It was nightfall on Asgard and the streets were bathed in a soft light from the two-tone sky. People wrapped in evening cloaks bustled past a tavern, pausing just long enough to see the cause of the disturbance inside. Some thrust their faces upon the window, mouths agape like goldfish.
Inside the tavern, a golden-haired woman swung at a remarkably large bewhiskered man. She missed and was carried forward with the energy of her blow. She recovered her bearings and took a swig from her ale, it trickled down the sides of her face and onto her filthy tunic.
"Come on then!" She garbled loudly. The crowd murmured and pointed at the drunken woman as she swaggered on the spot.
"Miss, you'll need to come with us," said a sturdy looking helmeted guard as he grasped for her arm. Ingrid slapped away the intruding limb and snarled as she swiped the contents of the table onto the floor. Goblets and platters clattered to the floor, deafening in the stillness of the crowd.
"Don't you touch me, you swine," she spat.
A huge hand seized her shoulder from behind her and fury surged through her again, she wheeled around with a tensed fist at the ready. She couldn't discern her target precisely, forms waved and weaved in front of her. The fierce woman swung her fist nevertheless, feeling her knuckles connect with something akin to solid rock.
Grimacing in pain she halted her flailing as the hand dug hard into her shoulder and her arms were restrained by her side
"Ingrid, will you walk or must I carry you?" came a stern, familiar voice.
She moaned as her guts twisted inside her and her legs threatened to yield. Collapsing to her knees, she vomited on the wood floor, enormous arms caught her before she fell forward.
"I guess I'm carrying you then," Thor sighed.
He hoisted her over his shoulder, wrinkling his nose at the smell of stale ale and vomit.
"I'll send someone to clean up," he told the tavern owner, who was still wide-eyed at the disarray.
The God of Thunder carried his intoxicated companion outside and towards the palace. He would see to it that she owed him for this.
Searing pain in her skull and an unwelcome intense light greeted Ingrid as she cracked open one eye. She knew she was in the dungeons beneath the palace, that's where they regularly put her to sober up.
The painfully white chamber hurt her open eye and she promptly closed it again, holding her arm over her eyes to obstruct the glow that permeated her eyelids. Scenes from the prior evening played out in her mind and she groaned inwardly.
Fighting again? You're a mess, Ingrid.
She had been laid on a rigid wood bed under a coarse blanket, her head propped on a makeshift cushion. No regular guard had put her here, otherwise, she would have been tossed in onto the floor.
"Good morning, little warrior." She knew now who'd brought her here.
"Thor... I suppose I should thank you for the luxurious lodging," she said without uncovering her eyes.
"Tell me, Ingrid, do you favour the cells to the comfort of your chamber in the palace?" Thor asked her, voice tinged with concern.
"Do you want the honest answer, or should I just tell you what you all clearly want to hear."
"Damn it Ingrid, the truth! What is going on with you? Five times you have been summoned before Odin in the past two weeks, all for unruly behaviour. You've been drinking almost every night, starting quarrels with whoever glances at you the wrong way. Not to mention neglecting your responsibilities, Brunhilde is calling for you to be stripped of your rank as a Shield Maiden."
Ingrid flinched internally at Thor's tirade, she didn't want to hear it.
Why can't people just leave me be.
"I don't care anymore, Thor, go away," she said, voice full of defeat.
"It's because of Loki, isn't it?" Thor asked. Ingrid's eyes snapped open at the question.
"Ingrid, we all grieve for him, Odin and Frigga lost a son, Asgard lost a Prince and me... I lost a brother." Ingrid could hear the anguish in Thor's voice and a flicker of shame developed in the pit of her stomach.
"Thor I-" Ingrid started, but she couldn't finish. She wanted to yell and scream and wreck everything, her agony was in control of her.
"Odin has sent me to bring you before him... again, so clean yourself up."
He took off without glancing back and Ingrid felt another piece of herself slip away as marched away from her.
He's going to give up on you if you keep this up.
In the throne room, Ingrid knelt before Odin, who was sat atop his huge golden throne. Large columns dominated the room, elaborate gilded carvings on almost every facade. More opulence than was necessary in Ingrid's opinion, like the entire room had been immersed in gold, it irritated her eyes.
"Ingrid, Shield Maiden of the Einherjar, perhaps I was mistaken all those years ago on Midgard. When I felt the fire in you. The little girl with a Lion's roar. I brought you to Asgard to give you life and in return, you squander it away. Was my gesture for nothing?"
"Allfather, forgive me... I did not intend to waste the gift you gave me. I am... out of sorts," Ingrid did her best to appear convincing in front of Odin, conscious that he could likely see right through her.
"OUT OF SORTS!?" Odin roared.
"Five times you have been brought before me and asked for mercy and I gave it, solely because I felt the same pain as you, but now... now I have had enough of your senseless behaviour, carousing and picking fights as if you were still a child."
"Allfather please, I wish to heal whatever has shattered my spirit," Ingrid implored.
"And heal you shall, in the cells... until I believe you to be free of the darkness that consumes you. Not a single droplet of ale shall pass your lips and you will recommence your training with Brunhilde, under strict supervision... from Thor," Odin added the last bit with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"But Father..." Thor objected as they led away Ingrid.
"Thor, you know as well as I that she stands no chance of falling again if you are by her side," Odin replied, his voice was lower now.
"Then I shall do as you request," Thor agreed, feeling like he had been stuck with babysitting Ingrid.
"Argh! By the gods!" Ingrid cried out as her blanket was ripped from her, she clutched at it and resisted the blanket thief.
"Rise and shine little warrior, clean up and report to Brunhilde... She's waiting for you," Thor seemed almost playful until Ingrid saw his face and the scowl that resided there.
The only saving grace about being so rudely awoken at that hour was that the barracks were deserted so Ingrid could bathe in silence, at least until Thor came pounding on the door to the washroom, yelling at her to hurry before Brunhilde had them both before Odin.
She sighed and glanced up at the magnificent golden ceiling, motifs of Einherjar from the old tales were painted all around, one battle after another in glorious reds and golds. Such opulence for a simple washroom in the barracks, but it gave one the chance to reflect on those that had come before them and given their lives for Asgard.
And here you are, acting like a child who has been banished to her chambers without dessert.
Feeling somewhat guilty at her recent actions she hauled herself out of the water and dried off as fast as she could, Thor banged impatiently on the door again.
"You have one minute to be out here, or I will... come in there after you," he bellowed, slightly uncertain about his threat.
Ingrid swung the door open.
"Relax, I'm finished," she said as she shot him a sideways glance and tightened her chest plate.
"It is as if you wish for Brunhilde to beat you for your impertinence," Thor groaned.
Ingrid just rolled her eyes and went out to the training arena. Not bothering to hold back for Thor, she ploughed on ahead, feeling smug as he had to run to catch up to her.
Outside in the arena, Ingrid gave a little shiver in the crisp morning air.
"Take up your sword, Ingrid," said Brunhilde, with an icy gaze fixed directly on her. Ingrid drew the training sword with a sharp huff and took a defensive position, feeling frustrated that she was being forced to be here.
"Now try to hit me," Brunhilde commanded, Ingrid cocked her head quizzically.
"Daggers work best for me," Ingrid retorted with a smirk.
"Then perhaps it is time you were out of your comfort zone," came Brunhilde's reply as she kicked Ingrid's feet from beneath her.
Ingrid hit the dirt floor with an undignified grunt, she dragged herself to her feet again, drawing air in huge gulps as Brunhilde's attack had winded her. Retrieving the sword that lay at her feet, she waved it around, feeling the weight and planning an approach.
With a sudden step forward, Ingrid lunged at Brunhilde, determined to knock the superior look off her face, but Brunhilde sidestepped effortlessly and hit the hilt of her sword into Ingrid's nose, making her stagger backwards in a haze.
Ingrid saw stars and tasted blood, she spat on the floor and screeched, rushing towards her tormentor with all the ferocity she could summon, but Brunhilde was laughing as she let Ingrid swing past her and seized her arm, twisting it up her back.
Ingrid didn't fight against the urge to kneel and Brunhilde brought her lips to Ingrid's ear, "Pathetic, you're wasting yourself and I don't have the patience for you, we're done for the day, I'll keep Odin updated on your progress, or lack of it."
The pinprick sting of tears made Ingrid drop her head, she wouldn't let them see her cry. She shrugged Thor's hand away as he attempted to scoop her off the floor, "Go away."
"Will you stop trying to drive away everyone who cares about you!" Thor shouted in exasperation.
"Brunhilde has never cared about me, she's always been tougher on me than she has with anyone else."
"Did you ever consider that maybe she had to be?"
"If she was trying to help me, then she has an odd way of showing it."
"Maybe if you stopped pushing away the ones that try to help, then you might see it."
"Just go, I'll be right behind you," and she meant it.