The next moment there was utter chaos as a storm of ice and snow blowed into the hall, people screamed. Laufey laughed, his fellow Jotunns all grinning.

Thor stood up. "Apprehend Laufey now!" he boomed. "CHAIN HIM DOWN!" and finally the guards moved, storming Laufey with their spears to get him on his knees.

Laufeys Jotunns coming to their kings defense as Thor ran forward and smashed them aside with Mjolnir to give the guards room. "ALL WHO ISN'T A WARRIOR! GET OUT OF THE PALACE!" he shouted. "Einherjers, go to the basement. The hallway left of the vault, that is where the portal is, the passage way to Jotunnheim. Keep the Jotunns back as long as you can so civilians can escape!" he demanded.

Finally Laufey was on the ground and Thor ran forward, then put a foot on Laufeys back keeping the struggling Jotunn down.

"Chains! QUICK!" Thor demanded and Guards ran forward to cuff Laufeys wrists behind his back and as they were done the warrior three and Sif had finally managed to reach them and take Jotunns down on their own.

They all turned to Thor, Thor didn't even hesitate.

"Volstagg, go to the basement. Lead the defense against the invading forces. Keep them back as long as you can, but pull back before you get to overwhelmed!" Thor demanded. "Fandral, create a second brigade at the stairs to take over when Volstaggs people get overwhelmed. The stairs are the only way into the palace, set up your trap. Have archers in the ready!" he ordered. "Sif, take three Einherjers and go to the kings chambers. Protect my father, he is a prime target. Hogunn, take five Einherjers and guard Laufey! Do not let him escape, neither must he be hurt! We need him, without him there is no bargaining!" he stated. "Loki.." he turned to the Jotunn still sitting on the floor.

Loki… Sitting there, an oddly vacant look in his eyes. As they weren't seeing anything at all.

"Loki, how do we counteract the casket of winters?" Thor asked.

There was no reply.

"Loki." Thor rushed to him falling down on his knees, then grabbed his shoulders. "Loki wake up, this isn't the time for this. We need you!"

"It's over…" Loki breathed. "It's all over…"

"No it's not. We are in the thick of it, Asgard needs your help. I need your help!" Thor stated then suddenly he blinked, he was touching Loki. Touching a Jotunn and yet, his hands weren't burned.

Loki was letting him touch him.

"Come on, you really want Laufey to have the last laugh here?" Thor asked. "You're the one who controls the strings right? Don't let Laufey have his way."

Finally Loki glanced up at Thor, his red eyes meeting Thors blue, and then it was like the red just melted away replaced by green as Loki shrank down in seize and back to his Aisir self.

"I might be able to control the casket." Loki stated. "But I need to have it in my hands…"

"Okay, we need to focus on retrieving the casket." Thor stated.

Loki shook his head. "The way it is now, no Aisir will be able to go anywhere near it. You'll freeze to death before you can even touch it…. Only a Jotunn."

Thor looked at Loki then nodded. "Lucky for us, we got one. And an extremely capable one. Do what you need to do Loki." Thor stated. "What-ever you need, say the word. Okay?"

Slowly Loki nodded.

"Okay good." Thor padded his shoulder. "You got this, I know you do." Then stood up facing the Laufey who had now been pulled up and pushed forward, Hogunn wearing enchanted gloves to protect him from the frost burn. "I'm going to help them in the basement." Thor stated as he turned and took a step only to be stopped by an older council man.

Torkild with narrowed eyes. "You can't just start giving orders like that." he stated. "You are not king."

Thor narrowed his eyes, he bowed down as he starred angrily at Torkild. "I don't care." he simply stated. "Do as I say, or join Laufey in his cell."

Torkild stood still, then he smiled. "Acting like a king at last." he stated. "Your majesty." he bowed. "What do you desire."

"Help Hogunn keep an eye on Laufey." Thor demanded. "Remember, he must not be freed. And he must not get hurt. Under any circumstance."

"As Loki suggested?" Torkild asked.

"Yes like Loki suggested. He is the one able to play the long game! One thing is getting the situation under control now another is ensuring we wont enter a thousand year war!" Thor stated. "NOW GO!" he pointed a finger and then turned, briefly he glanced at where Loki had been but the younger prince was already gone. "May the norns protect you…" he breathed and then started to run himself.

As Thor reached the stairs going to the basement there were chaos, people being pushed back, running back up holding their wounded arms and other body parts, the last one coming Volstagg who gasped for air as he looked at Thor. "Forgive me my prince." he gasped. "We could barely get close, it's to cold."

"You did good." Thor assured. "Look after the wounded."

Fandrals eyes were on the dark stairs as footsteps sounded. "Archers get ready." he held up a hand and several bows were lifted, then the first blue figure came. "Wait!" Fandral held up a hand and then another Jotunn came and another, finally they were a whole group visible. "FIRE!" Fandral shouted and arrows plummeted down hitting the first Jotunns who fell to the ground. "Second group aim!" Fandral shouted as the other half of archers lifted their bows while the first group found new arrows. "Fire!" and the arrows rained. "First group aim! FIRE!"

The rain of arrows was persistent, but the Jotunns kept coming closer. Walking through the arrows, not caring about the ones stuck in their shoulders and thigs. Some Jotunns were laying on the ground bleeding, but the advancing Jotunns just stepped over them and then the cold from behind them.

And there, Thor saw it! The sorcerer! Extreme cold coming from the thing he held in his hands, a large lumpy object looking white with a tin of blue.

Thor gasped. "Laufey broke his promise, he swore the casket was to stay in Jotunnheim."

The Sorcerer grinned. "The casket is still there." he stated. "It's just an empty husk, cast your eyes upon THE HEART OF YMIR!" he shouted holding up the heart and the cold rolled across them like needles and Thor had to lift his arms and stand back, already he was loosing feelings in his hands and had to step back… Back.

Thor glanced up, then he saw one of the Jotunn soldiers behind the sorcerer, wearing the same clothes as the soldiers… But he was different, a bit smaller.. more slender. He marched with the other soldiers towards the sorcerer but then, as he was right behind the sorcerer… Loki jumped and grabbed the sorcerer.

"HOW DARE YOU!" The sorcerer shouted.

Loki sneered as he grabbed for the heart. "I think that thing is ours now!" he stated as he wrestled for it but the Sorcerer turned and suddenly a big shock wave of energy erupted and thrusted Loki back.

"You fool." the Sorcerer stated. "I have the heart, it's mine…. SEIZE THE TRAITOR!" he shouted. "LOKI LAUFEYSON A TRAITOR TO JOTUNNHEIM!" and the soldiers turned to Loki with spears as Loki got up and backed away.

"LOKI!" Thor was about to jump forward only for Volstagg to grab his arm, Thor turned to the older man.

"Sir… Only Jotunns can be that close to the heart." Volstagg breathed. "I'm sorry, you can't."

"But.." Thor turned to the scene unfolding down the stairs.

"Listen to Volstagg you big fat oaf." Loki sneered as he backed away. "Get out of here… GET OUT NOW!"

Thor was shivering, but felt the hand still holding his arm and he looked back to Volstagg who demanded his attention and he swallowed. "Get out…" he whispered.

"Thor." Volstagg spoke calmly.

"WE'RE RETRIEVING!" Thor shouted. "Get out of the palace! EVERYONE!" he shouted. "NOW!"

And everyone nodded then turned and ran. Thor turned his head to look at Loki who was backing away while the sorcerer stepped closer. "LOKIIII!" Thor shouted.

Loki sneered as he had to concentrate on the opponent.

"Make it out safe!" Thor demanded. "Don't you even dare die on me!"

Loki smirked amused. "Sentimental oaf… Now get out… GET OOOUT!" he shouted as he launched for the sorcerer with outstretched hands and Thor turned to run with the rest.

Thor gasped as he blinked away a few tears, this was not the time to cry or be scared. This was a time to act.

He just had to trust Loki. It was all he could do. He would trust Loki.