might be heavy…" he started to say when Jane snatched the tray out of his hand and hurried back to the bed. She appeared to have no trouble at all crossing the room with the platter even though it must have weighed as much as she did. "Was she this strong as a mortal?" he questioned. Thor looked up from the leg of quail he had just bitten into.

"No, but the Healers say that either the Aether has made her stronger or the Apples are having a much faster effect," Thor replied when he had swallowed.

"You didn't bring anything to drink?" Jane scoffed, glancing around. Thor must have been on the same track for he stopped searching the room and nodded. Loki frowned, having forgotten that. He smiled sheepishly and gave a light shrug of his shoulders.

"Would you like me to head back down and fetch something?" he offered, pointing over his shoulder.

"Yes." "No." They both spoke at the same time and glanced at each other. Jane promptly broke out into laughter. Thor only chuckled.

"Tis of no worry, brother. We thank you for bringing food for us though," Thor said when Jane had quieted a bit. "I was just trying to convince Jane to come down and eat."

"I believe I would rather listen to my Queen," Loki said smoothly.

"Bring ale and water," Thor suggested then, giving an understanding nod.

"Water?" Loki questioned, staring at him curiously.

"For Jane. She does not like ale and I do not think she requires any wine tonight," he replied. Almost to prove his point, she promptly burst into another fit of laughter. Loki looked at her in bewilderment. "I know not what has caused this in her," he added, trying to avoid laughing himself. Her laughter was infectious, for even Loki found himself smiling.

"Perhaps it is an herb we use in cooking. Remember, not everything is the same as Earth," Loki suggested, heading back to the kitchens.

"Wait, what do you guys use for seasoning?" Jane asked, staring at Thor curiously.

"It is of no importance," he replied, waving it off easily. "They would go by different names here regardless. Oh, you must try this!" Thor said instead, pointing to a small custard pie. He allowed himself a small smirk at how easily distracted she was right now. With a nervous look, she took a small bite of the pie. She looked as if she had found Valhalla's feast.

"Oh my gosh, this is delicious! How come I haven't tried anything like this before?" she questioned.

"Because it is only made here on Asgard," he replied, tearing back into his leg of quail. Silence fell between them as they ate. A few moments later, Loki returned with their drinks. Jane happily took the pitcher of water and filled a goblet. Thor was half-tempted to drink the ale straight from the pitcher.

"You have no idea the looks I was given when I went down to the kitchens," Loki muttered, sighing heavily. "Who here drinks just water, anyway?"

"That may be so, but I thank you, brother," Thor replied. "Now, tell me about this woman who has stolen your fancy."

"Tis no such thing," Loki replied haughtily, putting his nose in the air.

"Loki's got a crush?!" Jane excitedly surmised. He pulled a face, grimacing at her comment.

"I suppose you could call it that," Thor chuckled. "Pray tell us of this rare beauty," he pressed. But he remained tight-lipped, crossing his arms and scowling about the room.

"Come on, who is she?" Jane urged, almost bouncing on the bed. In fact, if it weren't for the food, she just might have started bouncing.

"A Healer," he grudgingly admitted.

"Brother, have you been using your silver tongue on the streets?" Thor questioned, raising one eyebrow.

"I have not been using my silver tongue," he retorted, resisting a sudden urge to stick his tongue out like a child would.

"Well, how else would you be able to make a Healer fall for you?" he asked, frowning in confusion.

"Because I stopped an argument between you and Odin. They were too terrified to do anything," he replied.

"What were you guys arguing about?" Jane asked, ever curious.

"Tis nothing," Thor replied, waving his hand and watching Loki. "Yes, but that does not explain why one Healer took a shining to you."

"Thor, it's obviously something if you were arguing with your father," Jane pressed. Loki sighed, already realizing that she could be like a dog with a bone.

"We got into a spot of trouble when we were trying to fix everything," he informed. Thor glared at him and he simply shrugged. "Brother, you cannot keep it from her should the All-Father actually choose a punishment," Loki commented, staring at Thor knowingly.

"I suppose you are right, but I will not explain now," Thor replied. "There are many things that we have to do and I will not burden you with such knowledge."

"Thor, we are getting married in less than a month," Jane snapped. Her voice was surprisingly controlled. "On Earth, it's usually a big deal when a husband and wife don't share things."

"You will not take no for an answer then," Thor surmised. "Might I persuade you to be patient in another way?" he asked, smirking at her, a glint in his eye. Loki abruptly stood to his feet and marched to the door.

"I think I will go…deal with my problem with Sigyn on my own," he choked out, trying not to gag at Thor's suggestion.

"She has a name!" Jane exclaimed happily, a laugh escaping her. Loki sighed; even Jane would not let him live this down. And he had only added fuel to their fire.

"Well, you 'persuade' her, brother. I am retiring to my chambers," he said, giving an unnecessary, but polite, bow before exiting the room.

"Now, about that persuasion?" Thor asked, turning to Jane with unpredictable look on his face.

I don't think Loki is the only one with a silver tongue here on Asgard...

I hope that makes up for the minor heart attack I gave you last chapter. Because hey, look, she's feeling better!

Anyways, R&R, just like always.

~LE