Jane was sent to a room to sleep off the effects of the aether defending itself, which left Ronan with Thor and time to explore Asgard.

"I think you will like it here." Thor said, slapping Ronan on the shoulder with a force that almost made Ronan's legs buckle. "You were very interested about Asgard when I first came to earth."

"Yeah." Ronan was being lead through the streets, decked out in Asgardian garb - minus his oversized hoody that he had firmly refused parting with. He also had his phone in the pockets, so he wanted to keep it, if only so he could curl his fingers around a piece of technology that he understood. "I mean, Earth cultures are hugely diverse, but Asgard is something totally different. I want to match up things from myths and pick apart the differences. It'll be neat. Tony will be so jealous."

"It is good to see you've made more friends." Thor sounded genuine when he said that. "I know we fought together, but I was not sure if you would stay in contact with them."

"Tony I stay in contact with. Bruce for a while, but he keeps vanishing off to different countries." Ronan shrugged a shoulder, admiring some fancy scarves a merchant was trying to sell. His mother would have loved them, he thought, and Marie had a particular fondness for any material that was either silky smooth or ridiculously fluffy. "Tony was attempting to figure out what I could use in fights - now that SHIELD has my contact details I can't just count on luck to keep me alive. You know, if it works."

"Then today, we shall find you a weapon. Worthy of the gods." Thor announced and immediately, Ronan balked.

"What?"

"We'll find a weapon for you. Hopefully there will be no need for it, but it is always better to have one. Just in case." Thor looked at Ronan, eyes sparkling with excitement. "It shall be a tale worthy to tell on Midgard! Every warrior must have a weapon of some form!"

"I'm assuming just punching someone isn't an option?" Ronan asked, voice dry, and was resigned to Thor leading him to a blacksmith forge.

The weapons didn't catch Ronan's attention - he knew swords and maces from games like Dragon Age and stories like Lord of the Rings, but half of these he couldn't name. He knew the weapons the gods held - Frey's sword and Gungnir and Tyrfing and, of course, Mjolnir - but he knew he wouldn't be getting any sword like that. Or spear. Or hammer.

"My Lord!" The man who had been previously hammering at metal had turned to cool it and in doing so had caught sight of the God of Thunder. He dropped the sword with a clang, dropping into a hasty bow and Thor laughed.

"At ease. I'm here to find a weapon for a defender of Midgard." Ronan braced himself for the hand on his shoulder this time, and his knees didn't buckle this time- an achievement. The smithy's eyes lit up eagerly, but his shoulders slumped slightly when he caught sight of Ronan. He wasn't surprised - Ronan wasn't exactly what a warrior would look like. "This is Ronan Spire. He helped with the capture of Loki."

Which, ok, was true, but Ronan felt uncomfortable because these people would have expected him to have fought. Which was mostly untrue - he had fought the Chitauri, but talked to Loki. Had made him crumble and break, had made him cry and cling to Ronan like a child.

Immediately, the Blacksmith's eyes lit up, now looking more appraising. It made Ronan feel ill, how eager he was to bring Ronan a weapon, just because he had captured a disgraced Prince of Asgard. Had the same man crafted Loki his knives? Spoken to him as a friend? Thought him a good man? Loyalty, it seemed, was a fickle thing.

His fingers curled tighter over his phone, and he thought of the few numbers stored in it. Would the people they belonged to be just a loyal as this man, who was now showing Thor his wares?

"Something small or light." The blacksmith was eying Ronan up and down. "You aren't as muscular as most warriors - how did you assist in the capture of Loki?"

"I read him children's books and made him cry." Ronan deadpanned, which was completely true. "He held a knife to my throat and didn't kill me so. I guess I made him feel things? Look, Thor, I don't really need a weapon. I'm literally walking luck." He shot the god a pleading look. "As long as I don't do something incredibly stupid I won't need a weapon. I don't think I could life a sword even if I wanted to."

"Then we shall not get you a sword." Thor seemed pretty set on getting Ronan something sharp and pointy and possibly deadly in his very small, very mortal hands. Great. "A knife or a dagger. You need a means of protection, in case your luck does not work. As you say it never does."

Ronan opened his mouth to protest, but found himself incapable of doing so. He couldn't really argue with Thor's logic and sort of hated himself for constantly criticising his lucky power. After all, if Ronan hadn't mentioned his powers habit of backfiring spectacularly, then he would not be in this position.

It seemed to suit his power's ability to work against him, at any rate.

The blacksmith did not seem keen on the idea of giving Ronan a knife. It occurred to him, then, that Loki's preferred weapon was probably a knife - a small, tricksy sort of weapon, only used when his magic didn't serve as an appropriate way to take down an enemy. It was the fact that the blacksmith seemed unwilling that made Ronan decide.

"Alright then." He said, elbowing Thor in the side lightly, a fond gesture. "Let's see these knives. But if I accidentally stab you, you only have yourself to blame."

XoooX

Ronan was left to wander the palace alone when news reached them of Jane waking up. Thor had given Ronan the most desperate look he had ever seen in his life and had shooed him away to be with the love of Thor's ridiculously long life.

Only, now, Ronan was a bit lost. He wasn't exactly sure how to reach his rooms, or even Jane's to see how she was doing. So, maybe, Ronan hadn't thought out shooing Thor off as well as he could have. It could've been worse, he supposed.

"You look lost." Ronan didn't jump at the voice, turning to look at an older woman. Her hair was long, partially tied up, braided and golden in the light. She wore what seemed to be typical for Asgardian women to wear - an elegant dress, but with armor covering the chest, shoulders and triceps. Multipurpose. She offered him a smile. "Where are you looking to go?"

"Uh, I was looking for Jane." He managed, trying to pinpoint who the woman may be, but failing miserably. Maybe she wasn't mentioned in the traditional myths - after all, he realised after meeting the warriors three that he'd never read their names before. "Thor went ahead of me and I sort of...took a wrong turn."

"I was headed there myself." Said the woman. "I can take you there, if you like? I had just come back from seeing to Loki." The name caught Ronan's attention immediately and, as much as he wanted to make sure Jane was alright, he also wanted to see the other Asgardian. He wondered what he was like out of the influence of some higher power, if he'd recovered after the events of New York.

He wondered if he'd managed to pick up the children's books they'd been reading, if he'd been enamoured by the tales Ronan told him of a lonely magician who found a place where he belonged. He wondered if he saw himself in Harry just as much as Ronan had.

"Actually, I...could I speak to him?" Ronan managed and the woman regarded him, not with a nasty confusion, but more so genuine curiousity, as to why Ronan would want to speak with him.

"Unfortunately, he is under guard." She said, and Ronan detected the note of sadness in her voice at that, a hint of regret. "It was decided that after his actions on Midgard that he be imprisoned indefinitely."

Ronan was genuinely struck mute by that tidbit. That had not been shared with him, though truthfully there had been no time to tell him that vital piece of information.

"Oh?" His voice came out choked. "I...hadn't realised. I...I thought the evidence provided would be enough to at least get...help."

"Evidence?" The woman now sounded confused, her brow furrowing. Ronan felt something inside him churn.

"Yes." He replied, keeping his words slow and voice as level as possible. "To be presented at a trial of some sort."

"Loki was immediately sentenced to be imprisoned by Odin." She started when Ronan swore. He would have apologised if not for the sudden panic that flooded through him.

"That's - no, that's not...that can't be true. Loki was manipulated. This wasn't just - New York wasn't just him acting. And that's his father -"

"It was your realm he invaded." The woman cut across him smoothly, voice surprisingly calm. "Surely you would see justice done?"

"Sentencing a man who acted under pressure because his life was on the line is not justice." Ronan countered easily. "What crime did he commit here?"

"He...Loki has done many things that he has been punished for. We thought him dead, after his attempts to destroy the Jotnar." The woman ducked her head, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. "When he fell from the bridge, after Odin had...disapproved of his actions...we believed he was dead. When he somehow survived, we knew he had attempted to rule Midgard, and he returned here after causing so much devastation...his father loves him, but his actions could not go unpunished."

"Did he ever act like that?"

"Who act like what?" The woman asked, blinking wide eyes.

"Odin ever act like he truly loved his adopted child? Yes, I know of Loki's heritage. Did Odin ever tell Loki he was proud of him? Ever treat him as good as he treated Thor? Encourage his love of the arts, find the light in his mischief? A good parent should never have to tell their child they love them - they shouldn't have to use words for them to know they love them." Ronan heard no words from the woman for a while, before she spoke up.

"Do you believe he should be walking free?"

"I believe he should have help. What he went through after the fall I don't know, but it wasn't anything good. And judging from what I know of the fall, it was an attempt to kill himself." The woman sucked in a sharp, shocked breath, a noise of pain escaped her. Ronan shouldn't have felt that sharp stab of satisfaction at the fact he'd managed to make his point, painful as it was. "Mental issues...they aren't a sign of weakness, a lack of anything. I think maybe Loki feels as though he can never break free of the shadow Thor casts. I think he's trying to step into the sun, but the shadows his father and Thor leave? They're hard to break free of." Ronan knew that feeling all too well - though he'd never had to compete with another sibling, he'd always faded into the background until it was revealed that he could provide luck. Then he became important, and he assumed that Loki was only deemed important when his unique talents could be useful. That was at least what he had heard in the telling of myths.

There was silence, then, an uncomfortable one that Ronan itched to break, but it would be with an apology. He shouldn't have to apologise for speaking his mind, no matter how much he felt like he should.

Fortunately it wasn't long until Ronan heard Thor's voice, and it made his entire being relax.

"...father doesn't know everything." Thor's voice was quiet, reassuring, but still easily heard by Ronan. It was the woman who spoke, though.

"Don't let him hear you say that." She said, voice amused, and Thor and Jane turned to look at them. Thor's eyes immediately brightened at the sight of them.

"Ronan! I see you have already met my mother." Ronan felt himself go cold, then immediately heat flooded to his cheeks. He had actually insulted Odin - her husband - and the Asgardian justice system in front of the Queen of Asgard, Frigga. He felt slightly mortified, but also relieved that she hadn't actually done something horrible to him. Like turn him into a frog or something similar. "Jane, this is my mother and the Queen of Asgard, Frigga." Once again, Jane looked like she wasn't sure whether to bow or curtsy or not.

"Hi." She managed, and Ronan felt his lips twitch upwards in an urge to laugh. Jane saw his traitorous smile, and shot him a mock look of betrayal. He stuck his tongue out in return.

That was when an alarm sounded.

It wasn't like a police siren, more like a horn being blown over and over again.

"The prisons." Frigga breathed.

"Loki." Thor countered, and he was off before Ronan could think to get a word in edgeways. It was Frigga who ushered the two of them deeper into the palace, further away from the dungeons, despite Ronan's desire to go to the dungeons. Something within him was telling him that following Frigga was for the best, but he didn't care. Loki was in the dungeons and something was going wrong and what if he got hurt? He knew it was illogical - Loki had his tricks - but still Ronan worried over some point they crossed paths with Odin, who tried to pass off the issue in the prisons as merely a skirmish, nothing to worry about. But Ronan could read his expression, see the real worry there, as could Frigga.

"You've never been a good liar." Frigga countered easily as more warriors passed, donning armour and weapons. Ronan's mind went to the dagger, sheathed at his hip, and felt inferior to the trained warriors carrying spears and swords. Weapons he couldn't hope to use.

"Take them to your chambers." Odin's words cut through Ronan's thoughts and he watched as the king pressed his forehead against Frigga's, an obvious sign of affection. "I shall come for you when it's safe."

"Take care." Frigga said and Odin's lips quirked into a smile, fond and it made Ronan...not like him, but realise that even this man cared. Maybe he didn't like Odin, maybe he never would, but he did care, which...was something, he supposed.

"Despite everything, my queen still worries over me."

"It's only my worry that has kept you alive." Frigga pointed out, watching as her husband turned to head to where the dungeons were. They were lead the opposite way, and Ronan saw her deftly take a sword from a guards belt as they moved. "I need both of you to do whatever I ask, no questions."

"Yes, ma'am." Jane nodded once and Ronan could see the calculation in Frigga's eyes, the cleverness beneath the warmth. He had seen it in Loki's eyes when talking back during his imprisonment on the helicarrier, whenever Tony had a particularly brilliant idea, and Ronan knew that this woman was just as brilliant and cunning as the two of them, if not more so.

"Of course."

XoooX

Even still, the chambers of the queen were not safe. Ronan knew this, even as he and Jane were ushered into a hiding spot, even as Frigga crafted an illusion of Jane with a wave of a hand.

They may be safe, but the same could not be said for the queen of Asgard.

He could hear her drawing out information from her attacker - a name, Malekith, which was more than what they previously had. He could also assume he had come for the aether even before he mentioned that he had come to claim what was his. It also gave way to what he was. A dark elf. Of course Ronan would be correct about some surviving.

Then he heard the clashing of swords, of fighting, and judging from the sounds Frigga was winning, was backing Malekith into a corner.

Then, he heard growling. It was feral, terrifying and not even mildly earthlike. It made Ronan's heart beat fast in panic, close his eyes tight and hope, hope that they were both hidden well enough that they would not be found.

He heard Malekith's yell of witch, could picture the look on Frigga's face when the elf realised that she had tricked him - Ronan had seen it on Loki's face through cctv, and that was a smile that scared him more than anything else.

Malekith questioned her, and Frigga was defiant.

And then, Ronan heard the sound of pain, Thor screaming no and electricity crackling through the air, of Mjolnir hitting something and Ronan raced from the hiding place, skidding as he came to kneel next to Frigga.

His hands came up to cover the wound, stem the bleeding - it had gone through, God it had pierced her, and her eyes were wide, unseeing, but Frigga was breathing and oh God. Not again.

Another parent was going to die and his hands were going to be stained with their blood.

Something inside him was burning, bubbling, and he was wishing that please, please, no, not another mother.

Please, don't let Thor lose his mother.

"Ronan -" He barely heard Jane's voice, too busy staring at Frigga's face, her eyelids fluttering. "Ronan, your hands!" He tore his gaze away from her face, to his hands, and stared.

They were glowing, gold light shining from them and pooling around the wound. Not closing it, not completely, but stemming the blood flow, stopping the bleeding. Frigga's eyes fell shut, and Ronan moved one hand to her wrist. There was a pulse, weak and faint, but there.

He was aware of eyes on him, and he looked up, meeting Thor's stunned gaze.

"She's alive." Ronan managed, removing a trembling hand from the wound. It wasn't glowing anymore, just covered in blood, wet and red and no longer flowing from Frigga.

"How…" Thor had moved to kneel next to Ronan, Odin kneeling to rest Frigga's head on his lap, stroking her hair. Jane was still by the hiding place, watching the scene with disbelieving eyes. Ronan moved his fingers, shaking his head.

"I don't...I don't know." Jane cleared her throat, and her voice came out small but sure.

"I...I think I might know."

XoOoX

I swear to god the worst thing about writing is autocorrect is American and I'm British THERE IS A U THERE AUTOCORRECT.

I swear there is a reason for what happened with Frigga, and it isn't Ronan magically developing healing powers. Trust me, I have put A LOT of thought into it. Here's a hint to what happened: What is said to happen when the stars align just right?

Either way, I have my Friday nights back! *cheers* Hopefully next week I'll be free on Tuesdays, which means more time for writing.

In other news, this is one of my longest chapters written for this series, second only to the climax in The Lucky Seven(th) so that's...something.

Loki IS coming in the next chapter, so get ready for the reunion folks!

See you later - Jazz xx