"Director Coulson, of the Avengers." Thor repeated and nearly dropped the mirror when it warmed in his hands. "Mother?" This was magic outside his understanding.
"Be at ease. Come, sit beside me, that we might both speak with this man."
The mirror cleared and a face appeared.
"Prince Thor of Asgard." The Son of Coul dipped his head in recognition. "And company?"
"Greetings upon you, Director Coulson." Thor repeated a general greeting. "Might I present to you, my lady mother, Frigga, Queen of Asgard?"
"Your majesty." Coulson barely blinked as he rose from a seat and bowed to her, raising his position in Frigga's mind considerably.
"Director." She gave him a head bow in response and Coulson retook his seat. "My son has spoken of you, of your respect and honour."
"I am pleased, your majesty, his time here was… fraught with difficulty."
"I can imagine." Frigga smiled. "It has, however, been good for him. A learning experience, his tutors would say."
"We all learned a great deal." Coulson nodded.
"There is much we do not know of Midgard." Frigga said. "What would be the reaction of your people, if Thor were to return to Midgard?"
"The Bifrost is broken, mother, there is no going anywhere." Thor corrected.
"Hush, dear, I was speaking with the Director." Frigga laid a gentle hand on Thor's arm.
"We would welcome him." Coulson said. "Not everyone, of course. There are always those that do not welcome outsiders, but they are the exception. I know that the Avengers Initiative would welcome him."
"Tell me more of this Avengers Initiative, Director." Frigga ordered.
"It's the brainchild of the current director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury." Coulson started. "He saw that Earth wasn't alone in the universe and that sooner or later someone would come at us, in aggression. And that we didn't have any real form of protection from them. So, he came up with the Initiative to combat that…" For the next hour Coulson explained how the Initiative had sat in the back of Fury's mind, developing and growing, until he began taking steps towards making it a reality and how it had grown and changed since then. He then had to explain that the magical world still existed but that they'd been separate from the muggle world for centuries and that few believed that the muggles were ready to know about the magical world. How The Unit came into being and how, over the last few weeks, he had worked with Tony, Harry, Kingsley and Peggy to merge the two organisations while still retaining some of their independence, especially when it came to working the different environments.
He finished with a brief outline of the staff, their positions, skills and how they came to work for the merged Avengers/Unit, which was commonly called the Initiative, ending with the recovery of Steve Rogers.
"…and now that healer Tonks has given him a clean bill of health, our training co-ordinator is looking to start him on some light physical work to counter seventy years of forced inactivity." Coulson finished.
"I see…" Frigga mused, rocking her head backwards and forwards, slightly. "And you believe that these people would welcome my son?"
"I know they would." Coulson countered. "We've discussed this, among ourselves. We hoped that when he returned to Earth, that Prince Thor would at least consider joining us. If not in a permanent position, then on an on-call one."
"I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to train and spar with your warriors, Son of Coul. Unfortunately, that is not likely to happen for some years." Thor sighed.
"Might I ask why?" Coulson requested.
"Loki." Thor said sadly. "He ambushed me and intended to wage war on numerous realms, using the Bifrost as his vessel of transport. I stopped his campaign but to do so, I had to choose between stopping his plans or capturing him. I was forced to… break the Bifrost bridge. He escaped me and fell into the abyss between realms."
"So, he's still at large?" Coulson's shoulders tensed.
"He is." Thor nodded. "Father is working to repair the bridge but it will take time."
"Time that Loki could be using to plan further attacks." Coulson said tightly.
"Aye." Thor nodded. "Midgard is vulnerable and he knows it."
"And if we had a way to… side-step… the Bifrost?" Coulson asked. "Would you be interested in returning to work with us?"
"I would that it were possible." Thor smiled sadly. "I have missed those I met on Midgard."
Frigga stared hard at the image of Coulson. "Director Coulson, why do I have the impression that you are hiding something?"
"Because I am, your majesty, but without Prince Thor's consent to return to Earth, I do not have permission to divulge any further details." Coulson replied.
"Yes, my son would return to Midgard and train with people." Frigga said. "His punishment for breaking the Bifrost is to return to Midgard and protect it, until I deem that he has learnt to not withhold military information from the King. I would request that the Avengers Initiative welcome him and educate him in all matters that they believe that one who will one day be a King, should know. It will be the responsibility of the Avengers to provide his transport to Midgard, should they require his presence before the Bifrost is repaired."
"In that case, your majesty," Coulson smiled, brightly, "I suggest that Prince Thor pack his bags. Just sparring and battle clothing, along with his weapons and any personal items he wishes to bring. If he forgets something, we do have a way for him to return to Asgard, but I'm told it's quite disorientating for non-magical beings and we are uncertain if that applies to those of Asgard or not."
"My son will be ready within the hour." Frigga said and turned to Thor. "You'd best hurry, time is passing."
"Yes, mother." Thor pressed a kiss to Frigga's cheek and stood, his hands still holding the mirror.
"Leave that with me." Frigga requested. "There's a few more things I would like to discuss with Director Coulson."
"Of course, mother. I shall return as soon as I can." Thor was up and moving.
"Such an excitable child." Frigga said fondly.
"Exuberant." Coulson agreed. "What do you wish to know, your majesty?"
"Tell me of Lady Jane Foster and Lady Darcy Lewis." Frigga ordered.
"Dr Jane Foster is…" Coulson began speaking, giving a detailed briefing on the two women. And ending with, "… Darcy's cookies are often used as a form of currency for favours. I am uncertain but I think that she knows the name and face of everyone that has ever eaten one of her cookies and which ones they prefer. She says that Prince Thor's favourite are lemon and lavender."
"They would be." Frigga nodded, when Coulson finished a few minutes later. "How will you… what was the phrase you used? Side-step? How will you side-step the Bifrost?"
"We have access to a… device that allows the user to connect a portal to a different location, a location that can be either a set of coordinates or a place that the user can picture clearly in their mind as they activate the portal."
"What do you require, here in Asgard?"
"From you and your people, your majesty? Nothing. From Prince Thor? Willingness to work with us."
"No, Director, I meant for your portal to work."
"Oh, only a bit of clear space. The arch is large, thirty-odd feet tall by about twenty feet wide, when you add in the arch's support buttresses. I am uncertain whether the arch will remain and become a permanent structure or whether it will only be present for the transfer."
"We will work on the assumption that it will remain, if it doesn't, we've lost nothing. Would a garden would be suitable?"
"Definitely, we can try and place in front of an existing wall but I can't guarantee that will work." Coulson nodded. "If you would excuse me, I will need to contact the agent that is the most familiar with the device. Tell Prince Thor to contact me via the mirror once he's ready, but that it will take us at least an hour, to prepare for his return journey."
"Very well, Director, I look forward to speaking with you at a later time."
"Certainly, your majesty, I am always available to you." Coulson smiled at her, subtle but genuine.
Thor stood with Sif and the Warriors Three, as well as a selection of warriors from Asgard, they had no idea what was going to happen. His return to Midgard was a certainty, the timing and the manner were the variants.
As his mirror went dark, a waft of shadow moved across the garden and tendrils of darkness morphed together until the hazy shape of an arch filled the space. The shadows' darkness grew before it developed structure and definition, becoming the image of stone. By the time the shadows stopped creeping across the flagstones of the courtyard, the arch looked as solid as the wall and the palace behind it.
The flimsy, liquid-looking cloth that filled the arch, rippled and twisted in the light before two men stepped through it. Both men wore formal clothes as would be expected of ambassadors to the Asgardian royal court. They both took precisely four steps from the arch and gave formal bows.
"We give greetings this day and extend our gratitude for allowing our presence in the Royal Palace." The pair had obviously decided that only one of them was going to speak. "I am Draconis Malfoy, Lord of the House of Malfoy and my companion is Harrington Potter, Lord of the House of Potter and Heir to the House of Dumbledore. We are Strike Team Commanders for Avengers/Unit Initiative."
"Welcome to Asgard, Commanders." Thor nodded to them. "I am Thor, Prince of Asgard." Thor turned slightly. "Might I prevail upon you to spare a few minutes? My father and lady mother would like the opportunity to speak with you, in regard to my coming time on Midgard."
"Most certainly, Prince Thor." Draco said. "However, Harry's a little light on sleep, so if you want polite answers, it's probably best not to ask him."
Harry just grunted and elbowed Draco in the ribs.
"Ah, I understand, father's much the same." Thor nodded. "As are Fandral and Bors." He gestured to a doorway behind him. "If you would follow me?"
Draco gave an acknowledging bow and agreed. "Certainly, your highness."
"We are to be compatriots, Lord Malfoy." Thor said as they went through the door and entered the palace, proper. "Please, I would have you call me Thor."
"Highness, until we have a signature on the documents we carry, we are unfortunately unable to grant your request." Draco clearly showed that he didn't wish to offend but was determined to stand by his words.
"Documents?" Thor asked.
"Yes, highness." Draco replied. "Documents covering what you can expect during your time with the Avengers and what is expected of you. We only have a rough outline with us, as we understand that your position, here on Asgard, may require alterations or negotiations to our current contracts."
"Ah, best you speak to father about that."
"As you recommend." Draco gave a small smile.
Thor lead them into the throne room and all present were surprised when one of Odin's ravens flew from the throne, down the down the steps of the dais and across the room to land on Harry's left shoulder.
"Hello there, who are you?" Harry asked, only tilting his head to study the bird.
The raven chuckled and squawked as though conversing with Harry.
"Really?" Harry asked. "Huginn? So, your friend is Muninn, then?"
The raven chattered a little more before trying to preen Harry's hair.
"I'm sorry, that's a waste of time. My hair's never going to be neat and tidy, even my wife has given up on trying to tame it." Harry chuckled, a slightly echo-ing sound, very similar to his Animagus form's cries.
The raven continued to talk to Harry as they crossed the room and came to a halt at the base of the dais. The raven gave a last pull of Harry's hair and leapt into the air, to return to his perch on the wing of the throne.
"My Huginn likes you." Odin rumbled, he waved Thor off, when he tried to instigate introductions. "If Huginn or Muninn like them, there is not need for formality, my son. They are welcome friends."
"Only you, Harry." Draco huffed, taking Odin at his word.
"Hey, not my fault birds like me better than they do you."
"You're an eagle, Harry, I'm a cat, birds seem to know that and not like it." Draco argued back.
"Later, Draco. We're supposed to seeing to Prince Thor's contract." Harry reminded the blonde.
"Hmph…" Draco snorted but faced Odin's throne. "Greetings, Odin, King of Asgard."
"Greetings, friends. Pray, tell me your names and allow us to retire to a more… informal… setting." Odin replied.
Draco nodded and repeated his introduction from earlier and explained about the contract that they were there to negotiate. He watched as Odin nodded and stood.
"Let us retire to my office, we can review this contract and amend any details, as needed."