I opened my eyes and looked around Jotunheim, the alien world frozen.

The ruins of a city lay in the distance and as I stepped forward, the icy surface of the planet cracked underneath my feet.

"We should not be here," Hogun murmured, his eyes meeting my own. "Too late now," Thor replied, moving towards the city. Fandral looked at Thor's retreating back before looking back at the rune on the ground, "Actually Thor, it is not. We could turn right around, hop back to Asgard, share a mug by the fire?"

I stood, looking at him for a moment longer before moving forward to follow after Thor.

We made it to the frozen city, the ancient structures of jade and ice melting and crumbling around us, undoubtedly ravaged in the war. "Where are the Frost Giants," Sif questioned, Thor moving through the city with ease. "Hiding." Thor led us to a plaza and began to look around, searching for the Jotun warriots. I swallowed as I stopped, listening intently. My hand wrapped around Brunhilda- my sword- and I looked at Thor, "Your Giants are among us."

"What is your business here, Asgardians," a Jotun asked from the shadows.

His voice sounded like cracking ice.

"I will speak only to your King, not to his foot soldiers," Thor replied, his eyes searching the darkness. I glared at him, wanting nothing more than to reprimand him for his careless words- but I knew that it would have to wait; here Thor was in command.

"Then speak."

We all turned to the source of the voice on a balcony high above us, our eyes resting on a massive blue giant who looked as if he were made of the same ice as the throne he sat upon. "I am Laufey, King of this realm," the deep rumbling voice came again.

"And I am-"

"I know who you are Odin-son," Laufey replied shortly. "Why have you brought the stench of your blood into my world?"

Thor's lips drew into a thin line as he looked at Laufey, "I demand answers as to how your men got into Asgard?" The Jotun King stood, towering over us from his throne. "The house of Odin is full of traitors-"

"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies," Loki spat suddenly.

"Your father is a murderer and a thief. He stole what was ours, and left our world in ruins. We have the right to reclaim the Casket."

I stepped in line with the brothers, my hand on my sword. "Not when you would use it to make war against other realms," Thor said angrily, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. Laufey laughed, cold and mockingly, bending over the balcony as if to get a better look at Thor, "So that is why you have come here Thor Odin-son, to make peace. No, you long for battle- you crave it and I see you for what you are: a boy trying to prove himself a man."

Thor took a step forward and the Frost Giants stepped out of the shadows to surround us, my hand locking around Thor's wrist. Loki looked around at the Jotun, the younger son of Odin trying to reason with his brother. "Thor, you must stop and think- look around you. We are outnumbered-"

"Know your place, brother," Thor muttered, his eyes still affixed on Laufey.

"You would do wise to listen to his counsel-you know not what your actions would unleash, but I do. Go now, while I still allow it," the Frost King said as I looked up at him and nodded. "We will accept your most gracious offer. Come now Thor." I wrapped my hand around his and Thor relented, turning his back on Laufey as the Giants behind us parted to let us through. "Yes, follow the woman, child…"

I stopped in my tracks and turned slowly to face the Frost Giant who had spoken, Thor smiling.

"Did you call me woman?"

Thor swung Mjolnir once and hit the Jotun, knocking him across the plaza in which we stood. I pulled my sword and begin to slice at every Frost Giant that attempted to attack, the others beginning to do the same. The battle raged on and I turned to check on Thor's well-being, seeming him dispatch five Jotun on his own. "Come on Laufey! At least make it a challenge for me," he shouted, looking to the King. A massive Jotun came out of the shadows and headed for Thor, as I felled another two Frost Giants in an effort to get to him. The Jotun punched Thor in the chest and I shouted as he flew back across the ice, shocked when Thor rose with a grin. "Now that's more like it," he shouted, throwing Mjolnir with all his strength at the giant.

Fandral cried out and I looked over to see him impaled on a ice stalagmite, a Jotun preparing to deliver the final blow. I threw my sword, and just like an arrow, its aim was true, stabbing the Frost Giant right in the heart.

I ran to Fandral and attempted to pull him off of the ice, inhaling deeply. "I feel as it this wound will leave me marred," he said, shivering even as he tried to smile. "Atleast you still have your face," I replied, bearing his weight easily as I pulled him over my shoulder. I heard him laugh weakly as I pressed my hand over his wound, Fandral's voice faint, "Still pretty?" I nodded and looked to the others, trying to figure out the best manner in which to make our escape.

"Flawless."

Sif and Hogun joined me, supporting Volstagg between them as Loki fought to keep the Jotun away from us. "We have to go," I said, looking over Sif's shoulder at Thor. He was now hammer-less but still fighting, consumed by bloodlust and the savage thrill of the battle. "Thor!" He looked at me and smiled widely before turning back to the fight, the others looking to me for answers. "Let us leave- Thor will be fine. He wouldn't come anyway," I said, running across the ice back towards the rune. I glanced back once when my heart skipped a beat, lightening streaking across the sky as the ground seemed to fall away from my feet. I knew instantly what Thor had done: he had struck Mjolnir to the ground and hailed his lightening so that the hammer could channel the blast. But in doing so, he cracked the ice beneath us, forcing us to run faster to avoid the blackness growing underfoot.

"Thor!"

I screamed when a roar deafened me, my eyes looking up towards the sky as the Bifrost opened up above me: something was coming through the portal.

There was the sound of thundering hooves and I gasped once as Odin-King came out of the maelstrom astride his eight-legged steed. He wore his battle armor and held Gungnir in his hand, an imposing sight to all those around him.

I watched as Thor came out of the city, Laufey twisting one arm behind his back with a dagger of ice at his throat. "Laufey," Odin-King said calmly, the Frost Giant releasing Thor once he was in our midst. He struck the ground and rose himself up eye to eye with the All Father, Thor watching angrily. "End this."

"Your boy sought this out," Laufey replied, my betrothed's eyes narrowing slightly. The king of Asgard looked to Thor and nodded, "You are right- these are indeed the actions of a boy; you should treat them as such. You and I can stop this before there is further bloodshed."

"This is beyond diplomacy now All-Father. He will get what he came for- war and death."

"So be it."

Odin-King threw his spear down onto the rune, calling for Heimdall to open the gate. Before there was any other confrontation was to be had, we were yanked off of the ground and delivered back to Asgard to face the wrath of the King.