Chapter six: Actions have consequences

"Why did you bring us back?" Thor demanded the instant their feet landed back on Asgard. Once again, she nearly landed wrong and would have lost her balance, were it not for Loki catching her elbow and giving her support. She mouthed her thanks, not wanting to speak for fear of angering Odin further. Loki nodded and took a few steps away from her.

"Do you realize what you've done?" Odin was actually beyond angry with Thor; he was what one might call murderous. "What you've started?"

I was protecting my home."

"You cannot even protect your friends! How can you hope to protect the kingdom?" He throws the staff at Heimdall before bellowing at the warriors. "Take him to the healing room. Now!" They were all too happy to leave the allfather's presence, leaving Thor and Loki to suffer the brunt of his anger. However, it appeared on this occasion that Thor would be reaping most of his father's anger. The allfather turned his gaze towards her. "And you, Rose Lahti, I'd have thought better of you than to join in this!"

She opened her mouth, but Loki cut her off. "Rose was forced to come along. It was not of her own free will."

"Is that true?"

She nods. "Yes, allfather. But, it was not of Thor's doing."

"Regardless, he should have held you in a higher regard. You're not a warrior and he should not have forced you to come. Once you'd arrived, he should have summoned Heimdall to return you instantly." Odin studied them both before turning back to Thor. "Did you think nothing for the safety of your future queen? Did you consider how the kingdom would react if she were to be injured or perish on Jotunheim!"

"There won't be a kingdom to protect if you're afraid to act." She shook her head as Thor continued to argue with his father. This argument had been due for years and it was best that it was happening now before Thor had taken the throne and there was nothing Odin could do. Thor was young still, not ready for the weight of the crown or the responsibilities that came with it. Yes, he was ready for the glory, but Thor was capable of so much more if he would just humble himself. "The jotuns must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you."

She glanced at Loki, who was watching this scene with trepidation. She silently moved closer to stand by him.

"That's pride and vanity talking, not leadership." Odin said firmly, she could hear that his patience with Thor was beginning to run thin. "You've forgotten everything I taught you, about a warrior's patience-

"While you wait and be patient," Thor sneers. "the nine realms laugh at us. The old ways are done, you'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls!"

Her mouth falls open in shock at Thor's words. Odin snaps, bellowing at him in extreme, sharp fury. "You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy!"

Thor roared back with just as much thunder. "And you are an old man and a fool!"

Rose cannot cover her mouth fast enough to silence the gasp. She'd had many a heated argument with her parents, but not once, not once, had she ever dared to raise her voice in such a manner. Nor, would she have ever dared to insult them, the thought to ever calling them a fool had never crossed her mind! For a long time, nothing was heard aside from the sounds of everyone breathing.

Slowly, she saw the regret come back into Thor's eyes as he realized that he had hurt his father. He'd gone beyond hurt, he'd wounded him to the core and Odin, the most powerful king in all the universes, was now a broken man. "Yes. I was a fool." Odin said quietly as he looked down to the ground as if searching for answers to understand how things had blown up so badly in this situation. "To think you were ready."

"Father." Loki stepped forward, possibly hoping to console his father. It was clear that Thor had broken his father's heart.

But Odin yelled at him, rejecting him so Loki instantly stepped backwards. She placed her hand on his to try and provided comfort. However, for the first time, Loki yanked his hand away from hers. She glanced at him, but she could see that he'd put a wall up, not wanting to betray his emotions. But he couldn't hide from her, he never could, try as though he may. There was something tormenting Loki and whatever had happened in Jotunheim, coupled with Odin's rejection were adding to his torment.

"Thor Odinson," Odin straightened slightly and began speaking slowly. She could hear him fighting back the tears. "you have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance, stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" Odin opens the bifrost, filling the room with lightning, causing her to jump back a few steps. Odin comes down the stairs towards Thor. "You are not worthy of these realms! You are not worthy of your title!" Odin begins ripping off Thor's cloak and emblems of his royalty from him. She turned towards Loki, her eyes wide in shock. Even Loki appeared taken aback. "You are not worthy of….the loved ones you have betrayed."

She inhaled and whispered as Odin turned away from Thor. "Allfather, please," he was angry, Thor had inherited his father's temper so both men were upset. This could be settled reasonably, if both men stepped back calmly. "I ask that you-

Her words went unnoticed by Odin as he turned back towards Thor, his hand raised. "I now take from you, your power!" Rose covers her mouth as Mjolnier returns to the allfather's hand. She gasps as tears start running down her cheeks. She did not love Thor, but he was a friend and brother to the man she did love. She'd have been glad to be rid of him, but she did not want him to be lost to them forever. "In the name of my father and his father before! I, Odin allfather, cast you out!"

With that, Odin pointed Mjolnier at Thor and a stream of lightning projected Thor backwards into the bifrost! Loki stared at Odin, shock and sadness on his face. He did not say a word. He abruptly walked towards the bifrost, as if to see if he could determine where Odin had sent Thor! She watched as Odin threw the hammer into the bifrost after Thor.

She stood there; staring at the void as Thor was thrown back into it. Odin turned towards her. "When he returns, if he is worthy of your hand, I hope you will accept it."

She was silent for a moment before daring to ask. "Have I been released from this engagement?"

"No." Odin stated. "The engagement is clear. Once he returns….he'll be a better man for you."

Odin turned and abruptly left the room.

Unable to stop herself, she sank to the floor and cried. One would think that she was crying tears of despair for the loss of her betrothed. She was crying because her cage had been open for a moment, only to have Odin to slam the door behind her again. Her heart ached for the loss of a friend, but Thor had set himself on this path and he had to walk it for a while without them. But he'd return and when he did, she was expected to still be there waiting for him.

Loki stepped in front of her, holding out a hand to help her up from the ground. She gripped his hand and pulled her upright. He studied her closely, as if he was tempted to try and read her mind, but he decided against it. He guided her outside and helped her onto her horse. As she wiped her eyes, part of her soul told her that there would only be more pain and tears to come today.

Her fears were confirmed that sunset as she sat on the floor next to Fandral. His wounds weren't fatal, so he was excepted to make a full recovery. Fandral had instantly pulled her into his side when Loki informed them of Thor's fate. He was trying to be a source of comfort to her, but he was failing miserably. The atmosphere was gloomy and all the splendor of Asgard almost seemed tarnished.

Hogun was pacing the room in anxiousness. Volstagg was seated opposite her and Fandral. Sif was sitting stiffly to Volstagg's left. Loki was standing with his back to the group in silence. He'd been silent for the entire ride. She expected that. In spite of all their quarrels, Loki and Thor were brothers.

"We should have never let him go." Volstagg declared as he adjusted his grip on the wine.

"There was no stopping him." Sif said softly, barely able to hide the ache in her heart.

"At least he is only banished, not dead." Hogun practically growled as he began to rub some salve into Volstagg's injury.

"Which is what we'd all be if that guard hadn't told Odin." Fandral reminded them firmly. "Not to mention, Rose could have been killed as well."

She glanced towards Loki, who still had his back to them. He was looking down at his hand and she remembered that moment. Why hadn't Loki been harmed like Volstagg when the frost giant touched him? It made no sense and she could tell that it was troubling to Loki.

Volstagg exhaled before asking. "How did the guard even know?"

Loki looked at Rose briefly before stating boldly to Volstagg and the others. "I told him."

Fandral turned and looked towards him in utter surprise. "What?"

"I told him to go to Odin after we'd left." He stated calmly.

Rose spoke up. "That's the only reason why I agreed to go." All eyes went to her. "When Loki talked to me, he'd informed me that he'd be instructing a guard to inform Odin of our whereabouts." She glanced downwards. "Had the guard been quicker, all of this could have been avoided."

"He should be flogged for taking so long." Loki states tightly. "We should have never reached Jotunheim."

"You told the guard!" Volstagg burst out.

"I saved our lives, especially Rose and Thor's." Loki held himself up high, not even bothering to appear apologetic for his actions. He knew what he did was right in informing Odin. "I had no idea father would banish him for what he did."

Sif stood and instantly walked towards Loki. "Loki, you must go to the allfather and convince him to change his mind."

She shook her head. "Sif-

"If I do," Loki asked, a trace of venom in his voice. "then what? I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is." The words start coming out of him. She can hear the hurt inside of him as well. She carefully stands and approaches him. "He's arrogant, he's reckless, he's dangerous. You saw how he was today. Is that what Asgard needs of its king?"

"Loki," she placed a hand on his chest, just above his heart. "please." He glances towards her and she sees a torment of emotions playing in his eyes that she can barely hold his gaze. "It has been a trying day for you…one cannot imagine what you must be feeling as you have lost your brother. Please, take some time to collect your thoughts." She speaks in a lower voice. "Your mother will need you." He nods as he walks away from her, not sparing her a second look.

She exhaled as he stormed out of the room. Sif took a few steps to watch as Loki left the room. "He may speak of good of Asgard," Sif says venomously. "but he has always been jealous of Thor!"

Rose stared at her, shocked that Sif would dare say such a thing. "What? No!"

"He has always been!" Sif snaps at her. "Do not pretend not to see it!"

Normally, she'd have remained silent. But today, she was unable to stop herself from defending him. "He's weary of living under Thor's shadow. You all make it clear that Thor is the one you prefer! He merely wishes to be treated as an equal. That does not mean that he is jealous!" Sif opens her mouth and Rose cuts her short. "He is hurting, Sif! You are too consumed with your thoughts of Thor to even allow him time alone to breathe and continue without his elder brother in his life! For once, put all thoughts of Thor aside and look at all the suffering that you helped to bring to Asgard's doors!"

Everyone stared at the two women in shock. Sif took a step towards her and Volstagg spoke quickly. "We should be grateful, he saved our lives."

She turned towards him. "Yes, you should Volstagg!" She inhaled sharply as she rubbed her chest, feeling another pain. "Had you all had remained here, Thor would still be here and not banished!"

"Easy Rose," Fandral stated as he guided her to sit in the couch that he had been sitting in front of. "I know you're upset, but please, don't put more strain on your heart."

She shakes her head. "You and Loki will never give me a moment's peace about this, will you?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "No, we will not." He sobered before stating. "He did the right thing." He looked to Sif. "Especially since you dragged Rose into this!"

"She'd have told the allfather of our quest!" She states. "You know this."

"And if I had, where would Thor be now?" She inquired as everyone stiffened and grew silent. "Here! Asgard and Jotunheim wouldn't be going to war again! And you all could have been planning out whatever the next ridiculous adventure you all wanted to experience!"

"Laufey said," all eyes went to Hogun. "there were traitors in the house of Odin." She remembered that and she thought back, as did the others. "A master of magic, who can bring the jotuns into Asgard."

They all glanced towards each other, not daring to speak the words aloud. Hogun was accusing Loki of being a traitor to Asgard and aligning his loyalty with Jotunheim. She straightened up, knowing that such a rumor would do more than damage Loki's mischievous reputation.

Tomeii: Thank you so much for leaving a review. (I was contemplating deleting it.) Thor, certainly was annoying and quite the jerk in the beginning, but his time on Midgard truly made him into a better hero.