Author's note: Life has been hard, this chapter was rewritten completely six times, but it got done. Life was still not great with my health, grandmother's health, money but then I finished this version and I was so happy. All I needed to do was edit. Only, then the number of Coronavirus cases started going up. Then we were officially dealing with a pandemic. Not great for my mental health. Staying home bound has been really messing with my head. I kept wanting to edit but it never happened. But, finally, I got the editing done. So here it is. Long over due but here it is.

I hope if you made it this far you liked it.

I am sorry to say I don't know when more will be coming. My own health is still bad, money is more an issue than ever before, and my mental well being has plummeted. On top of everything else, my grandmother is currently going through radiation which means trips to the Hospital every day for several more weeks to come. She is everything to me in so many ways. Between worrying about her and everything else I rather feel like the core of me is shaking with anxiety at all times. I hope you can understand that isn't the best state for... anything.

I hope you are being as safe as you can be. I hope you have the resources you need. I hope you have the support you need. Whether you do or do not I hope this at least provided a distraction and escape.

WARNING: For the purposes of this story I drew upon inspiration from the mythos of the Norns but much like MCU canon it is in no way a faithful adaption of surviving historical depictions and religious beliefs. I hope this doesn't upset anyone reading. If they are a part of your faith disrespect was not indented.

Possibly Helpful Info
Yggdrasil = World Tree as in the connection between the Nine Realms mentioned in the Thor movies
Urðarbrunnr = Well of Urðr, The Well of Fate, The Well of Wyrd. A literal well meant to be beneath the roots of the Yggdrasil
Norns = Norse Mythology
Moirai/Fates = Greek Mythology

...

Chapter Summary:
Things on the Helicarrier are stable. Harriet is still unconscious. But in her dreams a Seer can go places. OR Harriet meets the Fates.

Chapter 14: The Carrot and Honey

"Nagini," Voldemort called out with desperation. "Harriet!"

Around him the familiar image of their cottage firmed. Not that of the one which they had physically built and called home for over a decade now butt the representation of shared by their minds, built to guard the connection between them. It was a place that usually brought a feeling of calm and safety. On arriving however Voldemort felt the opposite of those things because nothing was as it should be. The space was too dark. The fire was out. The air had no scent. There was silence. The approximations of reality which usually gave life to the illusion weren't present, weren't supported as they should me. The only feeling to the room was the cold.

"Master," Nagini hissed out weakly.

Voldemort's heart swelled with hope as he spun towards the hissing voice His eyes landed on his familiar, where she rest on a chest to look out the windows which viewed Harriet's mindscape.

"Nagini," Voldemort said with some relief as he walked over to the window. Efficiently he gathered her long body up and surrounded the cold blooded creature with warmth, protecting her from the cold of this place which did not suit her.

Nagini hissed in wordless gratitude.

"Where is Harriet," Voldemort pressed.

Though her words were slowed as the effects of the cold still lingered on her Nagini explained, "The Mistress has not appeared. I felt her fall to sleep and I came, but she did not. I tried to leave, to find her in her mind, but there is a storm. I could not find her in it. I tried coming back to get you, but the cold."

Voldemort soothed a hand over her scales to show he forgave Nagini for her failings.

Looking out the window he spotted the reason for why the cabin seemed so dark. All the light sources within the cabin had been snuffed out yes, but too the sky was blanketed by dark storm clouds which were letting loose all sorts, attacking the landscape with rain and sleet, hail and snow, and wind. The wind it whipped and gust and blew. The noise of it against the cottage should have been deafening. The whole building should have been shaking. But none of this was happening. For all that the view showed an extreme storm the cottage was calm. This might have been comforting if the stability here was due to Harriet's own mind and magic but Voldemort could feel the drain on his own magic which told him he was the one protecting this space from the onslaught happening outside of it.
Even without the storm, that Nagini had been unable to find her mistress was worrying on its own. As two of his Hocruxes and the only two with their own life and consciousness the she and Harriet were connected through him in a way which meant that one could always find the other. But Nagini had been forced to go searching, and her efforts had proven fruitless. What did it say about the state of Harriet's mind that her consciousness had not taken a corporeal form?

Snape had been clear that they wouldn't know the true extent of the damage done by the attack until Harriet was free of her ice cocoon. It saved her life and now it worked to ensure nothing else would get at her. Which was the purpose of the mechanism. It kept the Jotunn within secure while they rested. Unfortunately that protection was absolute. It had no method of discerning what efforts were to aid and which were from an enemy and so it blocked indiscriminately. He was told the only thing they could do was to be patent as they waited for answers. Their seers were looking back to see what had happened. Hopefully that knowledge could help the healers to treat Harriet. Then the seers could look to the future and see which course for treatment would be best. Only, they weren't as gifted as Harriet. They may not give the right answer, and Voldemort had never been particularly patient.

He'd laid down to sleep, to dream himself into this mind space, hoping to find Harriet there. She would give him the answers which he could trust absolutely. Only she wasn't there. But perhaps he hadn't hoped for nothing.

"Go back to your body, Nagini. Do not come back here unless called," he urged her, because while the cold may not be real its effect on her very much was. If she followed Harriet into hibernation she would be lost just the same.

With a hiss of reluctant acceptance Nagini lifted her head as though it was of a great weight and pressed it to his in an offer of comfort.

Voldemort closed his eyes to focus on the feel of her there.

"Be safe Master," she warned him. Then she vanished from his arms.

Opening his eyes Voldemort was met with the view of the storm. While he could see it he could not yet perceive its nature. He would have to go outside for that which is exactly what he intended to do. He would not leave completely empty handed. If there was answers to be found, he was determined to find them.

As headed towards the door the snakes animated in preparation for the ritual of sampling 'his blood' to prove he was allowed access to the rest of Harriet's mind. All was going smoothly until the seal was broken and the storm which had been unable to reach him suddenly could. As though conscious of this opportunity it surged, pushing into the cabin, banging the door open, and working to push him down then keep him pinned on the floor. Taking on his Jotuun form Voldemort was able to move into a crouch. Using magic he was able to get up to his feet. Getting through the doorway and out into Harriet's mind however was proving nearly impossible. He only just managed to reach the the doorway. He tried to grab hold of it to pull himself through but the way was blocked by an invisible wall of ice.

Voldemort lashed out at the barrier with his magic but it only served to create micro fissures all over the blasted thing making it visible to Voldemort's eye which was of little help as it continued to let the storm through while keeping him in. Voldemort did not understand this. Did the cocoon seal off her mind as well as her body? Nagini had spoken of no troubles leaving... unless she had arrived before Harriet was completely shielded. Perhaps she had made it in time?

With a growl of frustration Voldemort lashed out at the barrier. Too much had happened. Too much had gone wrong. This was on obstacle too many to appear in his path. His fury was taking hold. As he beat against the ice the fractures grew. He thought he might almost be through when a great pain sent him staggering back with a scream. The storm took advantage of this upset to rush at him, pushing him further back and out, out into conscious where in the waking world where Severus was standing over him. His wand was pointed down on Voldemort but his attention was diverted to the side.

"What," Voldemort hissed at him only to be hit with a spell which left him silenced.

The fury that was already coursing through his blood swelled higher. He reached out ready to take hold of Severus' arm and squeeze, perhaps until the bone beneath broke, only before he could a distraction to pulled his attention away.

"Its stopped... she's leveling off," Narcissa said. Voldemort turned to see her hovering beside Harriet where she lay like Snow White in her ice casket. Around her monitoring systems were flashing with alerts and showing far more dire readings then they had before Voldemort allowed himself to sleep.

He watched Narcissa work for some seconds to ensure leveling off meant stable before breaking through Severus' spell and erecting a charm to block their voices from disturbing the Malfoy widow from her duties looking after Harriet.

"What happened," he demanded.

"Whatever you were trying backfired. Her magic began to strain as it was partially diverted from attending to her healing. Once it was given an inch the mix of curse and venom pressed ahead. They did a far bit more damage before I could wake you. I tried a variety of spells but it took the pain of the Cruciatus to bring you around," Snape reported. His attention stayed fixed on Harriet through every word.

"What do you mean," Voldemort asked, his voice tense, "'whatever I was trying?' What do you think I was doing?"

Appearing unimpressed Snape cut him a look. "Do you think me so gullible as to believe you would simply sleep at a time like this?"

The two stared each other down in silence until Snape chose to break it.

"The pair of you have your secrets. I know you both well enough to have faith that should I find myself in the dark, than it is best I stay there. However..." Voldemort raised a challenging eyebrow as Snape dramatically drew out his pause before saying, "I can't help but to make an educated guess."

Voldemort allowed himself to show no reaction to this leading statement. As he was not discouraged, Snape continued.

"We all know there is a bond between you two. Something beyond simple emotional attachment or shared blood. This connection let you know she was in trouble today before anyone else knew."

Voldemort allowed his face to speak for him. It encouraged Snape to get to the point. And get to it he did.

"You tried to use this connection to get in contact with her."

He was given nothing.

"Did it work?"

Voldemort's grimace was his answer.

Snape frowned. He looked away from Voldemort to focus on Harriet again.

"Did you learn anything that could help us?"

Voldemort didn't think he was imagining the hint of resentment in Snape's tone there.

His face screwed up as he looked on Snape with malice. If he didn't have a cover to keep then a punishment would surely be coming. But now wasn't the time. There may very well never be a time to shed the illusion of Jon Potter, Harriet's half-blood cousin. And even if he did, Harriet wouldn't approve of him hurting anyone but the most deserving which she wouldn't see Snape as. Not that Severus fully believed the lie.

They had discovered some years back that Snape suspected Jon of being Harriet's brother rather than cousin. The only reason he never voiced his suspicions was the belief that Voldemort may have discovered John and move him into Harriet's life. Neither he nor Narcissa believed their Lord was dead. The fear of his possible return drove them to living as they thought would please him. As this meant they lived to keep Harriet happy and healthy and whole, Voldemort had no problem with this state of affairs.

Instead of answering Snape's question Voldemort asked his own. "What's happening on with the Helicarrier?"

As Snape reported on relevant affairs the Fates watched the proceedings.

"All to plan," Skuld declared smiling.

She was too focused on wall of visions displayed before them see that her enthusiasm wasn't reflected in her sisters' expressions.

Verðandi herself, she wasn't ready to smile just yet. There were more futures ahead of them then they could be marked in their lifetime. Of those they'd seen only a small margin showed things resolving as they wished. And as for Urðr, in the almost sixteen centuries since their exile her countenance rarely moved beyond the spectrum of what one might call dour. She didn't have it in her to be pleased with how events were unfolding. For her whether things went right or wrong. It was just another day working towards their ultimate goal. Verðandi hoped when they were finally victorious it would bring a day when her sister might finally find peace.

"What of the Mistress," Skuld asked. "Is she coming round?"

Turning Verðandi paced around the pillar of ice which occupied the center of the room.

This room was the source of their power. Built around the at the mouth of the Urðarbrunnr it stood at the heart of the fortress they had built to secure it and themselves from others. The waters of the well flooded the room keeping the sisters connected to it as they stood in the precious liquid. To hold it inside, the door, when it was there, opened a good foot off the ground. The rest of the time the walls were smooth. A continuous curve which created a circular room leading up to a domed ceiling. The room would have been symmetrical if not for the slant to the floor which left the far side from the door a good few inches lower than the rest. It was here that the well opening into the true depths of the well could be found as the floor abruptly angled downward forming the tunnel downwards.

Verðandi would not need to dive into those waters to seek their answers as they'd once done. Through searching they had found ways better suited to their Sight with which to use the waters.

In the center of the room stood a triangular prism which they had carefully formed from the Urðarbrunnr's waters in which it stood. All three faces were flawlessly smooth. Perfect for use as a scrying surface. For some decades now it had been used to keep a constant focus on key to their plans, the one on whom they'd placed all their hopes, Harriet. The most important person in the universe, so far as they were concerned.

At the moment, one side showed her body where it rest. Another showed that treasured sanctuary created between her mind and Voldemort's. The last showed her consciousness in the surroundings it perceived to exist. This last face had shown nothing since Harriet gave into the slumber force on her by the ice which shielded bother Harriet's body and mind. It had been just what they needed to keep Voldemort operating in the dark with only past instructions to guide him. Now that he was back in the waking world they wouldn't need to interfere with Harriet's progression out of the oblivion of deep sleep.

As Verðandi watched as a vision of the storm which filled Harriet's mindscape began to form.

"She's awakening," Verðandi declared.

While the storm may have fought against Voldemort it cradled Harriet. Hid her. Sheltered her within its protection For a time she existed happily in it, floating in the feeling of cold as it tended to her aching body. The healing was slow though. It would be days yet before she recovered enough that the ice surrounding her would deem her well enough to banish itself.

"And the Mistress of Fates will lay, injured and held in protective ice as the last preparations for invasion fall into place," Urðr said, her voice echoing around the room as she quoted the prophecy they'd delivered onto the universe to best ensure it would happen so.

"And in her sleep she will look in into herself," Verðandi continued.

From where she floated in the storm herself Harriet looked down at herself to take examine her wounds but what she could see from the outside didn't tell her much. Wanting to know just how bad it was she looked inside. Her sight showed her everything she was, every part which made up the whole, and then it looked deeper. Her Sight continued to move in until it was going beyond what Earth's strongest microscopes were capable of.

With fevered anticipation Skuld declared, "So deeply will she gaze that she will come to see what is hidden within. She will discover the Tenth Realm."

Just as the words left her mouth Harriet moved beyond the void breaking through into the Quantum Realm.

"We need to cut off the image," Urðr warned. "If she sees it she'll know we've been watching."

Vehemently Skuld argued, "Not yet,"

"And risk ruining everything," Urðr challenged.

Skuld, who only had eyes for tracking Harriet's travels waved a hand in dismissal. "If it happens we will fix it. But if something goes wrong its best we see it in the moment."

Walking to her side Verðandi placed a hand on Urðr's shoulder offering support even as she sided against her, "She's right. Things here are too chaotic. We need to keep watch over her."

Taking a deep breath Urðr suppress her arguments. Crossing her arms she, as they all did watched Harriet's mind explore the Quantum Realm while on another of the three faces they could see that back by her sickbed Narcissa Malfoy was sighing in great relief.

Breaking off his conversation with Severus Snape, Voldemort asked, "What is it?"

"The emotional layers to her Aura," Narcissa answered. "Her emotions are shifting."

"Which means she can still experience emotions, and is experiencing something to shift her mood," Severus concluded.

Nodding Narcissa looked over the most recent readings from their equipment.

"What's happening," Ron asked as he entered the room, escorting Sirius who moved past him to head towards Harriet's bedside.

Having confirmed her suspicions against the readings, Narcissa answered, "She's dreaming."

"And of pleasant things it seems," Voldemort said moving forward to stand with Sirius at Harriet's bedside.

Pleasant was rather an understatement for sheer level of dazzling excitement Harriet was experiencing and bright curiosity as she explored the Quantum Realm. All new sights to see. New forms of life to observe. She flitted and flew, skipping from one planet to another, stopping occasionally venturing to the more interesting moons and asteroids. Thankfully her explorations kept her clear of anything that would notice her presence and want to do something about it.

It was with relief that Verðandi watched her come into the area the sisters had managed to claim. There should be no threats to her within their borders.

"The Mistress will travel through the Quantum realm to the Well," Skuld whispered with delight, "where she will meet the sisters three who have taken upon themselves the title of Fates."

"Its time," Verðandi declared, already reaching out to remove their view of Harriet.

Urðr quickly moved to help.

Rather than arguing Skuld turned her attention to the room around them. Covering the walls were hundreds of thin sheets of ice, made for scrying much like the prism, and set to view the different futures that could come to be. Moving around she changed the focus of their faces which were almost all forced on Earth and Harriet's people to less incriminating things. Wonders of nature. Performances by the greatest talents the universe had ever known. The creation of splendid things. The frivolous spectacles Harriet in her rare moments of rest allowed herself to use her Sight to seek out.

In the prism Urðr and Verðandi made the prism show cycling views of the fortress and their land beyond to present the illusion of a security feed.

A slow burn of anxiety traveled through Verðandi that she could not suppress. They were essentially blind. For the first time since Harriet's conception they did not have eyes on her. For the first time in centuries they weren't aware of the pivotal events happening throughout the universe. The more she focused on the feeling the greater its fire grew.

"Get yourselves together," Skuld demanded. "She'll be here any second."

Verðandi looked to Urðr who's aura was just as colored with negative emotion, anticipation, and a need for this to work as her own was. It could if handled incorrectly shatter their attempts to appear they were merely going about their lives.

Before Skuld could scold them again Verðandi stood to Urðr's side. Taking her arm she steered the two over them over towards wall where she made the scrying faces shift to a new focus. Gone were peaceful, joyous, and beautiful sight. In their place was an arena match. Two teams fought. Each represented a candidate who had put their name forward for a Seat on their Senate. The candidate who put together the victorious team would win the position. The event could be used as a cover to explain away most of the emotions they were displaying so long as one didn't look too closely at their auras.

Wondering over Skuld joined them in their viewing.

It wasn't long after Harriet in her exploration of the fortress, found them where they were hidden away.

"Do you feel that," Skuld asked, turning to look around. As though they could actually feel her and it wasn't their protections that were altering the sisters that someone had turned their sight this way.

"We have a visitor," Verðandi agreed. She didn't like to play this part but Skuld needed someone to act off of. Urðr was not suitable. She felt too much to lie convincingly to those who could read her aura. It had only gotten worse after spending the years most only with only each other. Verðandi wasn't a particularly talented actress herself but of the two of them she had a better chance of passing it off.

In contrast to them Skuld easily presented to others what she wanted to be seen. At the moment she was taking in the room as though trying to spot where exactly the source of what she was 'sensing.' Cutting a look her way Verðandi could see no flaw in the facade. Even her aura shown with just the right emotions to support the false. It disturbed her just how well her little sister could deceive. What made it worse was Skuld had no misgivings about the matter. She was always the first to recommend deception and duplicity if it was the easiest way to accomplish their aims. Their were times it was the best course of action and her ability served them well. Verðandi had even learned from it. But still... she could not come to terms with her sisters ability.

"It's not astral projection," Verðandi said to distract herself, not that Skuld needed telling to know. "Whomever it is isn't really here. We would be able to interact with them."

"And so we shouldn't even try," Skuld asked, a fake pout to her voice. The look was something new she'd picked up in recent years from watching those on earth. Verðandi did not approve. Neither did Urðr. That was part of why Skuld did it, because no matter how old they got she was still the youngest sister. They'd yet to see a point future where she would ever truly grow out of being a brat.

Going back to looking around the room Skuld spoke out at large. "Hello there. We don't get many visitors. Most are happy to leave us to our viewing. did you just stumble on this place? Or have you come to the Fates for answers?"

No answer, quiet obviously, as Harriet wasn't really there and so had no way of affecting one.

Reaching out to the prism Skuld went 'looking' for the source of the their observer. Pulling out of the Quantum realm then back, and back, and further back, she only stopped when a view of Harriet where she slept in her cocoon of ice filled the view. "There you are. And it seems you're dreaming of us. How flattering."

With a gasp Harriet became consciously aware she was dreaming. Her body remained as it was, unable to stir, but her mind came around. The relation was enough to 'wake' her. Abruptly her vision cut off removing her from their presence.

With a small exertion of will Verðandi pulled up an image of what Harriet was experiencing in that moment. She'd awoken in her mindscape still surrounded by her storm of protection. The sensible thing to do would be to remain where she was. Harriet knew what was happening to her and why. The more magic she diverted from her healing the longer it would take. The best thing she could do for herself was to go back into a true sleep but Harriet had never been one to rest when there was work to be done and questions to be answered.

She could have projected herself out to the world around her. She couldn't represent herself with a physical presence but through astral projection could be their, giving orders and leading. She could have saved other concerns for a later time. But what she'd just seen? What Skuld had claimed them to be? It was such a temptation to Harriet who so rarely was selfish. Harriet who had faith that Voldemort if no one else would handle things in her place. Harriet who had come to see Sight as the ultimate tool for peace. What they might represented was too seductive to turn away from.

All the traits they'd ensured Harriet developed led her right back to them.

Projecting herself free of her body Harriet aimed to move back down the path she'd scouted with her Sight. Down. Down. Down. Smaller and Smaller until she reached the void surrounding the Quantum Realm. Pushing through the barrier took some magic. Enough to worry those who were left watching over her body but she made it through without doing too much damage to herself.

While Harriet floated from planet to planet trying to follow the path back to them again her most loyal were fretting over her. Once through the barrier her magic had leveled off. It was back to holding back to healing her, but the progress was much slower than it had been. The group worried over why this might be and what exactly had caused the drain in the first place.

Interrupting the debates they were having over likely causes and the best course moving forward was Gabrielle on the comms. "Sirs. I need one of you to report to Command. There are things progressing and we need to know how to proceed.

Forcing himself to look away from Harriet Ron offered, "I'll take care of it."

While Voldemort appreciated the offer which would allow him to remain by Harriet's side, he couldn't accept. She put trust in him to fulfill his duties when she'd appointed him as her second. He would not betray that trust.

Resigned to it Voldemort turned to Ron. "We both go."

"You sure?"

"It's the job."

Ron smirked weakly. "How long till early retirement again?"

His joke fell flat with the crowd but Skuld enjoyed their banter. She was pleased with the rapport Harriet's left and right hand had. It was good for their work. Something they might have arranged had it not developed on its own without any manipulation needed on their part. Beyond ensuring Voldemort's redemption of course, which had been Skuld's inspiration. She was always pleased with anything involving him as she felt she deserved credit for all his successes as the fruits of her design.

"She's getting close," Urðr announced, absently readjusting the scrying faces back to their less incriminating views.

There was nothing more that needed to be said. No last minute prep. No need to rehash the plan. They were prepared. They knew the parts they were meant to play. They'd prepared for dozens of different outcomes.

A minute passed and then she appeared. After so many years watching from afar, Harriet was there in front of them. Without her body of course but it was safest this way. Verðandi was surprised by the size of her. Intellectually she'd always known how tall Harriet was but seeing it in person gave a different impression then seeing while detached, while looking on from this room at her as she matured. It was... satisfying to see the woman Harriet had grown into with her own two eyes.

"Hello," Verðandi greeted warmly.

"And welcome," Urðr added, her tone subdued but genuine.

In comparison Skuld spoke with a smile on her face. It was almost as brilliant as her aura which sparkled with a mix excitement and anticipation that nearly washed out all her other emotions. Sounding thoroughly cheerful she said, "It's so rare we receive visitors. And from the outer realms as well."

"The outer realms," Harriet asked. Her first words to them.

Nodding Skuld approached. More sedately her sisters followed.

"Where you come from. The outer realms."

"Here," Urðr offered gesturing to the ceiling which could not clearly be seen through the vapors they had spelled to gather there. Responding to their will the vapors captured a vision. Unlike that which was presented on a flat surfaces the ceiling above filled with a three dimensional image not unlike that ceiling of Hogwarts. Only it showed more than the sky. Much as Harriet and Voldemort had created for their own home the they had a view from farther out. A small section of the universe put on display with Earth in the middle of it all.

"Beautiful," Harriet complemented.

"The natural born foundation of existence in this universe," Verðandi offered. "But hidden within is where we are now."

Responding to her will the image moved inward. She watched Harriet take in the sight as with Earth's connection to the Yggdrasil tree at the epicenter they kept going in until the planet was gone and they were traveling down smaller and smaller points along to the trees foundations until they were show where they were presently. In Quantum realm where they had build themselves a home in those roots.

"The tenth realm," Urðr explained. "A universe almost unto itself. Created and sustained by magic. Whole and cocooned by the greater whole. The only way here is through what lays beyond. Yet, it is connected to all. Connected but not governed by the same laws. This dimension has its own rules and peculiarities that govern reality."

"Meaning," Harriet asked.

"That most nothing works here as it does beyond," Skuld explained.

"Gravity," Urðr offered, starting them simply.

Moving on to the extreme end Skuld added, "Impossibility."

"And time, just to name a few," Verðandi concluded. Her tone became cautioning but lined with concerned scolding. "Your lucky you managed to stay on a linear course not once but twice. You could have easily sent your consciousness away. Had you ended up in the future you might have been able to return to your body should it still be living. If not..."

Harriet's aura said she understood the gravity of what she'd risked.

"Had you ended up in the past things would have been even trickier," Urðr cautioned. "The odds of it playing out favorably are infinitesimal."

"And that's if you came out in one piece," Skuld said taking over to give the last of the warning. She spoke as though it was something salacious, playing into the image of youth people often associated with her as the youngest, as the maiden. "If your consciousness was dispersed while traveling through a time vortex you would have been left as nothing but shattered pieces. Sprinkled through time spanning over moments to centuries. You could maybe be put back together, but you'd never be what you were before."

"This is one of the many dangers which deter those who know of it from traveling to this realm," Urðr said.

"The sorcerers of your planet sometimes come but almost never do they explore," said Verðandi.

"The come."

"They see."

"They steal our magics."

"Siphon our energy to power their efforts and artifacts."

"Then they leave."

The sisters explained all showing some level of derision for those sorcerers. Around them the images on the scrying surfaces transformed to show all those who had come from beyond, excluding themselves. Harriet looked around with interest.

"At least they don't come physically," said Verðandi. "As a noncorporeal presence there is only so much harm they can do."

Skuld snorted. "If they could use their rings to venture here, they would! But they don't know how yet. It's coming though," she admitted with a frown.

"And then there are the Pyms with their particles," said Urðr, also frowning.

"Who are the Pyms," Harriet asked.

The sisters explained.

"He is a scientist."

"One from your planet."

"He discovered what he so narcissistically named the 'Pym partial.'"

"Is that narcissism or hubris," Verðandi questioned.

"Does it matter," Urðr asked as Skuld dismissed, "Semantics."

Harriet watched the exchange, trying valiantly to take it all in without becoming overwhelmed.

"This must be a lot to take in," said Verðandi.

"Would you like us to stop," Skuld offered emptily.

"No please," Harriet said, waving to assure them they could go on.

Waving her over Skuld presented to her the view of Janet van Dyne as she walked and climbed in execrated time over rough 'alien' terrain.

"This is Pym's wife. She was the last to come here from your realm. She shrunk herself down to our size using her husbands creation. A suit which allows individuals to scale their size," Skuld explained with no small bit of admiration.

"She didn't know what it would mean. She thought the result would be a living hell, but their were lives at stake so she made the sacrifice," Urðr said with sympathy for the need to make such a choice.

"She left behind both her husband and child. A little girl named Hope. In the early days it was only living for her daughter that kept her going," Verðandi said, respecting the strength Janet had found to live for her child when others might have given up. To give in to give up on returning would have been natural. To persevere was so much harder.

"We've helped her as we could," she went one, "but Janet is almost as resilient as she is intelligent. She hasn't needed much help to find her way."

"She's adapted well to life in the Quantum realm," Skuld agreed.

"Better than most muggle humans would have," Urðr complimented.

Reaching out Harriet rested her fingers, which weren't really there against the ice sheet showing them Janet's climb. "She probably did better because she was a muggle, not despite it. Most wizards aren't used to change. We've forgotten how to be adaptable."

"Hmm, but that's not entirely true is it," Skuld said.

Around them the scrying faces changed to show Harriet's life so far. Those that shouldn't have been hidden from a seer's sight anyway.

"You seem to be bringing them back around to the idea. Kicking and screaming though some might be."

Harriet looked around at her past on display. Before she could ask the question Skuld lied, "After you left we did some looking in on you. Had to know if you were a threat after all. We followed you back to your body then went looking for the answers along your timeline.

"Time moves faster here then beyond," Urðr offered. A truth she could offer to support their ruse.

"In some parts of the realm years can be lived out in minutes. In others minutes seem to slowly tick by while years pass. What you've seen of Janet is what she has lived out while we were talking. Here we are almost in line with time beyond. Just slightly faster depending on where in the building we are," Verðandi explained truthfully.

"We were able to learn quite a lot about you with the advantage we had," Skuld said, lying by omission as their advantage was decades rather than minutes.

"And here I don't even know your names," Harriet challenged, all be it politely.

"Haven't you guessed," Skuld asked, pouting.

Eying them all with wonder yet leery Harriet admitted, "I think I have an idea. But you know what they say assumptions."

"You'll have to be more specific, " Urðr grumbled. "We know thousands of expressions about assumptions."

As though it was the most novel idea Verðandi countered, "Or we could simply introduce ourselves?"

Urðr looked back at her with squinted eyes, but her aura was lighter than it had been before the jest. Even with it her anxiety continuing to grow, muddying the other emotions in her aura.

Ignoring them, Skuld pressed on with Harriet, but of course she had to have her own fun. "Isn't it polite to introduce yourself first?"

Focusing not on her many more impressive titles but instead the craft she took most pride in Harriet introduced herself, "Harriet Potter, Seer."

"Well met Harriet Potter," Skuld returned, waiting for Urðr and Verðandi to echo her before going on to give their names. Not the ones they were assigned at birth and used with each other but ones they took on much later in life. A deception for certain but not an outright lie.

"I am Clotho," Skuld said bowing her head. "These are my sisters, Lachesis," Verðandi smiled kindly and bowed her head as well, "and Atripos." Urðr managed her own small polite smile and took her turn to bow as well. "And we are the Moirai."

Harriet swallowed, wanting and yet not willing to believe what she was hearing, what she had already suspected. It was all their. Plain too see in her aura.

"As in the Fates," she asked. "...The Fates of Greek Myth?"

"The source of the myth. The truth which was distorted into legend."

"Like the tales of Thor, Loki, Odin, and Asgard."

From the corner of her eye Verðandi saw a flicker of emotion in Urðr aura at the mention of their former King. She managed to recover quickly but only but souring all of her aura.

Eyes still on Urðr, Verðandi spoke, "Like many who go on to live lives that label them figures of history. Once an event is in the past, people care less and less for fact. Unless they can go back and see it for themselves. Like you do. Like we do."

"Past, present, future. Its all the same thing with respect for the truth lacking more often then its there," Urðr complained. Realizing the tone she used, their eldest sister cut a look at them and then Harriet then back again. The longer she looked the more discomforted and uncertain she grew.

"I've heard it said that the past is set, the present we're weaving, and the possibilities of for future are too numerous to count," Harriet offered, reaching out in kinship with sentiment she hoped would be a comfort. "If we value the truth hopefully we can teach others too as well, and bring about one of the better outcomes."

Meeting her eye Urðr smiled, small but true. Her aura shined more brightly as Harriet smiled back. But then, the reality of things caught up with her. The smile fell and her aura darkened.

"Excuse me," she said bowing her head. Avoiding eye contact with them all she headed towards the exit. The panes of ice that were covering that section melted, falling with a splash to the floor, leaving the way clear for the door to form. As soon as Urðr was through the wall became smooth again but a gap was left where the ice sheet had previously been.

"Apologies," Verðandi said still looking off at where her sister had gone, following after her through her mind's eye. "Atripos has issues being around others. They've only become exasperated by the long stretches of time we spend here, just the three of us."

"Social anxiety?"

"Fear of grief."

Harriet blinked. Her aura colored with surprise at the unusually forthcoming answer, at least by her people's standards. "What do you mean?"

"The fewer people you connect with, the less of a chance for heartbreak, or so she tells herself. It doesn't really work with someone so empathic though."

Unhappy with how many truths she was revealing Skuld stepped in. "I hope you don't mind settling for two out of three."

"Of course," Harriet allowed. "Though I can't see how I'm of much interesting to you." She gestured at the screens around them. At all the possibilities right at their fingertips as to what they could observe.

"Static viewing. Most of this universe is ours to see, but we can't interact. We can't effect it," Skuld lied. "Occasionally we get others from the Quantum Realm here to trade, but mostly we pass the days only with each other." Leaning in she confided as though sharing a great secret, "Sometimes you grow tired of the same company day in and day out."

Verðandi rolled her eyes. "I assure you Clotho, sometimes we grow tired of you as well."

Heading back to the scrying face she watched the last of the match play out. Skuld was to lead this charade. A choice of necessity, not preference on Verðandi's part. If she didn't step back she would be treading on her sister's toes leading the blame for any failings that followed.

But even as Verðandi moved away Harriet moved to follow.

"Where is that?"

"A planet far from your own," Skuld answered as she glided up to Harriet's side. Were Harriet in corporeal form Verðandi imagined her sister would have tried to take her arm, like two gossips linked to stand close for whispered conversation. "Its barbaric really. They are a civilization that consider themselves advanced. Your earth is some 300 years behind them in scientific advancement. Yet, they have nothing like democracy. The people have no influence over how they are ruled unless they can influence an official or win a position for themselves. And how do they get a seat? By getting others to fight for their right to rule. And if its to the death? A necessity to proving one's worth. In fact having others who are willing to die for you will only give them more clout."

"Victor takes all," asked Harriet.

"Hardly and yet yes? See there," Skuld said pointing at the golden balconies where the pair of candidates sat respectively. "They are the ones after the seat. When they put their name forward they have until the day of the match to gather fighters to represent them on the field. Some are paid. Others are coerced. Many of the beginners are desperate souls who volunteer, offering their services for free in the hope of making a name for themselves. If they don't die, maybe come the next match they'll be able to command a price."

"I have a feeling this isn't even the worse of it."

"And they have darker times behind them, their darkest days still ahead. They aren't so bad compared to many other cultures," Skuld admitted. Her emotions were at war with themselves. Scorn and disappointment in the lead with the desire for change following the charge, held back by a certainty it wouldn't happen on it own.

"Is this the present? It's happening now?"

"Essentially. When we first looked the two moments were aligned. We've moved ahead of them now. What we're viewing is how the future is most likely to play out," said Skuld just as another fell on the field. He would die if the match didn't end in time for the medics to enter and save him.

"But there's a chance things will go differently?"

"Every time the future is viewed there is a chance for the knowledge introduced to change things. Then there is always the chance of chaos stepping in. Things that can't be viewed influencing events or something from outside of this universe stepping through. Its rare though. Very rare. I don't imagine it happening here."

"Isn't there anything you can do? Pull a thread? Mess with the tapestry so to speak."

"The idea of us having any say in matters is a myth," lied Skuld. "We got that reputation from the presumption that what we said would happen came about because we made it so rather than saw it to be. We don't weave the future. People just gave us credit to free themselves of the burden. The bad they could blame on us and yet they could hope good might come their way cause we 'wished' it, rather than their having to work for it themselves. Think about it. If we could change fates why would we need a castle?"

"Pomp," Harriet offered.

Skuld laughed, full and genuine.

Reaching out Harriet made to touch the scrying surface again but as she reached she miss estimated where it should be. As her fingers passed through the surface of the ice, her will influenced the vision. She gasped as the images shifted showing them what she was seeing in her mind. A dozen versions of what could have been or might still be went by as fast as one could blink.

"Pull back," Verðandi warned.

"Pull back," Skuld urged as well.

But it did no good.

Pulling out from her body, Verðandi entered the astral plane to pull Harriet back and away. As they moved, their astral feet skimming over the water on the floor Harriet's eyes, turned on Verðandi looking at her and into her. It only lasted a moment, but for a Seer a moment could show you exactly what you needed to know. Especially when connected to the waters of the Urðarbrunnr.

Whatever Harriet saw, didn't seem to shock her. There was a shifting in her aura but then she was looking back to the scrying surface she'd touched and all her emotions focused on that. Verðandi could see Skuld was worried over what secrets Harriet might have gleamed and how it might effect their efforts.

Skuld's hand twitched and for a moment their view of Harriet on the center prism flickered to show a different view. Both their eyes cut to it. Skuld saw the future they most wanted still there before them, bold and clear, then quickly looked away just in time to miss the other two futures that were shown, ones she wasn't expecting to be there. Three futures most likely from this moment moving forward. Seeing as they were acceptable to Verdandi she focused back on the present.

"What was that," Harriet asked staring at towards the ice she'd phased through. Reaching out again her fingers hovered over the surface, just shy of touching. "I've never..."

"The waters in the Quantum realm are perhaps the best medium to be found for scrying," Verdandi explained.

"These waters have run through all of the universe. Both beyond and within," explained Skuld.

"And through the time vortexes have moved through time as well. As such they have a connection to almost all of existence."

"And that connection allows you an easier time tethering to what you're looking for," Harriet said with understanding.

"To what is, what was, what could have been, and what could be," Skuld agreed.

"It's why we've been able to see so much," Verðandi admitted. "At our core, we're just Seers. Stronger then some. Weaker than others."

Harriet nodded distractedly as she looked around from the water on the floor to the ice on the walls to the droplets and vapors up above.

"We designed this room. It is our greatest creation," Skuld boosted. "From here, everything is ours too see. If we can bare to look."

"But it can be overwhelming. The waters can show us so much. But the mind is only capable of perceiving and retaining so much."

"And of course, while we can see everything we suffer from every seer's weakness."

"The answers are there, but we can't know them unless we go looking."

"And to know where to look, you have to know the question."

Harriet was nodding as they spoke. "I'm paraphrasing but one of my teachers explained it as a library. He said every answer in the universe was there but just because you had access to the books didn't mean you could understand the writing, if you even bothered reading them, and if you did it was no guarantee you'd understand or remember what your read when you needed the information."

"Everything is yours to learn."

"But no one is truly omniscient," Skuld said, but allowed, "At least, no one that we've found."

Harriet asked, "Have you done a lot of looking?"

"Specifically for someone like that? No," Skuld lied. "But when you spend as long as we have exploring you're bound to come across things."

"There are a few objects which can help someone to come close. Some much closer than others," said Verðandi. With a sweep of her hand all of the ice sheets changed to show visions of the items she spoke of. Pointing off slightly to their left, she drew Harriet's attention to a specific display, in which the Time Stone hovered.

"Is that," Harriet asked.

"The Time Stone," Skuld agreed, her tone practically wistful. "It can allow someone without a hint of Sight to See, but in the hands of a true born Seer? In our hands we would be as close to divine as a mortal could ever hope to be. And if they wanted more, if they wanted to properly ascend? They'd only need to look and find the way."

Unsettled by the idea of power like that Harriet instinctively pulled back. "But it was lost, wasn't it?"

"Things are very rarely truly lost," Verðandi said, keeping her tone gentle.

"And in this case, not lost at all," Skuld admitted unhappily. "Merely hidden away. Locked up in a gilded cage. A cage so famous and with its own name that others never think to look inside."

As she spoke the image on the screen changed, showing as the stone become encased.

"But that's," Harriet said as the as the shape fleshed out. With horror she named it, "Eye of Agamotto."

"The greatest artifact the Sorcerer's of Earth ever created."

"The so called Masters of the Mystic Arts have had the Stone for millennia now. To them it is a tool, to be used in their efforts to 'defend Earth and our universe as a greater whole' from the kinds of forces that likely wouldn't take any notice of our universe if they weren't constantly drawing attention to us. Siphoning off energy as though no one might notice its going," concluded Skuld with a sneer.

Horrified at the idea Harriet argued, "But its is insane! How could they risk bringing something like that into the field? To bring an infinity stone within grabbing distance of demons and world eaters and who knows what else."

"They aren't charged with protecting the Stone." Verðandi shrugged. "Or at least its not their primary goal. First and foremost come their other concerns. They try not to use the Eye but if worst comes to worst, they want it on hand."

"...Bloody hell...There's an infinity stone on Earth," Harriet said, still full of horror as she considered the possibilities of what that could mean.

"More than one," Verðandi revealed.

Slowly, slowly, oh so slowly Harriet turned to her with wide eyes. "No," she said wanting it not to be true.

But Verðandi would not indulge her denial. Nodding towards the planes of ice she showed Harriet the truth of it. "Storing Infinity Stones in casings is an idea almost as old as time."

Following her will the room went dark. All the scrying surfaces showed black void except for six, six which showed the Infinity Stones in what was believed to be their raw forms.

"People lust after the abilities of the stones but few can wield them without aid," Skuld explained.

Around them the void flashed with scenes showing the many who had tried and failed to wield a stone. They all played out in a second before darkness returned.

"Encasing the stones, if done correctly, can allowed them to be used while also hiding them in plane sight," explained Verðandi. Reaching out she gestured to the Time Stone triggering it to again be shown to become the core of the Eye of Agamotto. "For thousands of years the Eye has hidden the Time Stone with few outside the Order knowing the truth. Not even Asgard knew it was there."

"Asgard," Harriet repeated. She kept it out of her voice but her aura showed her irritation at where this was leading.

"Yes, most troubles seem to come back to them. Many of your most recent in fact can be laid at Odin's feet."

Before them where the image of the Space Stone floated they watched the Tesseract take form around it.

"It's an infinity stone," Harriet said, small catches of hysteric laughter coming with the words. Anger radiated through her aura as she reached out to the nearest plane of ice and set it to the view modern day Tønsberg in Norway where she knew the Tesseract had been hidden until the Red Skull uncovered it. Sending the vision back she tracked through time searching for the origin of when the device, and with it the stone, had arrived.

Skuld and Verðandi shared a look behind her back. For all her power and potential she was still so very fresh, so far off from her true potential. No small amount of it was a lack of confidence. She didn't believe she could simply call for an answer. Because she did not believe her magic would not do it and Sight was fueled by magic. There was no way around that.

At the core of it, the seed of the issue was something else. And that something, was Harriet's lack of desire. She didn't want it to be easy. The idea of what an ability like that would mean disturbed her, and so she pulled away from it, just as she had done when Skuld waxed about the potential blessings of the Time Stone. Harriet didn't think people should be able to know and See so readily. She didn't think people could handle that kind of privilege. She didn't have the confidence that she herself could handle it. And so, while all the worlds knowledge was at her fingertips her subconsciously put up blocks in her path, keeping things harder to protect her from falling. Like bumpers, keeping her inside the lines, so she wouldn't fly off to the beyond.

After much rewinding through time they reached 965 A.D and the day the Tesseract came to Earth. They watched, as under Odin's orders, it was entombed.

Harriet growled, frustrated at his actions which seemed inconceivable to her. "How could he do that? Why would he? He just left it here. No guards. No real protections. Just a bit of work on walls to keep it hidden and the power it gives off undetectable."

She looked in closer to see how it was done, trying to learn the technique so she might replicate it herself.

"Earth was and still is a planet of little consequence as far as his majesty is concerned," Verðandi explained while clearly not agreeing. It was hard for her to hide the true depths of her scornfulness towards Odin but she did her best.

Skuld did a better job but could not completely hide her distaste for him. "Though even if he doesn't think its important, it is one of the Nine Realms, and to his mind, that makes it his."

"His to claim."

"His to use."

"His to hear totted when others sing his accolades."

"He's had nothing to do with us for most of his rule," argued Harriet. "The only time he sends aid is to stop someone else from claiming us, or to deal with problems his people caused. He does nothing to help us govern. He does little to nothing to protect us, let alone rule."

"Yes" and "Exactly" the two sisters agreed.

"Then what's the point in his holding claim over Earth?"

"To say he is Protector of the Nine Realms," Verðandi answered simply.

Harriet stared at her before shaking her head. "What's the title mean if it's an empty thing."

"Being hailed as a protector makes him feel better about the blood on his hands."

"And so long as it makes him feel good he doesn't actually have to do good," Skuld said, face twitching with her restrained emotions.

Frowning Harriet shook her head again. Then inspiration shimmered through her and she turned to eye the screens. Reaching out she reached to view something but was met with a block. The ice went imageless showing only the wall behind it.

Skuld frowned and moved closer to Harriet's side.

"What were you trying to see," she asked.

"I was trying to see Asgard," Harriet explained. "And Odin, on his Throne."

Skuld shook her head. "They are blocked. Even here with the aid of the water it is hard, nearly impossible in fact without someone reaching out from the other side. Odin devotes too much magic to ensuring no Seer can view Asgard or her people."

Taking advantage of the distraction Verðandi summoned some water to float up from the floor and into her palm behind her back. Once she had a palm full she froze it solid.

"Why does he care so much," Harriet asked carefully.

Using the surface Verðandi looked ahead to the most probably futures. Two flashed before her, neither of which were what Skuld had been hoping for. She felt herself relax some.

"Because Odin is paranoid about Seers," said Skuld dismissively.

Quickly Verðandi let the ice melt and poured her palmful down her dress so as avoid the noise of it dropping to the floor.

"Why," Harriet asked.

Shaking the vision off Verðandi didn't let herself think about what it meant for fear her sister would spot something in her aura to give it away. Instead she moved forward to join the two and answer Harriet's inquiry.

"Who can know," she lied.

Harriet cast her a look and behind her Urðr did as well.

Hoping to distract Urðr plowed ahead. "Odin's reasoning is a mystery. Even if we could See him properly I doubt we'd ever fully comprehend his choices."

"For a self proclaimed God of Wisdom, he does seem to lack sense," Harriet agreed.

Urðr laughed. "So he does."

Looking back at the line up Harriet asked sounding very stained, "So the Time Stone, and the Space Stone are both on Earth. The Stone that carries the greatest consequence, and the Stone that is arguably one of the most practical. Is there anything else we have to worry about?"

"The Mind Stone," admitted Verðandi.

Harriet reached up to rub at her face.

Looking at her consolingly Skuld said, "As of two days ago, it joined the other stones on Earth. You've already seen its power, even if you didn't know it."

With her hand still over her face Harriet asked, "The Scepter?"

"The Scepter."

Pulling her hand away her posture shifted as she moved into the mindset of The Director, a leader of her people, their shield, and their guide both. "Those people Loki brought under his power are the victims of the Mind Stone?"

Reaching out her will Verðandi showed the Mind Stone being encased then set in the scepter. What came after that played out as she and Skuld told the tale.

"Not the directed victims."

"But victims of a device which uses its power, and not nearly efficiently as the Eye of Agamotto."

"Where the Eye was made to safely harness as much of the Time Stone's abilities as possible the Scepter was not."

"In fact the Stone was encased to limit its capabilities."

"Those that constructed the scepter did not wish the Mind Stone's power to be abused."

"They allowed for the ability to control others to shore up their conviction when times of trial came."

"No member could betray their secrets when the influence of scepter assured it."

"They could go on fighting when instinct would tell them to run."

"They'd remain clear headed when they might otherwise not."

"In addition, being placed under the scepters influence would give them blessings in the form of knowledge from the Scepter to help them with their task."

"When the scepter was used on Loki, his captures had primed him to desire the Tesseract, to know how to use its power, and so that is what he was given."

"For Eric Selvig it was insight into the mechanics of the universe."

"For Clint Barton it was nothing so academic. Quilt would have been what most held him back from doing as Loki commanded."

"So he was shown how inconsequential his actions were in the grand scheme of things. It gave him permission to focus only on his mission and nothing else. Then it revealed to him how to get it done."

"The goal of the scepter's creation was never to enslave. While there will be fall out from their experiences, all it will take is sleep for the victims to become free."

"Sleep lets the mind focus on healing."

"On flushing out the foreign influence."

"Its why they all look so tired."

"They are being kept awake."

"Though in Loki's case, it's more then merely the staff effecting him."

"They couldn't risk loosing their General to a nap."

"The other influences will be easier to shed once he's slept."

"But there is damage to his mind beyond what was done to him that will still remain."

"And the longer the magic lingered, the harder to heal," added Harriet. She turned to look at them. "Any other bombshells to drop? Anything else you want to tell me?"

Verðandi bit her tongue while Skuld laughed. "Oh, so much we could tell you. After all, everything we have to say is new to you while its grown stale among use three."

"Then why not bring in more visitors?"

"That would mean leaving. And if we leave this place we've built is vulnerable."

Harriet's expression voiced her question as plainly as words could.

"Right now, if we were of a mind to, we could show you where the other three Infinity Stones are, exactly how to get them, and how to wield them," Skuld said leaning in to whisper. "You could leave here knowing how to become Master of all six."

Harriet shivered. Her aura almost seemed to curl in on itself at the idea.

"And that's just one great power. We know so many secrets, from both the Quantum realm and beyond. If someone else was to take control of this place, they might learn them too. If we stay, if we avoid others, no one thinks to come looking for us. No one thinks to learn how we know what we know."

Pulling back Skuld lied, "We don't get involved in affairs. We stay. We watch. We protect what we've built."

"Then why tell me? Why not take action against me," Harriet asked.

"Because you Miss Harriet Potter, you, fundamentally are good and you use what you learn to do good. Here in our ivory town we watch, but we can't change things. If we help you, if we give you the tools, you can make change."

The room filled with visions all focused on events that would come from Harriet, events that would make a lasting change for the better.

"Only thirty-one years old, and you've already managed so much," Verðandi told her, voice and aura shining with approval. "You have no idea just how far the ripples of your actions have traveled. You are a force for good Harriet Potter and whatever help we can be in that, will be an honor."

Harriet just stared back. Her expression was blank and her aura blanketed. It appeared she was going slightly numb from the shocks of the day. Looking down and to the side, she lingered in silence. When her eyes rose again they traveled over the visions being displayed until Skuld said, "Sadly though, this is where we should part."

"I thought you were happy for the company," Harriet said back, her eyes still focused on the visions.

Smiling Skuld said, "We are. I assure you we are. We would very happily have you back. In fact I would insist upon it if the journey weren't so perilous. But events are still playing out back on Earth and they need you there. The battle will be starting soon. Without you, things will go disastrously."

"Yes... I've seen it," Harriet admitted. "At least, one of the possibilities."

As she was focused on the memory, Skuld believing she would think it her own doing, called the vision up for display.

Before them was a monument. Hundreds of grey slabs stood like tombstones, cold and stark, utilitarian things made only for their purpose and not to be ascetically pleasing. This was not a place for pleasure. This was to place to starkly mark the losses.

Moving forward it slowly became clear that there was text stamped in to the concrete. Line after line after line of it. They had to get closer still to see what that text read. To see the thousands of deaths which were accounted for.

As they focused in more tightly still a line took dominance in the vision.

Haley B. Jameson September 2, 2008 - May 4, 2012

All three of them stood, taking in the name. Their auras colored with grief for the little girl, only four years old, who's life could be lost that day if this future was allowed to come about. It was worse for Verðandi as she knew that Haley would not be the youngest child lost. She'd gone looking into it, subjecting herself to watching and watching and watching for years at this point, as many versions as she could find for how the Battle of New York might go. She'd watched them all to find most beneficial outcome they could guide things towards. The path which would cost the least in blood, and pain, and grief while leaving things well set to continue avoiding such things in the future.

Harriet swallowed. "I tried to see what would bring this about, but I couldn't. I only knew when I made the decision to go out on the field, it became less clear, less likely to happen."

Exerting her will Verðandi showed Harriet what the protections on Loki had blocked her from seeing. It could have been disastrous had she known it sooner but at this point it would take something completely unanticipated to stop the portal from opening. Harriet knowing wouldn't stop the battle from happening.

Around them the room filled with views of New York. In the sky a portal was holding open a tear in the universe, connecting the city and the area of deep space where Chitauri fleet were queuing up to come through. Between them all the invasion was covered from when the portal first opened to a city swarming with invaders, to the horrific end this future would bring to events.

On the scrying surface closest to them was little Haley B. Jameson, trapped out on the streets within sight of the portal. It was her father's body that had her pinned into place. He had been shot down by an energy blast. The poor thing was crying out begging for help but their was no one around to hear. No one around to help her. There were bodies though.

Cutting down the street from above flew Iron Man, but he wasn't coming for the girl. He couldn't spare his attention, because he was too focused on the bomb. The bomb that was here and he couldn't disarm, but he sure as hell make sure it at least took out the right people along with the innocents.

Changing angles, charging up, he altered the bombs course. Up through the portal. Out towards the fleet.

The Chitauri would burn but the damage wouldn't stop with them. Natasha Romanoff had discovered the answer to closing the portal, but that scepter couldn't be brought to the city in time. With the way left open, bomb's blast would reach out reigning down on New York.

The magicals in the city would grab hold of those they could before fleeing but they were vastly outnumbered and still fighting the Chitauri already in the city. They would save who they could. A small consolation to the survivors.

Down on the streets, her cries for help going unheard, little Haley would be one of those lost.

Her name along with her fathers and all the others lost that day would be memorialized on the monument. A reminder of the treats that could come from beyond Earth and the closer threat which came from giving power to the wrong people.

Tears rolled down Harriet's cheeks.

"How do we stop it," she pleaded. "How do I stop it?"

Unmoved by her pleading Skuld denied her with a lie, "If we tell you, things might go wrong."

Turning to glare at her, Harriet countered, "If you explain properly, it won't."

Verðandi held her tongue.

Attempting to assure Harriet Skuld said with convention, "Go back. Get to New York and take the scepter with you. That's all you need to know. That's all you need to do. So long as you and your people are there, things will work out for the better. A monument will still be built, but the number of deaths it marks will be only a small fraction of those it could be."

Harriet was still glaring. "'But the beacon and her knights will come to the fore to stand at the side of the Shield and their heroes. Together they shall see us prevail.' This is what the prophecy was talking about? This is when we have to stand together?"

"It is," Skuld assured her.

Harriet's glare tightened. "And where did that prophecy come from."

There was a flicker of surprise immediately followed by unease which passed through Skuld's aura before she overcame it. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Legend says its the Fate's words Prophets speak."

The only upset Skuld allowed herself to show at the implied accusation was a frown, and a sliver of confusion touch by disappointment. With calm sincerity she reasoned while Verðandi watched calmly from the sidelines, "As we've already told you, the legends are wrong. We have no power beyond our knowledge."

"You've been telling me a lot of things." Distancing herself from them, Harriet floated back. "But I'd like to hear some truth now."

"Everything we've told you have been true Harriet," Skuld lied.

Harriet smiled. It was not a pleasant thing. Her aura became dense with distrust and conviction. Too much for the feeling to be new. This was something she'd been holding back, holding inside.

Skuld's aura responded in kind. In an effort to manipulate she flooded it with her confusion. "I don't know what we've done to make you suspicious-"

"Knowledge Is Power. It's not always useful for your situation but its power nonetheless. This I know to be true. Do you really expect me to believe with all you can See, with all you have learned, that you have gained nothing from it."

"Well of course we have," Skuld said lightly.

Harriet didn't let her continue. "And with all you've learned, you have no way of changing things? All it would take is Astral projecting out to whisper in the right ear. Even if my being here was proof its possible, you've said as much. But you don't leave do you? Because you have to protect this place. Yet, beyond some walls? You don't have protections in place. I was able to float right in with nothing in my way.

"And that's just one of dozens of problems I have with your story. If I had the time I could pick a dozen more."

Skuld was frowning. "Anything can look like a conspiracy if you're willing to delude yourself."

"This is not delusion. This is insight."

"Then you are seeing the conjurings of your own mind, because there is no deception in place here!"

"If that's the case, answer one thing for me."

With a huff Skuld crossed her arms, mirroring Harriet's stiff stance. Looking expectant her expression said, 'Go on. Ask then.'

"Why can I feel my magic in you?"

While Skuld startled, Verðandi smiled.

"I don't know what you mean," Skuld lied, but she was thrown and the lie was not so well delivered as the ones before it.

"You claim this is all happy circumstance. I'm just little Goldilocks having stumbled on the three bears who are nice and kind and willing to share. You claim you didn't know me until you looked to see who it was that had come. And yet, I can feel my magic in you. At first I didn't know what it was, just something familiar that called me to this place. But I worked it out some time ago."

Harriet closed her fist and her magic responded. A tangle of gold blessings materialized, wrapping around her fist, shining bright to see in her astral state. Too the naked eye that was all there was, but to those looking with their inner eye open, there were other stands in the room that answered the call. The strands of magic they'd spent years gathering and hoarding as best they could glowed from where they were stored within Verðandi and her sister. She imagined that outside Urðr's collection was much the same.

Around them the room flashed with versions of the future showing what various explanations Skuld might present for this but in all of them Harriet was unaffected by her efforts.

Speaking up Verðandi spoke, "There's no point to continuing."

Skuld's face dropped. Her aura became flat, muted, but her displeasure was clear despite that.

"Well, that's a shame," she said. Then with the ease which came from centuries of practice Skuld slipped out of her body, projecting her astral form to attack Harriet. Not even yet fully separated she conjured and hurled a chain at Harriet in a fluid motion.

Harriet dodged while sending a blast to push Skuld back but in dodging the obvious attack she moved perfectly in place to be caught in the path of another chain, one summoned by Verðandi who'd astral projected as well. As the chain made contact with her wrist it swung, coiling around her arm to get a good hold.

Bearing her teeth Harriet sent a wave of magic out through the chain. It wasn't enough to break it but the weakening allowed her to rip her arm back, breaking one of the links, disconnecting her from Verðandi and freeing up her movement to avoid Skuld's second attempt to catch her.

Phasing through the wall Urðr appeared looking resigned to what must be done. Summoning her own chain she joined the fray.