The Tuesday morning breeze blew through the open windows, tingling Jane's skin. Her head veered toward the light and her arm reached out to the side of her bed, stroking the duvet. Small bumps started to form on her arm. Her eyes gradually opened, adjusting to the light. The morning sun covered her room in gold, casting a warm sensation on her skin.
"Thor?" Jane's voice cracked. She lifted herself up and leaned against the headboard. Her hand felt around the mattress. There was nobody beside her. As her eyes adjusted to her room, she saw a figure in front of her.
She instantly backed away. Her head hit the wall viciously, and her body squeezed against the bed frame.
Ahead of her stood the same man in her dream — the same threat that crept up on her. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was shrill and weak. She felt her eyes widen as she saw Loki at the end of her bed.
He stood watching her, his head tilted to one side. Then smiled.
"Go away!" She screamed at him. Tears started to build up after her restless sleep. "Get away from me!" Her voice broke into a thousand pieces. She stared at him, waiting.
His tilted head started coming closer towards her. He began walking up to the side of the bed and leaned out to grab her.
Jane screamed and shouted, her voice burning from fright. She forced her body to move away, but didn't have enough strength. Her legs kicked furiously to stop him. Jane squealed in fear and screamed for help.
A loud thud came from the door. Jane's head immediately turned. Tears rolled down her cheek and her face crumpled in sadness. At the entrance, Frigga stood, concern written across her face. Jane crawled over to her on the bed and turned back round to point at Loki.
He wasn't there.
Her brow frowned. Her finger was still pointing out to where he was standing.
"He was there! Right in front of me!" She twisted over to Frigga, wanting a reply. Her face dropped as she saw the worried expression on her face. "I'm not crazy, Frigga. He was there!" Her heart pounded, trying to sound genuine.
"My child." Frigga sat by her side. "Who was there?" She wrapped her arms around Jane's curled up body.
"Loki..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at where he was stood. She didn't understand where he went.
"Jane, Loki is in the dungeon. How would he be here?" Jane looked her up and down. "It is just your imagination."
Jane closed her eyes and continued crying, rocking back and forth with Frigga's comforting arms protecting her.
A few hours had passed, and Jane changed into her golden dress. As she opened her cupboard and riffled through, she took out a long, dark blue cardigan, embroidered with gold along the hem of the sleeve. It draped down her side to keep her warm.
She closed the doors of her cupboard and looked into the mirror. She gazed up and down at herself, turning sideways and observing her dress. She looked ahead into her eyes. She saw her reflection and stared at it. Her focus withdrew and she smiled, pulling a happy face.
As she walked through her door, she finally decided to confront her fear. After having a long conversation with Frigga, Jane decided to get some answers.
Her feet led her far downstairs. She entered a long corridor with individual cells. A guard appeared round the corner and walked up to her unexpectedly.
"Your Majesty, are you lost?" His eyes looked uneasy.
Jane looked down the long line of cells until her eyes plainly lay upon the guard. "Please, call me Jane." Her voice wandered off as she saw a figure in a cell walk into vision, smiling at her. "I'm here to see Loki, if that's alright?"
The guard bowed his head in respect and moved aside.
Reluctantly, Jane walked passed him, attempting to curtsy but tripped on her way. Embarrassed, she closed her eyes and sighed. Her body edged closer towards a cell. Her brows lifted as she noticed its clean conditions compared to the ones back on Earth.
"I would never have thought to see you here visiting me." Loki grinned nastily, walking closer to Jane.
She shifted uncomfortably and looked to her side. The guard took no notice, apart from staring ahead like they always do, pretending not to listen.
"I've come for answers!" She stared him down, confidence beaming inside her.
Loki politely opened his arms out for her to continue.
"The gardens here, do you remember them?"
Loki laughed to himself and knelt down in front of her. "Are you asking me for gardening tips?" His smile grew bigger and more insulting. "I guess I remember them vividly." He stood up and paced back and forth, keeping eye contact with her. "I've been in this dreary place for far too long. I have killed, slaughtered and manipulated many, but all you ask for is Asgard's gardens!" His voice boomed and his fist slammed against the protection-field.
A guard stepped forward. Jane's head looked towards him, her hand raised slightly for reassurance.
Jane turned back to Loki and stepped up on a small edge. "I had a dream,"
Loki rolled his eyes and pushed himself away.
"And both of us were there," Jane continued. "Did you have something similar?" She patiently waited for an answer, hoping that in her strange new world living in Asgard, dreams would be different.
He turned around and stared confusedly at her.
Jane shook her head, realising how ridiculous she sounded. Instead she attempted to rearrange her wording. "Why were you there, Loki, in my dream? I need to know!"
"You think every dream has some sort of meaning? That now you will be Queen, you should be granted miraculous dreams, signs and prophecies!" His voice bellowed in frustration. "You are pathetic, tiny, and a waste of my time!"
"Just answer my question, Loki!" He looked at her shocked. Jane cleared her throat, and looked down to her feet. "Please." Impatiently, he started pacing again, thinking.
"If it was a sign, it would have some correlation between us."
"But Thor was there as well!"
"Was he there the whole way through?"
She shook her head.
"Then he has nothing to do with it!" His stubborn tone started to irritate her. She frowned, but didn't show.
"So what could it mean?"
"I do not know." His voice was harsh and brutal again. "Stop asking me pointless questions!" She saw the way he looked at her, sympathetically. Then lowered his eyes and nodded apologetically. "I have no intention of hurting you, Jane, now you may leave." His voice started to seem impatient.
She was about to ask another question, but closed her mouth. Instead she nodded, then walked away. Hesitantly she stopped and turned back round. She saw Loki pacing and muttering to himself, his arms swaying. She caught eye contact with him for a brief second and saw him plotting. She frowned in confusion, and carried on her way up the stairs.
Her thoughts started to cloud as she neared closer to climbing the stairs. She paused and leaned against the side to take a breath. She felt a strange sensation crawling up her body. Quickly she shook it off and swallowed.
By the time Jane was back in her room, she continued questioning if her dream was worth looking into. She slouched on her dressing table and looked in the mirror, waiting for a sign. Her stomach started to feel strange again, she hugged her belly to get rid of the ache. It got worse. She felt herself heat up, and something crawled up her throat. Instantly she gagged, leaning forward. Covering her mouth, she ran to the toilet.
Two days had passed and Jane continued to feel restless and unwell. She wore more comfortable clothing that loosened around her stomach. She stood at the end of the Bifrost, waiting for Thor. Her hair flared across her face. She drew it back and sighed in boredom.
"You look troubled, Jane." A warm welcoming voice radiated through her nerves. Heimdall glanced over to her.
"A lot on my mind." She turned towards him and smiled. He stood holding his sword to the ground between his legs, his golden armour and winged horn helmet casting a reflection of light.
She saw how strongly he was built, and felt protected by his side.
They both looked ahead of them, and waited together in silence. Heimdall walked forward, stepped up and placed his sword into the platform ahead.
"You may tell him what you wish now." He smiled politely and stepped down.
Jane looked at him, wondering if he knew what was on her mind.
Around her, the flourishing dome started to circle around them repeatedly. A beam of light began to emerge ahead of her. Jane squinted until she saw a beloved figure in the hazy distance.
Thor lurched forward, almost falling over. He turned around and saw Lady Sif, Volstagg, Hogun and Fandral. They laughed together, celebrating their successful mission. "Thank you, Heimdall!" Thor nodded his head in respect, while Heimdall took out and sheathed his sword. He dipped his head respectfully, and walked away.
Jane watched Thor proudly, her heart smiling in pleasure. She was desperate to tell him of her news. She stood still, swaying side to side, waiting for him to notice her.
After a while, she reluctantly looked at him, her expression dull and disapproving. He continued talking and laughing with his friends, recounting their battles.
As Jane waited, she accidentally caught eye contact with Lady Sif, who gave her a look and quietly smiled, then focused her attention on Thor.
She saw the way she looked at him: her eyes bewildered, not looking away. Whenever Thor looked over to her or directly spoke to Lady Sif, she would have a huge grin on her face, fiddling with her hair and blush. Jane regrettably continued staring at her, noticing her feelings towards her fiancé.
Jane's eyes moved back to Thor, who eventually turned round and acknowledge her. He opened his arms, embracing Jane.
"I'm guessing you were successful?" She looked up from their hug and saw Thor's face beaming with childlike joy. She laughed and retreated. "I have news." She waited for a response.
He was just about to speak when Heimdall interrupted them. Frustratingly she looked at him. "Your Father is in need of you Thor, urgently." He put his hand on his shoulder, then walked away.
"Sorry, Jane -"
"Your Father needs you, I know." She shyly stood in front of him, placing her hand on his chest plate. He took hold of her hand and kissed it. She felt her cheeks heat up and jumped up on the tips of her feet. Thor smiled into their kiss.
"I will find you after." He smiled, kissed her again, then charged off.
As Thor walked on ahead, Jane slowly followed, watching him run away from a distance. She stood still, looked ahead of her, sighed deeply and whispered under her breath.
"I'm pregnant."
