Hi guys,

Sorry about the wait, uni has been hectic. It's a short chapter today, but I thought it was better than nothing.

I hope you enjoy

Lyna x

WARNINGS FOR MENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A MINOR AND ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A MINOR


Hooves crashed against the hard surface of the rainbow bridge, five horses galloped towards the Bifrost; Asgard's Crown Prince and his four friends were seated upon them. Thor's face was stained with tear tracks, fresh ones still running down his peach-fuzz covered cheeks. Dread bubbled in his heart, he feared the worst, he feared Heimdall would confirm his brother's death.

Their horses skidded to a halt when they reached the Bifrost Observatory; the youngsters dismounted and ran to Heimdall, who was stood staring out into the cosmos.

"I know why you are here, my Prince. Chose your words carefully as I have been forbidden to speak of much that has occurred," Heimdall stated in a deep voice.

"Is Loki alive?" Thor asked, Sif reached out and took Thor's hand in her own, squeezing it. Fandral similarly put a reassuring hand on Thor's shoulder.

"I know not, my Prince. I did not see him die, but no longer can I see him,"

"What did you last see of him Gatekeeper?"

"The horse he rode was startled, rearing up and making him loose his seat. He became scared and ran. He disappeared from my view as he did so."

"What?" Thor asked, brow creasing as he looked down. "How is that possible?"

"There are ways to travel the Nine Realms that even I am blind to. I fear Loki may have stumbled upon one,"

"So he could be in another of the Nine Realms?" Sif asked.

"He could, or he could be lost in the branches of Yggdrasil." Heimdall replied solemnly.

"Do you truly believe that?" Thor asked, still staring at the floor,

"I believe if anyone were able to blindly find their way out of the branches it would be young Loki,"

"Well that good, is it not Thor?" Volstagg asked, "There is a chance Loki maybe alive yet."

Thor nodded slowly, using his free hand to wipe away the ever falling tears.

"Heimdall, why did Loki run away? Was it because of me?"

"Partly my Prince," Heimdall stated, "Many people view my all-seeing eyes a gift, but I see them more as a curse."

"A curse?" Hogun asked,

"Ay, my curse is to see all, powerless to change anything. I have observed many things happen to young Loki, none of them fair. He has been hurt by many people. By people he should have been able to trust."

"So me?"

"Not just you, my Prince. By many."

"By whom?" Thor asked

"I have been forbidden to say,"

"So someone close to Odin then?" Hogun mused,

"Watch your words young warrior, if a certain general heard you he would not take too kindly," Heimdall stated,

"Tyr," Thor growled, "He has never been kind to Loki, you're saying he has hurt my brother,"

"I cannot confirm or deny your suspicions, however if he did it was the worse abuse imaginable."

"I thank you for your information Heimdall; keep an eye out for my brother, please,"

"I will my Prince. You may wish to ask your Mother the truth about Loki's heritage; it may help you with your search for him."

Thor frowned confused.

"Very well, good day," Thor turned back to his horse,

"Good day Prince Thor, and good luck,"


Leaving his horse with the stable hands Thor and his friends went to his Mother's quarters. When he got there he found her sat in a large cushioned chair, surrounded by fussing servants. He burst into the room, startling the servants and making Freyja scowl. Frigga shook her head tiredly but said nothing.

"Mother, I have done as you asked," Thor said, breathlessly. Frigga nodded.

"Leave us," the Queen said to the servants who left without question, Freyja however, hesitated.

"My Queen..."

"I am well Freyja; I just need to rest,"

"The stress is not good for you, my Queen,"

"I know but it cannot be helped. I will be relieved of stress when my little Loki is returned to me," Frigga stated,

"Very well, however do not let your worry for one child affect another," Frigga nodded at Freyja and the young Goddess left the room.

"What have you found out my Darling?"

"Heimdall could not say much, Father had already ordered him to be quiet," Thor said, "however, he was able to reveal that he did not see Loki die, he believes Loki has fallen through a gap in the branches of Yggdrasil," Frigga's eyes were wide with worry.

"My poor baby," she sighed, "but Heimdall thinks Loki may be alive?" Thor nodded, "That's promising then, your Father wishes to call off the search. If Heimdall believes Loki to be off the realm then they will not find him anyway."

"He said he will keep an eye out for him on the other realms," Thor said, the Warriors Three and Sif nodded,

"Did Heimdall see why he ran? He was after all the one who alerted us to it,"

"Many things Mother, all of our behaviours towards him were unjust. We bullied him and ignored him; none showed him the respect he deserved."

"He implied that Tyr was the worst." Sif added

"General Tyr?" Frigga asked,

"I do not understand though," Thor shook his head,

"What do you mean, my son?"

"Tyr is an unpleasant man, but how are his harsh words worse than what I have done to Loki. I broke his wrist, I threatened to kill him, how is what he did worse?"

"I do not know Son, he never complained of any injury," Frigga mused aloud,

"I may know," Hogun said after a moment. All people turned to look at the young warrior who shuffled awkwardly under their gaze.

"A few years ago Tyr approached me. It was after a lesson. He said something about it being my turn to put the weapons away." Hogun started before pausing and taking a large breath, "after you all had left he started say stuff, about how it was a great dishonour to train a Vanir, that we should remember our place and that Asgard should be closed to us."

"He went on and on about how the Vanir are a lower life form and should be used for pleasure and nothing more. That Asgard should return the Vanir to enslavement. He began to unbuckle his breeches. I'm sure he was going to rape me. But some guard called out for him, and I managed to get away."

"I've avoided being alone with him since," Thor, Sif, Volstagg and Fandral were taken aback. Frigga had tears running down her face.

"I have never liked Tyr; he was violent towards me when I came here. I knew he was prejudice towards Vanir, but I never thought he would be capable of hurting a child like that,"

"I'm so sorry Hogun," Fandral said quietly,

"It's okay, I have had time to come to terms with it, and in the end he was not able to do as he wished."

"You think Tyr may have hurt my brother in this way?"

"It could be what Heimdall was eluding to, it is much worse than anything you could have ever done," the group nodded,

"But why? Loki is not Vanir; he's Asgardian, why would Tyr have something against him?" Volstagg asked,

"His Seidr?" Sif suggested, "A lot of people dislike him for it; Tyr is one of them,"

"Well he's half Vanir, just as Thor is," Fandral shrugged,

"Is he Mother?" Thor asked, "Heimdall told me to ask of Loki's heritage, is that what he meant?"

"No, my Darling, Loki is not half Vanir like you," Frigga said, "Come here," she patted the chair next to her. Thor hesitated a moment before moving to sit down. Frigga took his hand in both of hers.

"Mother?" Thor breathed,

"At the end of the war with Jotunheim, the second one, Odin brought back a baby, Laufey's son, abandoned in the snow for he was too small. Laufey believed the baby would not survive, your Father, however, thought differently. He cast a glamour over the baby to make him look Asgardian and brought him home.

As soon as he placed Loki in my arms I knew the Norns had meant for him to be ours. I just knew. Odin agreed that we should raise him and we announced his birth the next day. Only Odin, Tyr, Heimdall and I knew of his origin," Frigga explained, smiling softly as she spoke.

"So he's not my little brother?" Thor asked, voice weak and broken as he stared at their joined hands.

"Of course he is, maybe not by blood but through bond,"

"Does Loki know?"

"No, he has no idea," Frigga stated, "I wished to tell him, but Odin forbade it. He seems to forbid a lot of things,"

"The benefits of being a King," Hogun said,

"What do we do now?" Thor asked, gazing up at his mother.

"I do not know, my little love, but let me think. Odin and Tyr will not get away with this."


I hope you liked the chapter.

As part of my degree, I am doing a research project into Norse Mythology and I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer these questions. If you do you will remain anonymous.

My research question is: "To what extent is Norse Mythology and culture accurately portrayed in modern media and fiction?"

If you could answer the following questions:

1. Are you interested in Norse Mythology?

2. Have you come across Norse Mythology before? Where did you find this information?

3. Has your personal beliefs, creativity or inspiration been affected by your own knowledge of Norse Mythology and the presentation of it in modern media? If so, how?

4. Do you believe, in relation to Norse Mythology, accuracy is not important as long as the story is good? Why do you think this?

Thank you for your time.

Lyna x