Aldrif was restless after that.
She didn't even notice that shadows began to grow stronger around her, nor Loki's considering frown as he'd passed through them to walk away. In her mind she'd already been alone, wrestling with the future again.
Some clatter of servants outside broke her out of thought with a jump and a scramble for a sword that wasn't at her side. Gradually she told herself that she was in Asgard, she was safe but those words were hollow now.
Her dress felt flimsy.
Defenseless.
Where was her father? Her mother? Weren't they going to check on her?
Aldrif shivered and called the shadows to her-for a moment they trailed her torso as well as her arms, forming a thin layer of armor… but the effort was too much and soon they were gone completely. The room returned to bright light. Aldrif walked out.
She was in a full set of silver and white armor with a sword at her side when she stepped into the throne room an hour or so later, smiling painfully as she considered how late she technically was for Thor's coronation. But she didn't see Odin.
"Father-?"
"Sister!"
Her arm was caught from the side and she nearly sliced into Thor's arm as she whipped out her sword. He laughed appreciatively.
"Where's Father?"
"Oh, come, Aldrif. You had your first fight today!" He reached past the sword, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Destroyed your enemy! You should be celebrating."
She let him lead her out, not bothering to sheathe the sword. "One got away."
They walked in silence for a moment, Thor considering, arm still around her shoulder.
"Another reason they must be punished," He said finally. His voice was no longer angry. It was simply... unforgiving.
"His friends are dead." Aldrif brushed imaginary ash off the hilt of her sword. She couldn't manage to look up at her brother. "He's not going to try again."
"Not alone."
They'd left the main hallway of the palace and began winding down a side stairway. Every so often light passed through a window and Aldrif had to fight not to wince away. She was beginning to feel a headache coming on.
"Brother, I almost lost my first fight. Now you want me to go take on an army?"
He smirked. "Not alone." He repeated. He pulled away and swung open a door.
Aldrif shook her head as she walked outside, yet more gold glittering at her poor eyes.
"Father…"
"I told Mother and Father you were asleep." Thor cut through her last excuse.
Aldrif ran her fingers over the hilt of her sword, trying to make it more familiar, make it rest easier in her hand. Yesterday she'd thought she knew everything there was to know about it.
"I want… I want to do the talking. I want answers first, Odinson."
"Excellent," Loki appeared on her other side. "Spin up a tale and give them nightmares so bad, they'll beg to surrender."
They moved outside. A horse waited for each of them and four more were ridden by the Warriors Three and Sif. Aldrif shifted uncomfortably, not ready for the decision-not ready to give up the fight.
"And when that plan fails as spectacularly as all your stories do?"
"I'll be at your side the whole time," Loki promised.
Fandral grinned. "Or at least he'll appear to be there."
Loki glared at Fandral but his words had been enough of a push. Aldrif swung herself onto a gorgeous white stallion she knew was meant to be Thor's horse, daring him with a smile to make a fuss. He just laughed, clapping Loki on the back and then mounting the mare beside his little sister.
"We ride forth as a family," Thor told her proudly. "I have waited for this day."
"Let us hope we all ride back." Loki sighed from behind.
Aldrif straightened a lock of her mount's mane and then the seven of them were moving forward. Soon they had left the city and its regal walls and the clatter of hooves followed them down the iridescent road and echoed over the waters that surrounded Asgard. Thor pulled ahead, as always and his red cloak billowed out brilliantly, the only spot of color. Loki's darker blended with the scenery and his pose was tense as he tried and failed to keep up with his brother. Aldrif was pensive and had long ago fallen behind, soon bringing up the rear with Volstagg now at her side. She could feel him considering her but she ignored the long look, assuming he was wondering if she was ready for watched the road pass by with a severe expression.
When was the last time she'd ridden the Bifrost? Odin's youngest considered this as the brass Observatory grew larger and larger on the horizon.
Had she ever even ridden the road out without her father or mother? And now they both seemed too far behind her... They arrived at the road's end but she was slow to dismount as she considered the city skyline and only caught the end of the conversation as she finally followed the group. Aldrif found herself hiding slightly behind Hogun in hopes that Heimdall would ignore her.
"For ages have I guarded Asgard," the gatekeeper was saying. "And kept it safe from those who would do it harm. In all that time, never has an enemy slipped by my watch, never has an enemy harmed our people - until this day. I wish to know how that happened." His face turned toward the princess and she smiled at herself and stepped out to join the abashed Loki. "You have my apology and I am in your debt, Odindotter."
Aldrif's eyes widened in surprise. She looked to Thor but he was frowning still, waiting for the conversation to be over so they could leave.
"If you truly will help us reach the enemy, the debt is more than gone." She said finally, shaking her head. She could feel a hint of disapproval from either side-no doubt her brothers would have asked for something more. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her to say more, now that she thought of it. She called up a shadow to play on her fingers, frowning at Thor and then Heimdall. "Should we not go?"
She didn't wait for an answer, sweeping into the Observatory and up the platform. Hogun was beside her soon after and then Loki, back to keeping his promise. Aldrif nodded at Hogun and then held out a hand. She studied the air around it for a moment and then turned to her brother, catching sight of the gatekeeper's approach behind them.
"Does this place feel strange to you as well?"
Loki grinned, "It's called magic, little sister." He nodded at her other hand, where a shadow had appeared at some point to wind around her wrist. "I thought you'd be used to it by now."
"Not… not this much of it."
She'd spoken too soon.
Heimdall's sword slid into place and the Observatory filled with lightning and it took all of Aldrif's self-control not to see if she could steal some power for herself. She'd tried once, a few hundred years ago when her mother had first begun to teach her magic-she'd nearly lost a hand.
And, worse, Heimdall had given her a disapproving look.
The walls began to spin. She could feel the power coating her skin, swelling to drown them all.
"Be warned. I will honor my sworn oath to protect this Realm as its Gatekeeper. If your return threatens the safety of Asgard, Bifrost will remain closed to you. You'll be left to die in the cold wastes of Jotunheim."
"Thank you." And Aldrif was a burst of light.
Then she was gone.
Thor and the others looked at each other nervously. With a shrug, Loki disappeared as well.
"One last question," Volstagg called. "Couldn't you just leave the bridge open for us?"
"To keep this bridge open would unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jotunheim with you upon it," Heimdall said gravely.
Sif and Fandral disappeared.
"Ah." Volstagg winced, a frown under his beard. "Never mind then."
And at last, he and Thor were thrown forward to join the others.
When they arrived, their friends were not the only ones waiting.
Aldrif had landed first and instantly found herself in the middle of frozen wasteland. Cliffs of ice rose before her as she walked forward. She didn't like the way her boots slid slightly as they met the ground. She didn't like the way her side was a little colder than the rest of her. She would have to ask Hogun about that; if she could find a way to ask and not sound like she was whining or, worse, seeking attention. Aldrif shook her head and then raised it to a throne before her.
A Jotun sat there. The biggest one she'd seen. A king.
Laufey.
She arrived at the base of the throne as the others began to flash into view.
"You've come a long way to die, Asgardian." Red eyes stared at her.
Aldrif stood taller. She held out a hand to stop Thor from rushing forward.
"And your men came a long way to kill me." She replied.
Thor growled. Aldrif took a small step to the side, just enough to put him behind herself. Her hands clasped behind her back to keep from grabbing at her sword again. She couldn't manage to make herself look away long enough to know where the others stood.
The Jotun sneered at her.
Aldrif tried again. "Are you looking for war? Who are your allies that you broke into Asgard?"
"Allies." He scoffed. He stood and began to walk toward her, arm forming a familiar weapon of ice. Aldrif set her feet against the ground and let her hand begin to gather shadow beneath her cloak. "Why do I need allies when the house of Odin has so many traitors?"
"That's not a name." Aldrif snapped. "If you really don't want war, you're certainly making it easy to blame you."
"Blame the murderer who is your father, princess." He hissed. "If you want peace, why do you come with warriors, armed for battle? You children know nothing of your history."
Aldrif opened her mouth and then reconsidered. "What a strange thing to say."
"That's because it's lies." Thor finally lost his temper. "He's just mocking us, Aldrif. Wasting our time."
The air stilled. Aldrif glanced toward her brother and found, waiting, a dozen Jotun surrounding them and glaring down at the Asgardians. The king was calling more ice, coating himself with it. Aldrif lost the shadow around her hand, found her breath growing quicker. She held on a moment longer and then she darted behind Thor and wrapped her cloak tighter around her aching side.
Loki dashed in to fill her place.
But of course he didn't talk to the king.
"Thor," Her brother whispered. "Stop and think. Look around you."
Thor shrugged him off. "I know what I'm doing, brother."
The king stepped forward, eyes now locked on the eldest prince.
"You know not what your actions would unleash. I do." His eyes moved to Loki and then to Aldrif. "Go now. While I still allow it."
Loki looked to Aldrif. She said nothing. With a nod, he turned back to the king. "We accept your most gracious offer." He moved to Aldrif's side, looping an arm through her elbow. "Come on, princess. Brother, catch up."
Aldrif didn't move; Thor wasn't following.
"Thor." She called. Nothing. She made her voice sound more like their mother's "Thor Odinson."
He turned to follow her. She nearly collapsed with relief, leaning a little too heavily on her second brother. Her eyes glanced up at Laufey.
He met her eyes.
He smiled.
And then he leaned forward and whispered something to Thor.
"Wait!"
Aldrif lunged. Her hand became shadow, stretched out, faster then her eyes could follow. The shadow seized Mjolnir, wrapped its handle, consumed it.
But it couldn't stop it.
And the hammer, wrapped with her power, slammed into the smiling King of Jotun. He flew in an arc, skating through the cold air, until his flight was stopped by a crash against the icy cliff.
The world froze for a moment.
Loki's voice broke through just as the last echo died down.
"Well." He muttered. "Sh**."
Aldrif agreed whole-heartedly.