Ella paced around the balcony as the sun rose over Asgard. Thor had been gone for a while and she was beginning to worry. Frigga had come to her after Ella has asked a guard to tell her the news. Apparently Odin was furious with Thor for travelling to Midgard. He was waiting for him to return in the Throne Room while Frigga remained with her daughter, both of them wondering what was happening. When the received word that he had returned and was with Jane in the medical wing, Ella almost rushed to find out what had happened.

Yet Frigga told her to wait for a few moments. She knew that Odin would want to speak to Thor first if he had brought Jane back, which it seemed had happened. Ella remained curious more than anything, wondering exactly what Jane was like and why she was back in Asgard.

"Oh, go," Frigga said to her daughter as she continued her pacing.

"Are you certain?"

"Positive," Frigga said. "No doubt your father has had ample time to berate him. Go and find your brother and tell him I hope he will come and see his mother soon."

Ella smirked before moving off and towards the medical wing. She had not found them there and the head healer had informed her that her brother had left alongside the woman. Odin had apparently demanded that Jane be returned to Midgard, but something had happened while she was being examined. It didn't take Ella long to find her brother stood on the balcony outside and near the training ground.

Thor turned around to see his sister moving towards them and he rolled his eyes as he saw an amused look on her face.

"Jane Foster, this is my sister, Ella, Princess of Asgard. I apologise in advance for her annoyance," Thor said and Ella hit him across the arm before looking to Jane.

She was petite and thin, dressed in a short dress with tights and ankle boots. Her clothing was completely different and she looked out of place. Her hair hung in dark waves down her back as she let her eyes widen at the sight of Ella. It took her a moment before she awkwardly bowed her head, clearly uncertain of the proper etiquette on Asgard. Jane couldn't help but admit that the Asgardian in front of her was stunning. Then again, Jane suspected it must be in the genes. Her golden hair hung in loose curls down her back and she was dressed in a fine blue gown, holding herself tall as she looked to Thor with an annoyed glance.

"He likes to think he is funny, but he is anything but," Ella said to Jane and held a hand out to her. "It is nice to meet you, Jane Foster."

"You too," Jane said. "Thor told me a lot about you when we met…well…all good things, honestly."

Ella chuckled softly and glanced to her brother. "I am glad to hear it," she responded. "What is happening? I spoke with a healer and she could not understand what was wrong."

"Jane vanished from Heimdall's watch," Thor said to his sister. "Do you remember the tales of Malekith, sister?"

Ella tried to wrack her brain before nodding her head once alongside shrugging her shoulders. "Not entirely," she admitted to her brother. "Did our grandfather not fight him?"

"And killed him," Thor said. "Malekith wanted to unleash something known as Aether."

"That I have heard of," Ella nodded to him.

"Well, somehow…the Aether has found its home in Jane. She claims that portals had opened on Midgard and she went into one before being injected with it. It flows through her veins and I need to find a way to get it away from her."

"But…the power…" Ella said in a whisper as she looked to Jane. "How is she handling the power? Is father looking into this?"

"Yes," Thor said. "Well, I hope he is."

"I can help," Ella said to him. "I can see if I can find something in the books or if mother knows a spell. The Dark Elves are all dead, Thor. How is this possible?"

Thor shrugged his shoulder. "This, I do not know," he admitted to his sister. "But mother…perhaps you are right…perhaps she might know."

"Oh, she wants to see you anyway," Ella informed him with a sly smirk and Thor felt the sudden urge to roll his eyes. "Perhaps you could go and speak with her and I will see if I can find something in a book?"

"Thank you, sister," Thor said.

"And once you have seen mother, bring Jane to me. She needs some clothes so she doesn't look so suspicious around here."

…

"You know, I saw you on TV in New York," Jane said once she was sat with Ella in the grand library later on in the day. Ella had handed her some books and she had begun looking through them, but she had seemed quite interested in talking with Thor's sister as she worked. "I saw you both, anyway."

"New York was a difficult time," Ella admitted to Jane. "We both…well…you know what happened."

"I know," Jane said. "Thor only spoke highly of you and your brother while he was on Earth. I didn't know if I believed it when I first heard the news."

"That would make two of us," Ella said, kneeling on the floor as Jane knelt across from her. "Thor struggles with what Loki has done. We both do…but he tries to hide it better than I do. He still loves him, but things are very tense right now. We are not exactly a happy family."

She had changed into a lilac gown with a throw over her shoulders, her hair pulled out from it. Ella had loaned it to her, helping her change into it after she had complained of too much fabric. They had then made their way to the library as Thor spoke with Odin, trying to persuade him to help Jane somehow.

"I don't think happy families exist," Jane said quickly. "We all have our arguments."

"Yes, but father wanted to execute Loki for his crimes. Mother had him spared," Ella said. "And then father has been trying to keep Thor from letting his feelings for you develop. Things are not harmonious in the slightest."

"Wow," Jane whispered, lowering her gaze for a moment before she saw Ella move to her feet and put away a handful of books. "So…you don't think Thor can be with me?"

"I never said that," Ella said and spun on her heel to look back to Jane. "I think that Thor should be able to be with whoever makes him happy and I think that is you. I know that he adores you and never stops thinking about you."

"He said that?" she asked and Ella's lips quirked upwards as she went back to kneel on the floor.

"You sound surprised?"

"Because he left for ages," Jane said. "And he is who he is…a God…and I'm just a human. I'm just an average looking human."

"Believe me, you are not average," Ella said. "And I suspect Thor is just as attracted to your intellect as he is your looks. He told me that you are very clever."

"Not really."

"And you are modest," Ella said and Jane shrugged but her lips quirked upwards slightly. "Thor adores you, Jane. Never doubt that. And never doubt that he does want to be with you. I know that he does…but I think we should just focus on making sure we heal you before anything else happens."

"Agreed," Jane said with a nod of her head. "But thank you for this…for…well…being kind."

"I just want to help you," Ella said to her. "But I do not know if the answers are contained in these books."

Moving to her feet, Ella smoothed down her skirts and began to wander towards the balcony. Jane stood too and followed her, looking out over Asgard as the two of them stood by the stone columns and looked forwards.

"Do you think there is an answer?"

Ella shrugged. "I think that there should be," she said to her. "There is usually an answer. The main issue is that it is usually hidden somewhere."

Before she could say anything back, a loud noise echoed through Asgard as Ella furrowed her brows. She took a moment to look towards where the noise was coming from before she saw a group of guards running towards the dungeons. Peering over the stone, she placed her hands on it and looked over into the distance.

"I think it is the dungeons," Ella said. "Did Thor tell you that there had been trouble with the Nine Realms?"

"He mentioned something about it," Jane said.

"Well there are prisoners there," Ella said. "Perhaps some of them have rebelled?"

"Ella!"

Turning her head over her shoulder, Ella saw Frigga enter the library. Her steps were quick and Ella noted that she held a dagger in her hands. Looking to her mother, Ella saw a slight look of concern in her face as she glanced to Jane.

"I need you both to come with me."

"Yes, ma'am," Jane answered with haste.

"Is it the dungeons?" Ella wondered from her mother.

"It is."

"Then…mother…" Ella began and Frigga knew exactly what her daughter was thinking. Moving forwards, Frigga took hold of Ella by the hands, clasping onto them tightly and nodding her head.

"You have two minutes to check," Frigga said. "And then we are going to my chambers."

Ella nodded and Frigga used her magic for her daughter. She watched as Ella closed her eyes and went still as Jane's eyes widened, wondering exactly what was happening as Ella's body seemed to shimmer for a moment. As Jane questioned Frigga as to what was happening, Ella felt herself disappear and her projection turn up in his cell.

She opened her eyes to see him stood by the entrance to his cell, bending slightly and speaking to a creature in a hushed tone. She didn't hear what he said, but he did startle when he turned back round and saw her. It took him a moment before he stepped closer to her and looked at her with wide eyes before longing to take hold of her. He didn't. Instead he kept his hands by his side, his fingers clenching into fists.

"What is happening?" Ella asked from him.

"Someone escaped," he said to her. "No doubt the guards are taking things into their own hands."

"Good," Ella said with a nod of her head.

"Then why are you here, Ella?" Loki asked from her. "Did you think that I had escaped?"

"I thought that you might be in trouble," Ella answered and Loki was shocked at the honesty in her voice. "I needed to make sure you were safe. Things…things are not well, Loki. Jane Foster is here. She has the Aether coursing through her veins."

Loki's brow furrowed. "And how did she come by that?"

"A story for another day," Ella said as she noted her brother over Loki's shoulder, knowing that he couldn't see her.

"No," Loki said with a shake of his head. "Ella, listen to me. Do you think that it is coincidental that a riot begins in the dungeon on the same day that Thor brings that woman here with a powerful weapon flowing through her veins?"

Ella's brows furrowed as Loki stood close to her. "You think this is linked?"

"I think it would be strange not for it to be linked," he responded to her. "Ella, listen to me, go somewhere safe and away from her."

"But if someone wants her then I need to protect her."

"No," Loki said with a firm shake of his head. "Ella, you need to keep yourself safe."

"That is the issue, Loki, I'm not selfish like you."

Before Loki could respond and tell her his true thoughts, she had disappeared and he closed his eyes, wondering exactly what would happen to his sister. He wanted to tell her that he wasn't being selfish. He just wanted to keep her safe. She was the one he wanted to protect, not Jane Foster.

…

Ella rushed along the corridors, her arm entwined in Jane's as she told her mother Loki's theory. Frigga did not say it was ridiculous. In fact, she seemed to agree with what Loki had suggested. Once they came to Frigga's chambers, Ella saw her mother push open the door to her private chamber. Frowning, Ella wondered what was happening as Frigga ushered her into the private room.

"Hide her," Frigga said to her daughter.

"What are you going to do?" Ella wondered from her mother.

"I am going to do what I can to keep you both safe."

"I can help," Ella said with haste and Frigga gave her a soft smile.

"I need you to protect her, Ella," Frigga said to her daughter. "If anyone comes in here who threatens her then you know what to do."

Before Ella could protest, Frigga held her tightly for a moment, kissing her on the top of her head and then pushing her back. Frigga had shut the door and locked it with her magic by the time Ella moved forwards. Ella tried to turn the handle, but she failed miserably as she groaned in frustration and focused her own magic. She needed to help her mother. She was the one in danger. Jane looked on in bemusement as Ella bent by the handle and tried to tug it open.

After a moment or two, they heard a noise grow closer. It was a bang and Ella knew it sounded like a door opening. It was another moment before she heard her mother speak.

"Stand down, creature, and you might survive this," she said and Ella concentrated even harder on getting the door to unlock.

"I have survived worse, woman," a deep voice responded.

It took her a moment, but she finally did it. Turning her head over her shoulder to look at Jane, she placed a finger to her lips, indicating that she should remain silent. As she opened the door and moved down the steps, she saw Jane stood on one of the steps and she realised what her mother was doing.

"Who are you?" Frigga demanded from him.

"I am Malekith," he said, "and I will have what is mine."

Frigga turned her head over her shoulder then and saw the hologram of Jane before noticing her daughter was stood one step behind her. Frigga's eyes widened as her gaze caught Ella's and she knew what she had to do. She had to protect her daughter at all costs.

Moving to hide behind a pillar, Jane hid with haste as Ella stepped forwards while her mother engaged in battle with Malekith, her dagger raised in the air and poised to do damage. Ella was about to go and help her before she saw a creature enter the room. Moving towards it, Ella held her hands by her side, knowing that she could practice some kind of magic her mother had taught her. She stopped the creature from advancing any closer as it remained stood on the spot, unable to move.

It looked to her and snarled loudly as she pushed it back, using as much magic as she possibly could muster before she realised what else her mother had taught her. Moving her hands out by her side, she felt them in her hands before she saw them. The feeling of the daggers in her hands weighed her down slightly before she moved closer to the large creature in the room and threw her daggers at it. But it did nothing. The daggers bounced off his skin. Instead the seemed to break free from the magic Ella had used on it as she tried to freeze it again.

She failed this time and the creature grabbed hold of her by the throat, hoisting her from her feet and strangling her as she gasped for breath, her feet kicking as she noted her mother holding Malekith by his throat against a pillar. But then the creature stepped forwards and took hold of her by the throat before she could attack him. Tossing Ella off to the side, she fell on the floor as Malekith moved closer towards Jane.

"You have something of mine, child, and I want it back," he said and reached his hand out to her.

But as soon as he touched her, she had disappeared and Malekith felt rage flow through him as he turned to see Frigga smirking.

"Witch!" he yelled at her.

Moving closer back to her, he snarled as Ella pushed herself to her feet and grabbed hold of her daggers.

"Where is the Aether?" he demanded from her as Ella moved towards him and he stopped her from doing any damage as he ducked her movements and wrestled the daggers from her grip.

"I'll never tell you," Frigga informed him as he kept hold of Ella by her hair, pushing her to kneel on the floor.

"And I believe you," he said.

It was then when Ella saw the creature holding her mother thrust a blade into her back. Ella yelled loudly as she felt Malekith toss her off to the side as Thor flew into sight, his hammer hitting Malekith across the face. Ella crawled over to her mother as the creature dropped her onto the floor.

Taking hold of her, she hauled her upwards until her mother's head was on her lap. Looking down at her, she felt tears spill from her eyes as her mother's eyes remained open and she looked to her daughter, gasping for breath as Thor tried to stop Malekith and his creature from fleeing.

"Mother…come on…everything is fine…please…"

"I love you all," Frigga whispered. "Remember that."

Ella shook her head, not enjoying the sound of her mother saying goodbye to her. Taking hold of her by hands resting on her stomach, Ella continued to shake her head, tears dripping down her cheeks as Thor entered the room and Ella saw her father over her mother's body, dropping to his knees as he cradled his wife's cheeks and began to sob openly. Ella kept hold of her mother for as long as she could, blaming herself for not doing enough to protect her.

…

Thor didn't know how to tell his sister that the ceremony for their mother would be the following evening. She had blamed herself for not doing enough to save her and Thor didn't know what he could do to help her. Ella had yelled at him. She had blamed him for bringing Jane to Asgard. She had yelled at him and told him that he should never have brought her here. Malekith would never have attacked them if she had stayed on Earth.

Thor knew that she was angry and upset. That was the only reason why she was lashing out at him. But her words still hurt him. He didn't yell back. He let her yell at him and say what she said before he saw her finally crumble and begin to cry. He held onto her for as long as possible before she told him to leave her alone. He had done as she had asked and he had stood outside of her door, knowing that there was only one person she would more than likely want to be with at that moment in time. He was the only one who had truly understood her through everything.

….

As he entered her chamber, he inhaled the familiar scent of her rooms. He had pushed the door open after concealing himself during the trip there. He knew that Thor did not trust him entirely and that was why he had a cuff around his wrist to stop him from wandering too far. If he did wander off then Thor would know and be able to electric shock him. Of course, he had hoped that his brother would have known that he had no intention of leaving. He was staying exactly where he was.

Closing the door behind him, he saw her sat on the chaise longue by her balcony. Stepping towards her, he sat down on the seat and said nothing, his arms by his side as he finally felt her turn her gaze to him, eyes wide and wet. She said nothing either. Instead she took hold of him by the waist as he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her tuck her head beneath his chin. He said nothing as he felt her begin to shake as she cried. He didn't whisper comforting words in her ear. He didn't tell her everything would be fine.

He didn't lie to her. Instead he felt his own tears begin to fall down his cheek and onto the top of her head.

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!