A/N

Sorry everyone. Meant to post this about an hour ago, but the exact same thing as last time happened. A certain parent was actually behind the internet going out this time, I got a little angrier at them than was probably smart, and long story short my hand is broken again and I had to type out the last 300 words with my left hand. I'll try and get the next chapter in on time, though (I've really been looking forward to writing it), so fingers crossed that I can type again by saturday. Please review, and thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. It's thanks to you those last few hundred words got written at all:)

Thor was shaken awake from his second Loki-free night in a row by a pair of slim hands.

"Thor, wake up. We need to go now."

He raised his head, and blinked sleepily at the shadowy figure above him. It took him a moment to process the voice. "Mother?"

The blankets were pulled off of him and a bundle of fabric thrust into his hands. "If you want to see your brother again, you will do exactly as I say without question. Time is running short, we must move quickly." The lamp by his bedside flickered on, illuminating the tired looking face of his mother. He was immediately alert, jumping out of bed and dressing as quickly as he could.

"Did you find him? Where is he? How-"

"Quiet, I will explain on the way. Follow me, and stay silent." She turned and left without another word. Pulling the hood of his cloak over his head, Thor followed.

The halls of the palace were silent, save for the hurried sounds of their feet. Thor was bursting with questions, but he knew better than to disobey his mother, so he kept them in. They still pestered him, though. Where were they going, and why now? Had Frigga's friend found his brother? Was he in immediate danger? Judging from her urgent attitude, he could only assume that Loki was alive and that a rescue was taking place.

They exited the palace and emerged in a garden. The prince had to move quickly to keep up with Frigga as they headed down the steep path that he knew from experience lead to a narrow beach. The path was unkempt, and he had to dodge rocks and trees as he followed her. The trek took under ten minutes, and when he arrived at the foot of the hill he found, to his surprise, a small boat waiting in the water with Frigga already climbing in. She beckoned to him before turning to quietly speak to the second figure.

"…less than two hours." Thor caught the last few words of their conversation as he climbed unsteadily into the small boat. Despite his mother's orders to keep silent, he couldn't help himself from butting in.

"Two hours for what?"

The figure turned to look at him. Now that he was closer, he could make out the face of a woman beneath the hood of the cloak. She was much older than his mother, although she shared the same bright blue eyes and fair hair. She nodded her head in respect to Thor. "Your Highness. It is an honor to meet you."

He imitated her gesture. "Likewise. Now what did you mean by two hours?"

A smile flickered across her face at his demanding tone before fading into a more somber expression. "That is the amount of time we have to locate your brother. I have a source within the Chitauri realm, and I learned earlier today that the prince's execution is to be held tonight. There was no exact time, only that it would take place soon after midnight. And that..." she glanced up at the sky. "Happens to be slightly under two hours from now."

The boat had begun to move and was rapidly picking up speed. Thor turned to look in the direction they were heading in, but he saw anothing but the gleaming black sea and a few small islands of rock that jutted out of it's surface. It was one of these that they seemed to be heading directly towards, despite the fact that it could be no more than five or six feet across. He turned to his mother in confusion. "Where are we going?"

Without looking up, she nodded towards the island. The gateways between worlds are well hidden. Why do you think it took so long to find?"

They slowed as they approached the island, but the boat still lurched as they scraped up against the shore. Unfazed by the movement, the cloaked woman stood and walked over to Thor. "Here, Odinson. Take this. It will light your way through the gateway. We do not know how long the passage will be, but it is unlikely there will be any light, and you need to move as quickly as possible." Her hands were stronger than he would have expected as she shoved something small and cold into his hands and pushed him towards the end of the boat. He stumbled slightly, nearly falling into the water, before regaining his balance to step towards his mother.

She wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling him into a hug. "Bring him back to me. Preferably in one peice." She was trying to keep her tone light, but Thor could hear the fear underneath.

"I will."

He stepped off the boat as the woman spoke again. "There will be a guide waiting for you at the other end of the gateway. If he is not there, wait for him. I don't care how long it takes for him to get there. You have no chance of surviving in those tunnels alone, much less of finding your brother in time."

Thor nodded in understanding, and with one last look back at his mother stepped forward into the shadows of the gateway tunnel.