A/N: All characters, places, and events you recognize belong to Marvel, Disney, etc.

Thanks as always to dristi5683. You're so talented!


Asgard

"You wished to see me, my Queen?" The golden-eyed Guardian, helmet tucked under his arm, stood at the threshold of a tapestry-draped chamber.

A golden-haired woman looked up from her loom and smiled placidly. She spoke quietly to two white-clad attendants, and they immediately took their leave through an intricately carved door behind her. "Come in, Heimdall. Forgive me; I just need to tie these threads off."

Heimdall stepped into the room, taking in the vivid hues of the All-Mother's latest weaving, the rich play of light on the polished wood, the oval table set for tea.

"There," Frigga said. She gracefully rose to her feet and smoothed the heavy folds of her pale blue gown. Blessing him with another smile, she held her hand out to Heimdall. He bowed his head in deference. "Thank you for coming. I know it's not convenient to leave your post. Perhaps tea will make it worthwhile. Shall we?" she asked, gesturing to the table.

Heimdall set Hofund and his helmet on the chaise longue behind the table and took a seat. Silence rested while they each drank a cup of strong, sweet, revitalizing tea. Heimdall took several meat-filled pies. The queen ate two delicate biscuits while watching him savor the treats.

"It's good to see you, Heimdall. You so rarely join us for evening feasts. How are you?"

The Guardian brushed crumbs from his mouth. "I am the same as always, your Majesty. I see too much to be naive or unconcerned, but I see enough to never give up hope."

Frigga regarded him over the rim of her tea cup. "Perhaps you can give me hope as well."

"And how can I do that?"

"The All-Father spoke with me last night."

"Ah," said Heimdall. The vision of a minefield of fact versus truth shimmered before his glowing eyes.

"He said Loki has placed his rune mark on a Midgardian, that the prophecy has well and truly been set into motion." She looked to the partially finished tapestry. "Is this what you've seen?"

"My lady, it's not for me to—"

"I ask as a mother. Please. Has my son bonded himself to a mortal woman?"

oooOOOooo

Day 245

Culver University, Virginia

"What do you mean, 'Jane's missing'? That's crazy. Where have you looked?" Darcy shook her head, as if that would clear her thoughts.

"We don't have anywhere to look. No one—" Erik's voice cracked. "No one knows where she's staying."

This was wrong. This was not happening. Any second, Jane would call with some absent-minded-scientist explanation.

"She probably started some research project and forgot to go to work." Darcy tried to sound nonchalant. "The ELS place should have her address, shouldn't they? Didn't she fill out an I-9 for taxes?"

"ESRL-and no, they don't have an address. Jane promised to give HR an address when she found a place to rent. She gave them the name of her hotel, but she checked out of there more than a week ago."

Where could she be? What about the baby? Was this part of Loki's plan? I should never have let her go to Colorado by herself. Her head was caught in a vise and her heart thumped painfully.

"What about her car? Her car! Erik, Jane bought a dark blue car right before she left New Mexico. It was a sedan, a Toyota, um, Camry. No, Corolla. I don't know the year, but I'm pretty sure it was a late model."

"That's good information, Darcy. Thank you. I'll pass it along to Agent Malone immediately."

Fear suddenly gave way to anger. "Hey-so what is SHIELD doing to find her, anyway? It's their stupid fault she had to escape to Colorado."

Erik sighed. "We've notified the appropriate authorities in Boulder."

"And? Big freaking deal. What else are the goons doing? Don't they want to recover their missing asset?"

A few beats passed before Erik answered, "I'm not going to take that bait, Darcy." She felt a frisson of guilt. This was hard on him, too. "Listen, this isn't public knowledge, but a team from JDEF is heading to Boulder in a couple of hours."

"Are you going?"

"Yes, as support, and as someone who knows Jane. Thor is coming, too, in case something not-human is at play."

If you only knew..."I'm flying out there. And don't try to talk me out of it," she said. "I need to be there."

"I expected you would say that. I'll let you know where to find us. Take care."

oooOOOooo

Asgard

Heimdall could not lie to his queen; he could only evade her questions and pray they wouldn't probe too deeply. "I witnessed no bonding ritual. Thor discovered a drawing of Loki's rune mark on Midgard. I reported this to the All-Father."

"Where did Thor find the drawing?"

"Among papers belonging to Jane Foster."

"And where did Jane Foster find it?"

"Jane was unable to say for certain. She told Thor that she had been searching for out-of-the-ordinary accounts, like the ones that had happened—"

"I'm interested in the truth, in what you saw, not in what Jane Foster said." The Queen cocked her head slightly, her direct gaze never wavering.

How foolish of him to imagine that Frigga might not catch the difference. Steady. "I did not see this particular incident. I can only report what I see."

"Yes, officially." Frigga lifted the teapot. "More tea?"

"No, thank you."

Frigga poured herself a fresh cup before again fixing him with her cerulean eyes. "How long have you been the Gatekeeper of Asgard?"

"For more than one thousand years."

"It's hard to remember any Gatekeepers but you. But there were others, weren't there? Before you?"

"Yes, your Majesty. There have been five others since the days of Buri."

"They haven't all lasted as long as you have."

Frigga gestured to the last meat pie, and Heimdall took it.

"No."

"You are the longest-serving Guardian. And some say the best. Do you know what sets you apart from these other men?"

It was clear that this was less a minefield than a game of chess. The queen was the most powerful player, of course. He saw where this line of questioning was headed, but he was helpless to extricate himself without breaking his oath as the Gatekeeper. And refusing to answer her questions would be in itself an answer.

"My queen?" he stalled.

She smiled. "You have never merely reported what you see. Your value to the throne of Asgard—and you are terribly valuable, indeed—lies in your ability to scan the realms. You watch, listen, perceive, then you sift. You weigh. You judge. And this judgment is what you bring to the All-Father. Thus you can assure him that a band of miners launching a revolution on Niflheim is not worth his concern, but that a tic in the jaw of the Vanir king must be addressed posthaste. It's your wisdom that we treasure, Heimdall. So please don't belittle yourself or insult my intelligence."

In response, he ate the last bite of meat pie. Frigga laughed, then rang a small bell. A servant appeared to clear the table. Once they were alone again, Frigga spoke. "Jane Foster interests me. Frankly, I never expected a Midgardian to play any kind of role in the lives of my family. I know very little, save that Thor cares for her. What can you tell me about Jane Foster?"

Heimdall studied the grain of the wood in the table. Odin had never asked about Jane, dismissing her out of hand as insignificant. "She is a student of science, primarily concerned with studying the stars and investigating a way to travel beyond the bonds of Midgard."

"Why did you send Thor to her upon his banishment?"

Heimdall's eyes flew to Frigga's. "My lady, I—" Her raised eyebrows killed the denial forming on his lips. He feared he was but a pawn in this chess match. "I hoped she would help Thor. Unlike most of her kind, Jane is open to the idea of life outside of their planet."

"How do you know her so well? How long have you been watching her?"

"Since she was a small girl. Her love for the stars and her quest for knowledge and understanding intrigued me. But I had never interfered in her life before Thor's banishment. I simply..."

"Felt lonely. Don't look so surprised, Heimdall. I have often thought that yours is the most difficult role in Asgard. Odin carries the weight of the Nine Realms, to be sure, but he has his family, his advisors, adulation from thousands. You stand alone."

Heimdall inclined his bronzed head, unwilling to comment. Frigga continued, "You hoped that Jane Foster would help Thor. What made you decide to secure help for Thor? Odin declared that Thor must find his own way back to Mjolnir, back to Asgard. Did you mistrust the All-Father?"

"Your Majesty, please, have mercy on me. Why do you ask such questions?"

oooOOOooo

Day 246

ESRL, Boulder, Colorado

Pacing restlessly, shoving her bangs out of her eyes, Darcy glared at her phone's silent screen, willing it to ring. Where was everyone? She was stuck in a conference room at ESRL, at SHIELD's mobile command unit. They had given her permission to man the phones, but only the trained agents (and Thor) were allowed to do field work.

"Darcy." She jumped at Erik's voice. He also had to stay behind, but at least he had a computer. "The agents are doing all that they can."

She stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the blue winter sky. The hugest lump in the world had lodged in her gut. Her throat ached with the weight of all Erik didn't know. Her head throbbed with the raging debate she'd been having with herself. Should she tell SHIELD about the bond with Loki and about the baby? What if Jane then turned up, safe and sound, only to find her life destroyed because Darcy couldn't keep her mouth shut? But what if Jane would never be found because Darcy hadn't told all that she knew? I hate this so much.

The door clicked and Darcy whirled around. Thor trudged solemnly into the room, dressed in human garb. Two agents whose names Darcy couldn't remember followed him. Agent Malone brought up the rear. She took a step toward him, but he caught her eye and subtly shook his head. Miserable, she slumped into the nearest chair.

Malone cleared his throat. "That lead was a bust."

Erik frowned. "So what's our next step? We're not giving up yet, are we?"

Darcy bit her lip.

"No," Malone said. "We're authorized to be here for 72 hours, and I'm not planning to cut that short. I just want us to be clear that this is a pretty long shot. I think our next step will be to contact bars and casinos in a hundred-mile radius."

"Jane wouldn't have gone off on a bender," Darcy interjected.

"Jane wouldn't have failed to show up at work, either," Malone shot back.

Darcy opened her mouth, then shut it again.

Thor sat down by Erik. "I suggest we question Donald Blake."

Five sets of eyes swung towards Thor.

"Donald Blake?" Malone asked.

"Jane Foster's ex-husband," Thor explained.

"I know who he is," Malone said. "But as far as I know, they've had no contact in quite a while."

"We might be surprised by what we learn," Thor replied.

oooOOOooo

Asgard

"Come, Heimdall. Look at this." Frigga swept to her loom and gestured to the half-finished design, abruptly changing the subject.

The Guardian studied the weaving. Its threads were luminous, almost living, depicting a battle. A black-haired figure with green seidr had to be Loki. Thor was represented on one side, with Odin—on the ground? Watching from the sidelines? Heimdall couldn't be sure. What was clear, however, was the figure pictured prominently in the foreground. A woman with long brown hair, tiny in stature compared to the others, held Gungnir. Jane.

The Queen briefly covered her face. "You see the vision that is being given to me? The fate of the All-Father-of Asgard-possibly all Nine Realms-hangs in the balance. We cannot afford to play games, to waste time, when the stakes are so critical. Tell me the truth, Heimdall. I beg you."

Unable to look away from the tapestry, Heimdall murmured, "Forgive me. I did alter Thor's path; I did ensure that Jane would find him. I believed I was acting in Asgard's best interests. I didn't fully trust the All-Father's judgment, it's true."

"There it is," Frigga said.

"I beg your pardon?" Heimdall asked, confused.

"There is the wisdom of which I was speaking. You aren't a slave to Odin; you are the Gatekeeper of Asgard. You know that even he is fallible."

"My queen, I am loyal to the All-Father. I believe that my performance over the last many centuries bears witness to my loyalty."

"Peace, Heimdall. I have not brought you here to ensnare you and discredit you. I seek wisdom. I confess that I also questioned the All-Father's decision to rashly hurl Thor to Midgard. Odin had withheld essential information from his sons. Who knows how their actions might have been different had they known earlier? And did Odin consider the consequences of sending Thor to a realm which forgot about Asgard long ago?"

He stared at Frigga in disbelief that she was sharing her semi-treasonous doubts.

She continued, "I love my husband. We are eternally bonded. His good is my good. I love my sons—both of them, as painful as that can be. And I love Asgard; I know you do, too. But there have been too many hasty decisions and half-understood consequences. You've just seen the vision the Norns have given me. You know the prophecy. So I ask you again, Heimdall: how did the drawing of Loki's rune mark come to be in Jane Foster's possession?"

"Very well, your Majesty," Heimdall began, his chest heavy from the weight of his words. "The answer to your question is not a simple one. I beg your forbearance as I tell this tale. Greater wisdom might come from patient listening."

The Queen gestured to the couch. "Sit down, please." She sat in the chair by her loom.

"Thank you, but I'm accustomed to standing. After Thor's restoration and return home, he often asked me about Jane. I told him that she was experiencing difficulty sleeping in the aftermath of the Destroyer's attack."

Frigga nodded. "This I knew."

"I did not disclose the extent of Jane's distress. I knew Thor would be distracted and troubled by his inability to help her. She wasn't merely having trouble sleeping. She was plagued by nightmares which left her mind nearly broken. Jane rarely slept or ate, and so her body grew dangerously weak as well. Her friends and associates were greatly concerned for her. Then she began fading from my sight. This isn't in itself a cause for concern. I do not see all souls clearly at all times. It was puzzling, though, that Jane seemed to be growing stronger. I could not determine by what method, with what help, she was healing."

Then came the day that Loki revealed himself standing by the Tesseract. I reported this immediately to the All-Father, and he elected to send Thor back to Midgard." Heimdall shifted his weight and fixed his eyes on the tapestry.

"I did not reveal to Odin all that Loki said that day." Heimdall sensed, rather than saw, Frigga stir in her chair. "He...he asked me to protect Jane, that her mind was a priceless treasure that had to be kept safe for the good of the Nine Realms."

"Loki had threatened Jane's life. Why would he now ask for her protection? And why would Jane need protection? From whom?"

"I was as shocked then as you are now. I hadn't known if Loki was alive or dead, and suddenly there he was, announcing himself..." His voice trailed off as he remembered that day. "He said Jane would need protection from Odin, from Asgard."

"But why, Heimdall?" Frigga's voice was sharp.

"Loki claimed to have bonded with Jane"—he flinched at Frigga's gasp—"but he stressed that she was not to blame."

"And you reported none of this to the All-Father?"

oooOOOooo

Day 247

ESRL, Boulder, Colorado

"Congratulations, Don! Those photos are beautiful, as is Lydia. Best wishes to you both...yes, you too. Goodbye." Erik disconnected the call, then folded his arms over his wrinkled dress shirt.

"What did Donald Blake have to say for himself?" asked Thor.

"He and his new wife returned home this morning after a week-long honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean. Don sends his best regards to his former associates at SHIELD. Including Jane. I didn't tell him-didn't want to spoil his good mood." Erik rubbed his forehead. "I think we can cross him off the list of persons of interest."

"Donald Blake just took a wife?" Thor asked, lines appearing between his eyebrows. "Midgardians move very quickly. Perhaps he was lying. I should pay him a personal visit."

Erik held his hand up as if to stop Thor. "Woah, wait a minute. Quickly? Don and Jane were over a couple of years ago. What is your problem with him?"

The Asgardian shot a glance at Darcy, then replied, "He's Jane's ex. And I heard their breakup was ugly."

Nodding his head, Erik said, "Yes, it was, but for professional reasons. He put his name on some of her research."

Darcy's eyebrows shot up. "And he lived to tell the tale?"

"I don't think he tells any tales. It put a black mark on his academic record."

Thor slapped the table, making everyone jump. "There! There's reason for him to wish Jane ill."

Erik frowned. "Donald has no reason to seek revenge. He changed careers entirely, found a decent job out East. He just got married again. What benefit would he get from harming Jane?"

Malone set his cup on the table next to Darcy more forcefully than was strictly necessary. "Gentlemen, this is a fascinating discussion, I'm sure. We are not going to harass Donald Blake. Dr. Selvig, please get that list of bars for me."

"I'd be happy to, Agent Malone," said Erik. "Thanks."

Thor pushed away from the table, muttering about getting some coffee. Malone rested his hips against the table and eyed Darcy. "Do you have any ideas for us, Miss Lewis? You've spent more time recently with Dr. Foster than anyone else has."

She had plenty of ideas, but none of them that she felt she could share with Nicholas. Maybe it had been a bad idea to come out to Colorado. She should have stayed in Virginia, where she couldn't really help, but she couldn't really hurt, either.

"Uh, I'm not sure. I mean, I'm not an agent," Darcy hemmed.

"You know Jane Foster," Malone stated. Much more quietly, he added, "I don't really know her at all. I'm here for you, because I know she means so much to you."

Darcy stared into his velvet eyes. Wha...? "Um, well, she loves looking at stars. She loves that more than just about anything else. Have you checked with, you know, star-watching places around here?" There. That seemed safe. "We keep talking about Jane doing stuff that's out-of-character for her. What if she's off doing something that's completely in character?"

Malone nodded, keeping his gaze locked with hers. "That is the best idea yet, Miss Lewis. We checked with the university observatory here in Boulder, but we haven't looked further."

oooOOOooo

Asgard

Heimdall turned to face his queen. "I confess I didn't report all of Loki's words. This news, broken hastily to Odin and Thor, would have been like a volcano of Muspelheim erupting into the palace. Odin would have reacted on the basis of the prophecy. And Thor would have reacted with passion and violence—"

"Because Loki had stolen the woman he loved from him."

"Yes. But Loki is...Loki. The Liesmith. I had witnessed no such bonding ritual. What if this was a lie told to get exactly that explosive, hasty reaction? Instead, I ensured that Thor was sent to Midgard, which still accomplished the purposes of protecting and defending the realms, without the needless haze of jealousy. My lady, you just told me that we have made too many hasty decisions."

Frigga looked away, and Heimdall breathed more easily. "I also considered what I know of Jane. She had been nearly ruined by her encounter with the Destroyer, which she knew to have been sent by Loki. Loki is what she hates and fears the most in the entire world. It made no sense that she had willingly bonded herself to him."

"Forgive me, Heimdall."

"Please, my Queen. You mustn't ask for my forgiveness. I'm merely asking you to try to understand why I did what I did. The truth—though I doubt I have untangled all of it—has turned out to be something I never expected." Abruptly, he asked, "Do you have anything stronger than tea?"

Frigga laughed lightly, then furrowed her smooth brow when Heimdall didn't smile. "No, but I could..." She rang the bell again and murmured to the servant.

"I think I will sit down," Heimdall said. Frigga nodded and gestured to the couch. Instead, he pulled one of the dining chairs to face hers. The attendant returned with a decanter and two faceted glasses.

Frigga poured a dark amber liquid into one of the glasses and handed it to Heimdall. "Thank you," he said, and drained the shot. Fire tore down his throat, exploded in his gut, and teased across his muscles. "You might want one, too."

She shook her head. "I'll wait." Heimdall noted a slight tremor in her laced fingers.

"Jane Foster accompanied Thor to study the Tesseract. You already knew that. The Tesseract likes her. Very much. Largely thanks to her, the Midgardians have made astounding progress in learning to harness its power. Jane even suspects its true purpose. While at this scientific facility, Jane learned that Loki was still alive and had promised to return for the Tesseract. Instead of cowering in fear, she redoubled her efforts to design a scheme to defend Midgard from outside invasions."

Heimdall extended his glass toward Frigga. "May I?" She refilled the tumbler, her brow tight.

He sipped the liquor this time, allowing the bite to soothe him. He wasn't accustomed to butterflies in his stomach. But sitting across from Frigga, telling her this story... "I'm making a long story even longer than it needs to be." Heimdall gave a half-smile. Frigga remained stone-faced.

"Jane became ill, both physically and psychically. Inexplicable events happened to her and around her. She feared the Tesseract was affecting her, and she hid this illness from Thor and the Midgardian authorities out of fear that they would imprison her. Jane returned to New Mexico and began a secret search for answers. Thor unwittingly provided the most important piece of information, when he identified Loki's rune mark."

Heimdall paused again, gathering his thoughts. Before he could continue, Frigga leaned forward.

"You've told me that Jane Foster has seen firsthand the destruction that Loki is capable of causing. You've testified that she worked diligently to defend Midgard against an attack. She is a highly intelligent, disciplined master of science. She recognized that this symbol was important. And yet she was—how did you put it—'unable to say for certain' where she had seen it."

"Yes, All-Mother. She was terrified to tell Thor the truth."

"And what was the truth?" Frigga's voice, while passionless, was deadly. "Whom was Jane Foster protecting? Where did she find the rune mark? With whom has Loki bonded?"

The threads of the Norns tightened around his heart. "Forgive me," Heimdall whispered, uncertain to whom he said it. "The rune bond mark is on her own left wrist. As unlikely as it seems, Loki was being honest that day. Jane Foster has bound herself to him."

Frigga abruptly stood from her chair. Reflexively, Heimdall followed suit. The Queen laid her hand on the tapestry, eyes shut as though she were in great pain. "Why did you not tell me this from the beginning? Do you not understand what is at stake?"

"My queen...please...there's more you must know before you choose any action."

"Odin must know immediately. You've delayed long enough." Frigga fixed him with a freezing blue stare and picked up her bell.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to listen to me. Loki swore it wasn't Jane's fault."

"But of course he would say that to protect his schemes. He's the Liesmith, remember?"

"I think this was also the truth. You did not see Jane's breakdown the day she realized what she carried on her body." And what she carries within her body, he thought. "She was hysterical, nearly insane with fury and grief."

"How could that be? How can one accidentally enter into an eternal bond?"

He sighed. "There are more tangles yet in the fabric of this tale. Please allow me to finish unburdening myself. Then, when you know all that I know, I will accept your wise decision. But please do not be hasty." I can't tell you all that I know yet.

Frigga searched his face. What she was looking for, he did not know. But after an eternity, she set the bell down, unrung.

"Loki has obviously grown in his ability to cloak himself and others. This must be why Jane Foster was often difficult to see in those days. I believe that Loki disguised his true self from Jane. She swore to me that she hadn't known any of it was real."

The queen shook her head. "But how?"

Heimdall sighed. "Loki entered her dreams, pretending to be a construct of her own mind. She called him Kai. He helped her banish the debilitating nightmares-he was the reason she grew stronger-and he encouraged her to return to her scientific pursuits. She was isolated, vulnerable, and she gradually fell in love with Kai. And, well..."

"Loki wants the Tesseract," Frigga said flatly. "But he can't simply grab an Infinity Stone. He needs Jane's help. Oh, Loki." Frigga appeared lost in her thoughts for a moment. "He neutralizes Jane Foster; she cannot seek to harm him now. And he exacts revenge against Thor, by forever putting Jane out of his reach."

Heimdall nodded his head. "If I may...one question has perplexed me. How did Loki fool the rune magic? You understand the working of this ritual far better than I."

Frigga shook her head sadly. "All that is required is for each person to truly wish to be bonded to the other for eternity. We assume this means deep love and commitment to each other. Apparently, Loki's desire for revenge and power was enough to satisfy the rune magic."

She continued, "So, Jane Foster didn't understand what she was doing when she entered into an eternal bond covenant with Loki. But bond with Loki she did, and I can't ignore the prophetic implications."

"I agree with you, your Majesty. May I propose that we keep a close watch on Jane? It has appeared that she is doing everything in her power to dissociate herself from Loki, including distancing herself from the Tesseract in order not to inadvertently assist him. If I lose sight of her or if her behavior changes, I vow to alert you immediately."

Frigga closed her eyes again. "Very well."

His heart lifted slightly, then plunged again. Both she and Jane trust me, and I'm betraying them both even now.

oooOOooo

Day 248

ESLR, Boulder, Colorado

"Darcy?" The voice swam above her. She swatted it away, not wanting it to disturb her sleep.

"Darcy, wake up."

She sat bolt upright in the conference chair. Erik. Dread and panic and hope sluiced through her belly.

"H'llo, I'm here, I'm awake," she babbled. "Are they back? Where's Jane?"

"Darcy." He sounded old and heavy. Her heart squeezed.

"I'm here," she repeated.

"Malone just called. They're at that park the ranger called from."

"What park?"

"The-I don't know, the place that's supposed to be good for stargazing. The Black Canyon of something or other. That's not important. Darcy, they've found Jane's car."

For a weightless moment, Darcy felt her heart floating. Where would it land? "And Jane?"

He bowed his head. "They haven't found her yet. Her backpack was found, though, by the river. They are sending a water search team in at first light."

Crash.

oooOOOooo

Asgard

"Heimdall," Frigga said. "Tell me what Jane Foster is doing now, please."

"Of course, your Majesty." The Guardian briefly closed his eyes before opening them and staring fixedly ahead. Barely a minute later, he frowned, rubbed his brow, and repeated the same sequence.

"What is it?"

"I'm having difficulty locating Jane. She isn't where I expected her to be. I'll find her, I always find her, it's just—"

"Heimdall, what is it?" Frigga stepped closer to him.

"Thor is calling out to me. He sounds distressed."