We landed back on the bifrost and I promptly collapsed on the floor. Heimdall and Loki rushed to my side, wondering what was wrong with me.
"I don't feel so good," I murmured, my hand clutched to my stomach.
"Travelling by Bifrost does cause that I believe," Heimdall answered, standing over me.
"Elise, are you capable of standing?" Loki asked, kneeling beside me.
I thought about it. "Possibly, If I have something to lean on." I stood slowly, balancing on Loki and Heimdall until I stood.
"Are you sure this is just from the Bifrost, Heimdall?" Loki queried.
I nodded in reply, "Yes, Loki. This is what I feel like after I travel with mum's vortex manipulator." I answered, "Cheap and nasty time travel," I muttered under my breath.
Loki chuckled and even Heimdall, ever stoic, smiled.
"I do believe she is alright," Loki said with a laugh. "Here, lean on me and we will get you back to the castle." I wasn't able to do much more than nod my agreement and lean on Loki as we progressed across the bifrost.

Even to this day, I do not know what the punishment for the Vanir had been. I never cared to find out, sometimes Odin's idea of punishments didn't sit well with the way I had been brought up. I was called in later that day to give a full account of what had happened, and ask permission to return to Vanirheim to retrieve the TARDIS. I wasn't game to go and collect my parents just yet, they would only worry about what had happened to me, and I really don't think the Vanir deserved to feel my father's wrath as well as Odin's.

It was about the middle of the day when Loki and I returned to Asgard. Despite the fact that I had not eaten since breakfast, I was not given lunch. Even if I was hungry, I don't think my travel sick stomach would have handled the food very well. With the exception of when I was called to speak to Odin, I spent the rest of the day in my room, curled up in one of the chairs by the window. Whether it was because of my unsettled stomach, or the pure fact that I had been in the presence of Surtr, I was not left alone for more than a handful of minutes in the rest of the day. When Thor heard that I had returned to Asgard, he wasted no time in coming to visit me. With his booming voice and amusing tales of the other Avengers, all of whom he had come to know quite well since New York, he made me forget about my nausea for a bit. Once he left, Sif came to see me. Despite only having met Sif the once, she was a welcome female presence and I could share my utter disgust over my near marriage with her. The look of utter disbelief she gave me when I told her it was Loki who had rescued me annoyed me a tad. However, after what had happened when Thor was banished, I understood her reaction.

A few minutes after Sif left I went to lie on my bed, and just before I fell asleep, there was a knocking at my door.
"Who is it?" I grumbled
"Loki," His voice floated to me through my door. "May I enter?"
"Do as you wish," I replied, rolling over, "You normally do anyway."
A small laugh came into my room as the door swung open and then gently closed again. I closed my eyes shut and did not look at him. I felt like hell, and really all I wanted to do was be alone to wallow in my misery. Nonetheless, I felt my bed dip as he sat down.
"How are you feeling now Elise?" He asked, a note of genuine concern touching the Liesmith's voice.
Slowly I rolled onto my back and looked at him.
"Do you want the truth?" I asked him.
"Preferably," He replied wryly, a sardonic smile on his lips.
I sighed softly. "And of course you can tell if I'm lying." He nodded at me. "In that case," I said, "I feel like hell." I pushed myself to a sitting position and adjusted my pillow behind me to prop me up.
"How did you know to come looking for me?" I asked quietly.
"It had been too long since you had hung up, and you weren't here," Loki began, "So I asked Heimdall if he could see you." I nodded, following his thinking. "When he said that you were in Vanirheim I wasn't so worried, I had concluded that the TARDIS had misdirected you as you have previously mentioned she does."
"She does have a habit of doing that, doesn't she?" I agreed with a laugh. "Go on," I encouraged.
"When Heimdall told me exactly where you were and who else was there, I got quite angry," A strange look passed over Loki's face, "I went there myself, and you know the rest of the events."
I smiled at him, despite my stomach telling me that it wanted to forcibly evacuate the past years' worth of food that I had consumed.
"Thank you," I whispered, "You saved me."
A genuine smile erupted onto Loki's face. "It is nothing compared to the amount of times that you have saved me, Elise."

I closed my eyes, the world suddenly swimming before me. I felt a hand on my forehead, then Loki muttered "You are hot, Elise."
I mumbled agreement rather half-heartedly, not willing to open my mouth. Suddenly the hand on my forehead felt cold, much colder than a normal person's. In surprise I opened my eyes.
A blue arm stretch before me, leading to a Jotun body. I almost gasped in surprise when I realised that Loki had reverted to his Jotun form.
"Mmmh," I murmured instead, "That feels nice."
"You don't think me a monster?" He asked quizzically.
"I told you before," I replied, "Being a Jotun does not make you a monster."
"That was before you saw my true form," He muttered.
A small laugh of derision escaped my lips. "I'm still here aren't I?" I scoffed. "I'm a time traveller who jumps through time and space. A little blue tinge to your skin and red eyes doesn't scare me." I looked him dead in the eye.
"Though, I am starting to feel a little cold," I added as an afterthought.
Taking the hint, he withdrew his hand and slowly changed back to his normal colour.
"You are sleepy, are you not?" He asked softly.
"Yea," I agreed, slowly sinking back into the bed.
"Go to sleep," He whispered, rising from where he had been sitting.
Then I was out like the proverbial light.

I was back in Vanirheim, standing before Surtr. He reached out to me, and I was unable to move away. He placed his hand on my shoulder, spinning me around as he looked me up and down. I squirmed, feeling dirty under his intense gaze.
"Yes, you will do," He said, pulling me closer. "Let us go to my realm."
I opened my mouth and nothing came out. I took a gasp and tried again, and this time a scream ripped itself from my throat.
I awoke with a start, wide eyed and shaking in my bed. The sun was still up outside my window, a clear view of the royal Asgard gardens stretching beyond the glass. I tried to quiet my racing heart, when my door swung open with a resounding bang. Loki stood in the doorway, then came striding to my side, his knife unsheathed and in his hand.
"What is wrong, Elise?" He asked, a battle ready edge in his voice.
A shaky laugh escaped my lips. "Nothing," I replied, willing my voice not to shake too much, "A nightmare, that's all."
Re-sheathing his knife, Loki sank onto the edge of my bed.
"Would you care to talk about it?" He asked gently.
I shook my head. "Not particularly," I said with a grim smile, "I am sorry for disturbing you."
"No disturbance, my lady." He said with a mocking grin.
"Return to what you were doing, Loki," I said with a tired laugh.
"I do as I wish, girl of Gallifrey," He laughed, "I think I will stay if that, pleases you?"
"You do as you wish, my prince" I answered cheekily, before rolling onto my side and returning to my slumber.