FOUR
I sense there's something in the wind
That feels like tragedy's at hand
And though I'd like to stand by him
Can't shake this feeling that I have
The worst is just around the bend
- "Sally's Song," Catherine O'Hara
A month or two had passed since Thor had left Asgard. He had only been back one time since then. But he was content with his new life, with Jane, without the burdens of princehood and memories of his childhood… memories now marred by his knowledge of the future.
But now, he had returned to Asgard once more. He fully intended to leave right after he had found what he was looking for… but Fate had other plans.
Thor strode into the library, looking for a book. It was much harder than he had thought. Asgard's royal library was full of twists and turns, nooks and crannies. But, whenever he had wanted a book in the past, Loki would go with him, rolling his eyes all the way. My, brother, he'd say, I think you're getting slow. Well, slower. You can't even find a book without help!
Thor smiled wistfully. Those were the days. Carefree and innocent, unaware of their futures… of Loki's future.
He rounded a corner, then another, searching for the astronomy sections. Jane's birthday was approaching, and he had wanted to get her an Asgardian book.
He rounded another corner and stumbled upon the painting of himself and Odin. He winced. He did not much like that painting, and remembered only to well the bore of sitting for it, but liked even less that Loki had been excluded from it.
He could still remember Odin saying, Loki, it is a great honor to have a sole portrait! And Loki had said nothing, but the look in his eyes told Thor that he knew the truth.
Thor was suddenly filled with a longing to see his brothers' face again. To have him die, not once, but twice when Thor could have saved him stung deeply. But he had died with honor, in the end. He had avenged Frigga. And he had died in his arms…
He strode down the hall, and quickly saw his brother's portrait. It had not been cleaned recently, and he felt another pang. Forgotten, unloved… my poor brother. Loki's green eyes glimmered with mischief, but Thor could see behind them now to the loneliness and pain.
Lost in thought, he jumped a bit as he heard a muffled thump coming from a few aisles over. Was it the Dark Elves? Had they infiltrated the palace again? Ready to fight, he grasped Mjolnir and went to investigate.
Yet when he reached the aisle, he saw not a Dark Elf, but a young girl, garbed in Asgardian green and black. She had fallen to the floor
He immediately rushed to her side, attempting to wake her, but failing. Her pulse was rapid, but her face was pale.
Once again he wished that Loki were there, but for a far different reason. He had been far more skillful at healing magic than he had let on.
What to do?
He made up his mind that he would take her to the healers.
He had never seen her before, which was strange. He thought that he knew all those with access to Asgard's library.
Then again, he had been away for a while, and it had been even longer since he had been in the library.
He gathered her up in his arms and made for the infirmary.
"This woman is a Midgardian, my lord."
"What?" Thor was completely bewildered. How could a Midgardian woman have come to be in Asgard's library?
"It is puzzling that she is dressed in Asgardian silk."
"Indeed," Odin said loudly, striding into the room. "Thor." He inclined his head to his son.
"Father," Thor began, "I - "
"Another day, another Midgardian woman on my healing table. What is wrong with this one? Does she herald another end of days?"
"I do not know, Father."
"She has not yet awakened, Your Grace," the healer said. "Her mind is walled, and she is trapped inside."
She moved her hands, and a map appeared, filled with mountains and valleys and plains.
"This is a map of her mind."
She waved her hands again, and the map zoomed into a view of a huge wall, taller than any on Asgard.
"She is trapped inside of here. None of us know what to make of it. It is not a wall naturally built. It is true that people sometimes block out memories, but the only explanation for a wall of this size is that she has lost her memory and is trapped inside the place where the lost memory is stored."
On the table, the girl turned her head to the side, moaning softly. Her hand clenched into a fist.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Thor asked. She reminded him of Jane, a little.
"I do not want her here." Odin said bluntly. "She must leave."
"Father – "
"No. Take her away. Let your mortal doctor tend to her."
"Jane is not that kind of a doctor, Father."
"Just take her away."
The Allfather turned to walk away, but Thor said, "Father, may I speak to you in private?"
Odin sighed, then said, "Leave us." The healers curtsied and left.
"Father, how did she get in? I found her in the library. How could a Midgardian get in, get onto Asgard, no less?"
Odin scowled. "Have you seen her clothing?"
Thor nodded, unsure where the conversation was going.
"Whose do they remind you of?"
Thor turned to the girl, studying the green velvet, the black leather, and the small circlet of gold in her hair.
"If I had to guess, Father, I would say… well, Loki's, I suppose. But why –"
"How else could a Midgardian get in? Who else knew the passages out of Asgard? And who else would take a Midgardian slave?"
"Father, I saw him die. Loki cannot possibly be alive. And he would never take a slave, you know that as well as I."
"Loki is a master of illusions. And do we really know Loki anymore, Thor? He has changed, you of all people know this best of all."
"But - "
"And do you remember when you first returned to Asgard? You claimed that I had given you my blessing to start a life on Midgard. Yet I was not on Asgard that day. Who, then, was pretending to be me?"
He turned to the girl. "And then, there is this."
He waved his hand and a necklace pulled itself from under her bodice and settled on her chest.
"Pick it up."
"Father - "
"Pick it up."
Thor reluctantly picked up the charm and almost immediately dropped it. It was burning hot.
"Now touch it to her skin."
"But Father, it will burn her."
"Will it?"
Curious, but hesitant, Thor touched it to the pale inner skin of her arm. Nothing happened. He touched her skin, but it was only slightly warm.
"How can this be?"
"Magic. Powerful magic. I sensed it as soon as I entered the room. This is a type of magic that I have not seen since Frigga passed."
Thor's heart leapt despite of himself. "You truly believe he has returned?"
"Yes. And this time, I do not mean to let him escape."
"Father, he did slay the Kursed. Without him, Jane and I would not be alive. He avenged Mother's death when I could not."
"Be that as it may, he still must serve his time."
"Father, if you do believe that this girl has ties to Loki, then would it not be more prudent to keep her here? Would he not eventually return for her?"
Odin pondered this question, and then said, "If he cares at all for this… mortal woman, then he will return for her within a day. If he has not arrived by then, take her back to Midgard."
"Yes, Father."
Odin left, muttering something about princes and Midgardians. Thor sighed. It seemed as though Jane would have to wait for her present.
A/N: Thanks for 10,000 views, guys! Wow! You must all be crazy to stick with me this far. :D
