Chapter 17: Fit for a King

"What madness is this? And who are you?" Thor stared at the two women as he fired questions at all of them. "Loki is alive? How can that be? And where or rather how did you encounter Hela?"

"I am Tauriel of Mirkwood, my lord," Tauriel answered the one question directed at her.

"I told you, we ran into that nutcase chick in Hel I think it was. At least that is what Loki said. How he's alive… I don't have a clue. Last I saw, you brought him back here to face judgment for his actions. How did he get out?" Barton asked.

"He… rather I let him out. I asked him to aid me in defeating Malekith," Thor replied. "But I saw him die on Svartalfheim, he was stabbed. He died in my arms."

"Thor, I don't care what you saw on Spartanhelm, but Loki is alive and kicking," Barton sighed.

"Svartalfheim," Thor corrected him.

"Smartville, Partsville… who cares?" Barton threw up his arms.

"I would imagine the residents of Svartalfheim care," Tauriel interjected.

"No one lives there anymore," Sif said. "So what happened with the Aether?"

Thor looked at her strangely. "It was destroyed, did you forget?"

"Last time I saw you…"

Sif was gone.

"Sif?" Thor stared at the spot where she'd been standing.

"I know. This has been one helluva crazy day. Can you just send me back home through that thing?" Barton gestured towards the Bifrost chamber.

"Indeed, that can be arranged…" Thor's voice trailed off as he realized he was no longer in the Bifrost chamber. He looked around, discovering that he was alone. Or, at least the thought he was alone.

"Hello, handsome," Hela's voice purred. "Come to rescue me, or take me back to Hel? I do hope those gorgeous bowmen are still there, unless you brought them with you." She licked her lips as she looked behind him. Her face fell as she realized Thor was the only one there.

"Hela?" Thor stared at his brother's daughter. "Where are we and why do you need to be rescued?"

"I have no clue where we are. I was talking to all my new friends when I suddenly appeared here." She glanced around. They were standing in a forest.

"Heimdall!" Thor shouted.

"Doesn't work, I already tried. I don't think he knows about this place," Hela sighed. "We may be stuck here."

"Great…"

~o~O~o~

"Where did he go?" Barton shouted.

Tauriel shrugged… then disappeared along with Heimdall.

~o~O~o~

Loki and Thranduil exited the restaurant only to discover the limo was not waiting for them. In fact, they were no longer in New York. They exchanged glances, and then turned to look around. They were standing in the middle of a street with revelers walking past them. No one paid them any notice, even though they were back to wearing their original garments.

"Well, that was interesting. All we did was walk out the door," Loki commented.

"I wonder where we are now?" Thranduil asked. "And how did we change?"

"Good question. Well, we are definitely still in Midgard," Loki began as he realized most of the people passing them were human. "We seem to have arrived in the midst of some celebration."

Coins and strands of beads were flying through the air. Loki looked up to discover throngs of people standing upon balconies looking down at all the people in the street.

"You gotta tell me how you done did that trick! It was like you jus' appeared outta nowhere!" A man's voice spoke up from behind them.

Thranduil put his hand to his sword hilt as he whirled around. Loki just smiled, slowly turning to face the man. He chuckled. "Ah, it is rather a good trick, is it not?" As he looked the man over, he discovered he was an elderly gentleman.

"You boys are a bit early for Mardi Gras, but Saturdays are always good for a party down here on Bourbon Street," the man said.

"Mighty Gray? Is that what you call Gandalf here?" Thranduil asked.

"Gander? Ain't no geese down here, boys. No, I was just sayin' as how it be a bit early for Mardi Gras." The old man peered at them. "You ain't from aroun' here, are you?"

Loki shook his head. "No, we just arrived." He eyed the man closely, noting the old clothes he was wearing barely covered up how thin he was. "I shall tell you how I do that trick over a meal."

"Hungry?" The man looked at them, a gleam appearing in his eyes.

The elf and the god exchanged a look. Thranduil nodded. "A meal would be pleasant, if it is good."

The elderly man slapped his thigh. "I'd be right pleased to join ya and learn that trick. Com'on, follow me. We'll go get us a meal fit for a king!"

"I should hope so since I am a king," Thranduil replied.

"Yer a king?" The man's jaw dropped. "I don't believe it for a second, but if ya wanna say yer a king, then you can be king for a day for all I care. S'long as ya buy me a meal, that is."

"We shall most certainly do so, but I suggest we move on. The guards are approaching," Loki pointed out the mounted police that were slowly moving through the crowd towards them.

"Damn!" the man exclaimed. "Com'on. Let's get outta here."

"Walter?" one of the mounted police officers shouted towards them. "You aren't trying to con these gentlemen, are you?"

"No, indeed he is not. We have invited him to join us for dinner, on the basis that he selects a fine establishment for us," Loki replied.

"Well, that's right nice of you, sir. He usually tries to steal most folk's money outright. You watch your wallet, you understand?" The officer pulled his horse to a stop in front of Loki.

"Indeed, I shall. We are from out of town and asked him for a recommendation. Perhaps you might suggest some place?" Loki asked.

"Antoine's," Walter piped up. "I was taking them to Antoine's. An' I know someone that can get us in."

The officer chuckled. "I'll bet you do, Walter. Well, make sure you don't take more than a free meal from these men."

Walter nodded.

The officer nudged his horse and moved on. He'd gone a few steps, then paused and looked back. "And make sure you take them to Café du Monde for some beignets afterwards."

As they walked down the street, Walter paused for a moment. "Since you boys be new to Naw'leans, I'll bet ya ain't ever had a hurricane before, have ya?"

"A hurricane?" Loki asked.

"Yep, best damn drink in town. We'll stop at Pat O'Brien's first and get one," Walter led them down a side street. They entered through an alleyway and walked towards a garden setting. Tables and chairs were filled with people laughing and chattering, each with a huge glass of red drinks in front of them.

"Three?" A waiter asked as he approached them

"Yep, three of us," Walter responded.

"This way." The waiter led them to a small white iron table. "Hurricanes I assume?"

"Three of them," Walter ordered.

Minutes later, three frosty glasses filled with the red beverage were placed on the table in front of them.

Loki took a sip of his. "Interesting, a bit sweet, but not bad."

Thranduil tried his. "I still like the champagne better, but it will do."

Walter drank his eagerly. "If you want, you can keep the glasses, but they charge extra," he warned them.

"I do not believe we shall need the glasses," Loki replied.

Their waiter appeared as they finished their drinks. "Another round, boys?"

"No, these were fine. We do not wish to keep the glasses either," Thranduil replied.

The waiter handed them the bill. Loki peered at it, then handed him the credit card he still had of Stark's. The waiter read the name. "You know Tony Stark?"

"Yes, we, ah… work for him," Loki responded.

"I'll be right back, sir!" The waiter took off. He returned a few minutes later. "You're all taken care of."

They left to continue their way to the restaurant, reaching Antoine's only to discover a long line of people waiting to get in.

"Well, perhaps we need to go somewhere else," Thranduil said. "Another of those hurricanes might not be so bad."

"Indeed not!" Walter grinned. "But I told you I know someone here. You wait right here, I'll be back in a sec." He took off around the corner towards the back of the restaurant.

"I wonder if he will disappear?" Thranduil asked.

"It seems to have settled down, at least for the moment. I do wonder where everyone else is," Loki replied.

"Loki? Thranduil?"