Chapter 6

Everyone sat around in the kitchen eating breakfast and planning strategy. They now knew Loki was being held on a small waste planet in the outer realms; they were attacking later that day. Odin had ordered ten troops to accompany them.

"Everyone go back to your room and suit up." Steve said.

Elani walked into her room and started taking her top off.

"Whoa there!"

Elani jumped and looked over in the corner; Fandral was sitting down holding a package.

"Here." He handed it to her. "Good luck getting Loki back."

"Thanks."

He walked out of the room; she closed and locked the door as a safe measure. She set the package down and opened it; she gasped. Inside was fine Asgardian leather armor. It was a dark forest green color and, oh! They had made fine hunting boots as well. She could have cried; they would be much better protected than they had previously thought. She quickly slipped the armor on before tying her hair back and equipping the throwing knives from Loki's safe. She ran from her room, taking a small empty pack to the kitchen.

~O~

"Thor!"

Thor turned at the sight of his name. Sif came running down the hallway towards him.

"Sif!"

He picked her up and hugged her tightly.

"Thor, be careful."

He put her down and started to fuss over her.

"How are you feeling? I wasn't aware you were awake."

"I've only been up for two days."

"Have you met our guests?"

"I dropped off some armor at Captain Roger's door."

"Armor?"

"Odin wanted everyone properly outfitted for the journey."

Thor took her hands in his.

"Thank you Sif. I—I'm glad you're safe."

Sif smiled.

"While I lay dying on Jotunheim, my one regret—"

"What? You can tell me anything." Thor smiled at her, giving her encouragement.

"My one regret was never telling you how I felt." She looked up at him through her eyelashes.

Thor was shocked.

"I-I, I hav—"

She dropped his hands.

"It's OK Thor; I just needed you to know." She whispered. "I should go get some rest."

She turned to walk back to her rooms.

"We will talk Sif; about Jotunheim, about everything upon my return."

She didn't turn. Thor shook his head and walked off in the opposite direction. Only then did Sif turn to watch him walk away, a sad expression on her face.

~O~

Knock, knock. Clint and Bruce looked at each other. Steve had left ten minutes ago with a strange package addressed to him. They opened the door expecting it to be him. Instead it was a larger, bearded Asgardian.

"Hello Midgardians! I am Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three, and a friend of Thor!"

"Hello, I am Hawkeye, and this is Hulk." Clint said, introducing them by their alternate names.

"These are for you, requested by Odin."

"What is it?" Clint took the two packages handed to him by Volstagg; one of them was significantly heavier than the other.

"Armor for you." He looked somber then. "And good luck friends."

He bowed before turning and walking away.

"Here." Clint handed Bruce the heavier of the armors.

Clint unboxed his and put it on. It was black, the way he liked it. It was incredibly light but well-made. He was glad to have it. Bruce opened his. It was green…Hulk green. He shrugged but put it on. There was a note at the bottom of the box.

"We were told of your…predicament. This armor should stretch and expand with you so you can wear it in both forms."

The paper wasn't signed but Bruce was suddenly excited about the possibility of having armor in battle. They were ready to go. They turned as another knock sounded on the door. It was Steve, standing with dark blue armor and his shield.

"Ready?" Steve asked.

"Yes." They said in unison.

~O~

"We're all here?" Thor did another head count, just to make sure they had everyone.

"Wait!" Frigga called, running down the BiFrost. Odin and the Warriors Three were right behind her.

"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye were you?" Frigga hugged Thor and whispered in his ear before disentangling herself. Odin walked over to Thor and shook his hand.

Frigga approached Elani and hugged her fiercely.

"Congratulations on your engagement, future-daughter." Frigga pulled back to see Elani's face.

"Bring my son back safe." A tear escaped her eye before she stopped herself from crying.

"I will bring him back home." Elani said intensely.

Odin touched Frigga on the shoulder.

"We should let them go." Frigga nodded her head.

As Sif walked by Elani put a hand on her arm.

"Good luck." Sif blushed but nodded her head.

Everyone took a deep breath.

"Heimdall open the BiFrost." Thor spoke with anticipation; he couldn't wait to bash in the skulls responsible for taking his brother.

The familiar cool lull of the BiFrost took over and when it was over they landed on a desolate black planet.