Sigyn tried not to become frantic. There was a reason why they went missing. She just needed to find out why and then act upon reversing it. If she started to panic now, it could be too late. Sigyn petted the two horses one more time, telling them it's alright. Sigyn was trying to sooth herself as well. As she started to head out, she stopped herself to glance back at their house. She needed to find what happened before Loki came back. There was a logical reasoning as to what happened. There must be, but then the nightmare that haunted Loki flashed before her eyes. Thanos. She thought about how it could not be possible but thought again. She reminded herself to stay calm and think logically. She needed more evidence.
Sigyn jolted towards the portals. She headed through the portals to end up in one of the realms. She could hear beings calling out names of others. She did a quick sweep of minds. It was the same here. They had disappeared. It was the same as she went through a few more realms before she found herself trudging through the ash and burning wasteland to visit Surtur. He was kneeling down with piles of ash falling from his hand.
"Surtur," she bowed before seeing that he had the same morose thoughts.
"It's too late," he didn't look at her. "It has finally happened." The ominous feeling rose inside of her with every word that she was trying to deny. "He did it. He succeeded." There was silence. Sigyn waited for more. She didn't even want to reach into his mind. "I had heard that a being was going to use mass genocide to help the universe prosper and he succeeded. In my hand, were the beings I created. They mated and had families. They were not just soldiers. Half of them were turn to ash."
Sigyn could no longer hear the words he spoke. She knew where she needed to head next. It was denial that kept her trekking along to find out a way to reverse what has been done. The place she needed to go to, there were a few ways to get there, one was to die or several portals to get there. On her way, she found a giant black wolf. Sigyn knew by one glance who owned an undead wolf. Sigyn healed it to the best of her ability. This was going to be her bargaining chip. Sigyn headed to the depths of the underworld, Hel.
She made the wolf wait for her before she entered the last portal into Hel. It was a place that made her skin raise up but she did not let that stop her. She found Hela looking off into the distance.
"What does the living want with the dead?" Hela called out to her. Her back was still facing Sigyn.
"Where are my sons' souls?" Sigyn demanded. This was the last chance, the last hope she had.
"Why should I tell you?" Hela was indifferent.
"You don't, but I beg you," Sigyn pleaded. Her children have been taken away from her. Beings were missing.
"What about the rest of those who disappeared as well?" Hela asked.
"They should come back as well," Sigyn agreed. Everyone who went missing should come back.
"You are right," Hela sighed. "However, I am not the one you should demand that from."
"No!" Sigyn was hoping it was not that being. She didn't want that nightmare to be true.
"Yes! It was what you fear, it was Thanos," Hela turned around. Half of her body was covered in burn marks, showing the bones beneath her the damaged tissues. "He rid the universe of half its population. Your sons will never return to you. The souls of the disappeared will not show up in the land of the dead. He has the souls." Tears started to slide down Sigyn's cheeks. Hela may have wanted Asgard for herself but now she no longer cared for anything. The tears didn't have any effect on Hela. "You should wallow in misery somewhere else."
"I-I guess then I won't have to use this as a bargain," Sigyn wiped her tears. Come. She beckoned the wolf to head towards them.
"Bargain? Ha! You wouldn't be able to-," Hela froze as she saw her black wolf walking behind Sigyn. "Where did you-how did you?" Hela took a few strides and hugged the black wolf. "My sweet Fenris! I thought lost you, again." The wolf licked her. Hela regained the situation at hand. "Thank you for returning my loved one, however I cannot do the same for you. The only way would be to undo what he has done, but from the words of the those who have lost their lives to him, those are just words that are easy to speak."
"Thank you, Hela," Sigyn wiped her tears. "I know this is all you can give." Sigyn headed back home. To an empty oasis. Loki's nightmare had come true. The nightmare that had haunted him from his enjoying his happiness. She walked through the portals with her head hung and her shoulders slumped. Sigyn tried not to think about it until she came home.
The horses trotted up to her, curious of what has happened. Sigyn petted them once more before she entered her home. Every inch of the home reminded her of how empty her life had become. Toys scattered, laundry ready to be washed, meals ready to be made, and beds that will never have two young boys sleeping there again. The pit in her stomach made her fall on her knees, she clutched herself in torment as the tears poured out and her wails echoed inside the walls. Her sons were never coming back. How could she go on? How could she face Loki, if he even comes back? Did he face against Thanos as well? She didn't even want to think about that. Her sons are gone. She cried in that spot for the rest of the night.
Sigyn woke upon the cold floor, her clothes wet from the tears. She headed to the bathing area. The hot water helped soothed her sore muscles, but it was not enough to fill the emptiness inside her body. Sigyn clothed herself in comfortable attire. She forced herself to eat when she did not feel hungry and the food tasted bland. She told herself not to think as she picked up the toys and organized their belongings. The thought never crossed her mind about getting rid of these items. She still loved them, even if they were gone. It may be the only reminder that she had given birth to two healthy boys. When she finished cleaning the house, she headed outside to sooth the horses that had lost their family as well.
"We're just a broken home now," Sigyn hugged both of them as tears slid down her cheeks. "We will get through it, someday." The horses nuzzled into her as she cried some more.
It didn't take much for Sigyn to leave the oasis, for each time she had to pump her bosom to relieve the milk she built up, for children who weren't there anymore, made her cry to the point her throat was sore. She decided to check on her sisters, the Valkyriors. It was a sobbing reunion, as there were sisters who were gone. Sigyn stayed a few days before heading to Jotunheim. The Frost Giants let out wails as Sigyn gave them the news. This was harder on her. Sigyn stayed with Farbauti, who had taken over ruling for now, since Suttungr disappeared. Sigyn revealed the truth to Farbauti about Loki. This made Farbauti cry even more, as to know that her grandsons had disappeared. It took a little over a week for Sigyn to leave Jotunheim. She would visit them again.
Sigyn walked through portals to ease from going back to her empty oasis. The horses were fine without her for the time being. Sigyn did not think much these days, as she did not want to remember. She didn't sense her surroundings and walked right into a giant snake. Instead of fear for herself, Sigyn felt pain and fear from the snake. Sigyn touched the snake again to know what it was thinking. The snake coiled itself from her. She was curious as to why the snake was slithering away from her. She walked more to see that it had been charred and hurt by fire. When the snake was clearly in her view, she covered her mouth. It was Jormungandr, the sea serpent who became the world serpent due to its size. Sigyn calmed the snake down with her mind and made it follow her through portals until she found one that had a giant lake. It seemed to feel at home for now, Sigyn gave it a small smile as the snake immersed itself into the water, washing away the pain. Sigyn headed back home.
On one of her outings, she saw what seemed to be falling star but it was a being with immense power. The being paused as it saw her as well. Sigyn could tell it was a woman.
"A powerful being such as yourself is wandering like a lost soul," the being called out to her as the distance between them grew shorter. "With your power we could have used you in the fight. Were you in hiding?"
Sigyn scoffed. "An all-powerful being as myself couldn't even protect my two sons. I am not that powerful."
"I'm an all-powerful being and I couldn't even protect the whole galaxy," the being was a young woman. "It happens, but if we stand together, we can defeat anything or anyone."
"Yes, well whatever fight it was, I could not have gone anyways," Sigyn didn't want to keep chatting with her. "You asked if I was hiding, I was caring for my children, one was just months old while the other was a year."
"You're an Asgardian," the woman's words made Sigyn pause. "Thor never mentioned a being like you."
Sigyn flinched. "May haps he thought I was still a statue. Besides, Thor was dealing with several emotions and problems that had bequeathed him. It was not favorable to be an Asgardian at the time. I would be the last thing upon his mind."
"Why not visit him now?" The woman mentioned. "He may be happy to see you again."
"It is too early for me to visit him, and if I go now, all of what I have built up will come crashing down," Sigyn started to walk away. "It was nice chatting with you, Captain Marvel, but the galaxy, planets, beings, they need you, not me." Captain Marvel shook her head before she jetted off again.
Sigyn headed home. She brushed the horses and tended to making tools and weapons. It was the only thing that could take her mind off at home, but she would cry when she started to write in her diary. It was the only thing that made it seem that the days weren't merged all together. She did have some depression after giving birth to her sons, but this was different. It wasn't the same. It was an aching loss and a guilt trip of not being able to protect her children. It wasn't about how she could only stay away for so long since there was not a family member or friend, she wanted to burden her children upon as she left to travel. Her thoughts travelled back to berating herself about being useless as a powerful being. Maybe Captain Marvel was right, she could have helped save her children and others but she would be afraid her children would not have a mother. The sacrifice might have been better, however with Loki still not back, who knows if that would have been a good idea.
Depressive and berating thoughts were the constant company she had. Sigyn believed she made herself sick with these thoughts that the aroma of food she usually found as alright, sent her to the bathroom retching up whatever she had in her stomach. Sigyn then laid in bed for most of the days afterwards. What use was it? She could only comfort herself. Going out to visit the rest of her loved ones made it worse than better. Everyone was dealing with their losses; she couldn't burden her losses on them.
Sigyn hugged Loki's pillow every time she slept. His smell comforted her. Her warmth on the pillow reminded her of his warmth. She tried to stay hopeful. She reminded herself that he has died a few times before, and if he died, he would come right back. A small spark of joy but it was washed out as the next thoughts were how she was going to explain to him that their sons were gone. Sigyn just tried not to think. That's all she could do to get over it. Not think.
The horses would watch Sigyn trudge through chores in a daze. At times she would even sleep with them. The three of them would sleep curled up in the meadow with the warmth of the sun basking on them. One occasion, she decided to take them both out for a ride. She rode on the back of Bjourmi while Sleipnir trotted next to her. "Let's go to the Midgardian land where they still remember us!"
They crossed portals until they reached rolling hills of green. The two horses charged out of the portal at a full gallop. Sigyn held on with her thighs and closed her eyes, letting Bjourmi take control. The wind felt good upon her skin. The horses slowed down to a walk. Sigyn opened her eyes to see a small town nestled by the shoreline. People started to gather and point at her. She was about to turn the horses back when a thought struck her. That's a lot of people gathered. Sigyn swept through their thoughts to find out these were the Asgardians that survived. Sigyn kicked Bjourmi to head that way. Sleipnir followed behind them.
The horses slowed down before they reached the group. Sigyn slid off as the survivors approached her. They had tears in their eyes but smiles on their faces. A few familiar faces pushed past the group and bowed before her. "Lady Sigyn" Sigyn gave them a tearful smile as well as she brought some of them into a hug. The people started to tear up when the words when her name reached their ears. They all bowed to her. "All Mother." Sigyn let more tears fall.
Val saw the commotion. She followed the people to see another winged horse and Sleipnir with a red head woman crying. Who was she? Val moved through the group getting closer. She heard the name of the woman, Lady Sigyn, but as well as All Mother trailing not far behind. She got through the crowd finally to face her.
Val sized her up. A gorgeous redhead who had not only a winged horse but also Odin's horse. She wanted to know how more about her but with all the people around her there wasn't much of a chance unless she took her chance now. "You must have travelled far, come, I'll show you New Asgard." This woman was familiar somehow. A gorgeous redhead. It sounded familiar but it was also was not.
"Thank you," Sigyn nodded. The horses wandered off as the people dispersed. Sigyn followed Val. She started to brush her mind to find out who she was but stopped. It would be better not to fall in despair when she was reunited with them.
"I am Val," she started to explain while stealing glances at her. "I am actually a Valkyior, hmph, THE Valkyior." She felt a big smug. "I was on a desolate place after the extinction caused by Hela and now after everything that has happened, I am the acting leader of New Asgard. This small place is not much like home, but it will become one." She stopped to stare around the buildings before taking Sigyn fully in on her reaction. They were in front of a building being constructed. "This is going to be a hall to remember all of those that have been lost as well as a place to worship. We've been rebuilding and regrouping ourselves; the people call you All Mother, and you have a winged horse as well as Sleipnir." Val then lead her to the coast to a small house. "You must have suffered as well." Sigyn stared at the door as she sensed a familiar presence behind it. "Wait, here." Val headed to the door and knocked upon it. There was no response. "There is someone important here to see you." Val called to the person hiding inside the home. Silence. "A pretty red-head." This made her pause. Val turned back to Sigyn. A pretty redhead, Hulk's friend. "Do you know Hulk?" Sigyn nodded. "You're one of the pretty redheads he talked about." Sigyn smirked. She wondered how Hulk was doing.
Before Val could speak anymore, the door opened wide. Thor stood in the doorway. Val turned back around to see him. Thor's beard started to come in. He glanced at Val with bloodshot eyes before staring to see Sigyn standing a few feet behind Val. Sigyn caught her breath as she stared back at him. Thor was definitely not himself. He showed signs of defeat and depression. He was battling on the same grounds as she was. Val backed away from him as he started inch closer. She could see there was a connection between them. Thor started to speak but nothing came out. He cleared his throat. "Sig-Sigyn."
"Thor," she felt the same, grateful to see him but also battling the loss.
He was surprised. "You- you're alive." His lips had twitched into a smile while he was talking to her. He couldn't believe it. Did she turn back when Odin died? How long has she been back like this?
"I-am," Sigyn closed the distance. Val watched the two interact. When Sigyn was next to both of them, there was an awkward silence amongst them.
Val wanted to help out, but she wanted to ask about Sigyn something that Hulk mentioned. Who was the bad boy she liked?
"Wh-when were you free from your stone form?" Thor swallowed to ease the tightening of his throat. Val rose her eyebrow at that one. This was some drama she was a bit interested in.
"Not long after the wedding, I was sent to Jotunheim to keep the peace," Sigyn explained. Val blinked. This was getting interesting.
Thor continued. "Were you in Jotunheim all this time?" He noticed the ring was still on her finger. Val followed his glance. It was a beautiful ring but she was already taken then.
"No," Sigyn breathed. "There was a battle for the throne and I was rescued. I came back to Asgard."
"When did you come back?" Thor's brows scrunched together as he was trying to piece together the timeline.
"I heard you were protecting the Midgardians with the Avengers, you didn't want the throne," Sigyn tried to calm herself. She wanted to ask a question but didn't want to get to it yet. She kept answering his questions instead.
"I see," Thor glanced away. She was in Asgard all this time.
Val could feel the tension between one another. She wanted to leave but had to watch this play out.
"I wasn't always at Asgard, I had a home," Sigyn tried not break down. It was really hard for her. "I wasn't there when Hela attacked."
"Ah, good-good," Thor nodded. That explained a few things. They could have really used her in that battle. Thor tried to prolong the inevitable.
"I believe my help would have made things worse," Sigyn explained her absence.
Thor nodded again. "It-it might have. Sigyn. I heard that the marriage was going to be annulled." He hoped it wasn't true.
Sigyn gave a small smile. "It was only spoken in word, it never happened." Thor's lips quivered and his eyes started to moisten.
"Oh," Val muttered. She tried to figure out who the bad boy was but it finally clicked as she stared at the ring with the green jewel. Sigyn was All Mother, she had Odin's horse and a winged horse, which the Valkyiors are actually under the All Mother but can be commanded by the All Father if necessary. Sigyn was queen. Who was King while Thor and Odin were away? Bad boy, dangerous, there is only one person, Loki.
"Where were you when I came back while I gave up the throne?" Thor inquired. Miek and Korg noticed that Thor was gone for longer than usual. They came to watch the scene before them. Thor could not get that off his mind. Something was wrong.
"I received injuries when I was in Jotunheim," Sigyn glanced at the two behind him. "I had temporally lost my sight and control of my abilities. I was unable to move around much when I was brought back to Asgard."
"When I came back to Asgard again after fighting the Avengers, were you there?" Thor's chest tightened.
"I was home," Sigyn was curt on that answer. She didn't want to revive her depression at the moment. She knew he was trying figure things out even if she answered these questions already. It was hard for all of them.
"Asgard is your home," Thor narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, but I chose another home," Sigyn breathed out the words trying not to choke up. "I lived there instead. There were lots of traveling between Asgard and ou-the home." She was about to say our but it hurt her.
Thor looked away. He clenched his fists remembering about how he discussed about Sakaar being a new home for him. It clenched at his heart as well. Val could feel the tension and the sadness in the atmosphere. She couldn't leave either of them. Especially with the two in the back, so far, they have kept quiet and was only listening.
"Ah," Thor swallowed again, trying to keep down the sadness that was bubbling to the top. "You both were happy?"
"Yes," her eyes started to tear up as she gave a genuine smile to him. Thor's tears were close to running down his cheeks. Val started to hold her breath. Thor didn't talk about what had happened on the vessel and not about the trip with the Avengers. He came back only to enclose himself in this small house. Val did visit him, but was told that she would still be in charge. He never answered her questions but kept on drinking.
"You have not swept any of our minds," the sides of Thor's dipped and his chin wavered.
"I-I couldn't-can't bring myself to," Sigyn explained. "I have only swept the minds of the people when I first came here. It's the same with those from the Nine Realms. It hurts to keep repeating the same feeling."
Thor's jaw clenched as he nodded. "You have not mentioned his name."
"Neither have you," Sigyn swallowed hard, trying to sooth the dry throat that was tightening.
Thor took in a deep breath. He looked Sigyn in the eye. He could no longer evade what she had wanted to know. It was her right to know about her husband. Sigyn started to prepare herself. "L." Thor stopped himself. Breathed out and in before continuing. "He-he… tried to stop Th-. He was not successful. He was a worthy fighter." Thor could not say either name and he could not say that he died. "None of us were a match to Th-that. I am truly sorry Sigyn."
Sigyn didn't want to believe it. "He's died a few times before. He will come back." She held onto the little hope she had. Her husband was notorious for returning, why would this be any different. She also could not go through that again when Thor told he had died. It was devastating once.
Thor shook his head. "Not this time. He had no trick up his sleeve this time." The others were still silent and hung their head low. None of them would look at either of the two.
"I would have known if he was dead," Sigyn reassured herself. Loki had her protection. She would know if he would have died. Thor's tears started to make a trail down his face. "Where is his body?" Thor's chin quivered as his he tried to close his mouth, trying not to break down. "You-you didn't bring his body back the first time you told me about his death, what makes this any different?" Sigyn's tears streamed down her eyes. "He will come back. He said he will always come back!" Thor shook his head. He tried to move closer to her. Sigyn stepped back from him. "No!"
"Look into my mind," Thor begged her to see reason. This was hard enough as it is.
"No," Sigyn denied. "I can't-I don't want to!" Thor tried to reach out with his hand but Sigyn reeled back. "Don't touch me!" Val felt she was reliving the past. Sigyn moved back away from both of them.
"Si-gyn," Thor's voice cracked. "He's gone."
"No-no-no-NO!" Sigyn started to get furious. She didn't want to look at them anymore. The faces they were making her were making her doubt it. "There was no body, he has died a few times before. He WILL come back!" He said he would come back. He said he would always come back.
"He won't," Thor took a small step closer as to not have her reel back away from him again.
"You don't know that," Sigyn rubbed her arms. "He would never leave us."
Thor got close enough to outreach his hand. The fingertips touched the fabric. Sigyn froze as she saw the scene played out before her. She watched as Loki tried to trick Thanos but ended up being strangled to death. She watched through the eyes of Thor who was yelling at the lifeless body before him unable to do anything. The essence of the God of Mischief had left his body. Fear and the struggle were the last emotions upon his beautiful face. She wanted him to scare her and see his eyes crinkle and his mouth widen in a smile as he laughed at her falling his tricks. Instead she saw that his lifeless body was wretched away due to the explosion. Sigyn could no longer handle the emotions she felt and the emotions pouring into her from Thor.
Her eyes glazed over. She couldn't hear the water splashing against the rocks or any other sound for that matter. Val knew what was happening. She yelled at Thor to grab Sigyn. Thor caught Sigyn in his arms as she started to crumble. Thor readjusted his hold and picked up her. Val checked Sigyn's vitals.
"She's still breathing," Val's heart pounded. "We need a healer." She pushed Thor towards the house at the opposite end of the road. "Here. There is one close by." Val opened the doors. "We need a healer!" She called inside. "Put her there." Val pointed to the couch. Thor laid Sigyn down.
"I'll wait outside," Thor almost whispered.
He left Sigyn sleeping on the couch. The healer came rushing in the room. Val informed that Sigyn had fainted.
"Lady Sigyn!" This healer had helped Sigyn from birthing her first son, to his checkups and the second pregnancy. She was focused on healing Sigyn before asking questions. The healer started the checkup as Val watched with anticipation. The healer turned to Val once she was done. "Lady Sigyn has fainted to immense stress upon the body. We need to move her to the bed; there I can start healing her." Val nodded. She picked up Sigyn's body and followed the healer. Sigyn seemed frail in her arms, a familiar frail she endured once already. The awful memories that Val didn't want to remember were reappearing in her mind.
Val could hear someone rushing in. It was one of the Midgardians who survived the snap. He was Norwegian and a doctor. The healer and him shared a home since it had a lot of medical supplies. They were the only ones who were treating the rest of the town. The Midgardians and the Asgardians helped one another in this town. He saw Sigyn laying upon the bed. The healer and him conversed about what happened. He opened a drawer to gather out supplies.
"What is he doing?" Val saw him take out weird devices that had small needles upon them.
"Midgardians must draw the blood out to run tests that shows what is going on internally," the healer informed her. "It is different from the way we see things but I am not equipped to see what is truly going on."
Val waited on the couch where Sigyn was first placed down. The healer setup Sigyn comfortably in the bed while the doctor hooked her up to an IV drip. Since the snap, it was easier to bring the medical supplies and equipment to the small town instead of going there. That room was set up for immediate care while another room was full of medical equipment. He wheeled a portable ultrasound into the room. His next goal was to get urine to check all aspects. The healer watched him operate with fascination. The probe glided over Sigyn's abdomen. The doctor paused. He looked back to Sigyn then to the healer. The healer glanced at the screen. She covered her mouth with both hands. They weren't going to get a sterile urine sample. Sigyn was three months pregnant. The doctor saved the image. He wheeled the machine out so he could print it without disturbing them. The healer clutched Sigyn's hand before leaving the room.
Val jumped to her feet as the healer came towards her. "How is she?"
"She is still asleep," the healer informed her. "Lady Sigyn has been through hardships just as well, however, Lady Sigyn is with child." Thor could hear them outside.
He opened swung the door open. It scared both of them. "What did you say?" He wanted to make sure he heard that right.
The healer stared him in the eyes. "Lady Sigyn is with child." She could see that he was happy and surprised. "The stress must have caused severe exhaustion." She was about to speak about the other topic that needed to addressed when all three heard a rustling in the other room. "Stay here, one moment." The healer rushed back into the room but the door never closed all the way. Thor and Val stayed silent to listen in.
The healer asked how Sigyn was feeling. Sigyn replied how tired she felt and a bit dizzy. The healer pressed her back down to lay fully on the bed.
"Lady Sigyn," the healer didn't want to ask but she needed to know. "Where is Nari and the newborn?"
Val and Thor glanced at one another with the same confusion. They moved to see Sigyn leaning back on the bed and the healer by her. They could see Sigyn's chin quivering and her lips trembling to keep her mouth closed. She tried to look up to keep her tears from rolling down. "My sons, Vali and Nari turned to ash right before me." Val and Thor froze. The healer felt the same heartache. She didn't want to let her know but it would be only a matter of time and this child needed to be in a healthy environment.
"Lady Sigyn," the healer spoke with a serious tone. Sigyn waited while staring still up and trying not to break down anymore. "We need you to stay longer to fully recover, since-since you are with child." The healer could not finish that sentence without crying as well.
All of the strength Sigyn was holding to keep herself calm melted away. She started to let it all out. Sigyn tried to cover her face with her hands. The healer left the room and closed the door as the wails became more audible. Sigyn spoke out how it was not fair. That she lost two sons and a husband only to gain another child. She cried out how she was going to raise this child without him. How was she supposed to raise this child without their brothers?
The healer paused next to the door and wiped her tears away. She turned to see Thor with tears streaming down his face. Val wiped a few stray tears that fell down her face. The healer motioned to the two to head out. It would be easier for Sigyn not hear them.
"She had children before this one?" Thor stared at the ground. The little happiness he started to feel for his brother and his sister-in-law was being squashed.
The healer cleared her throat before answering. "Yes, Vali was her first born, he looked exactly like-the father." The healer and the other Asgardians figured out that Loki did not return with Thor. Thor didn't speak about what had happened but they could all tell that Thor was not the only survivor of the royal family. "Nari must have been the second son. She was due around the same time Hela was back in Asgard. Heimdall had let some of us know that she helped with the rescue even though she was far away."
Val calculated the time. "This doesn't add up though. Sigyn should not have been able to become with child if," she paused. If she said his name it would be too much. "If he was with us." She looked over to Thor. He was still the same.
The healer shook her head. "Those two have their ways, since now that we know that was not the real All Father, he was there for the birth of their first son. Their love was known throughout. There were even statues to commemorate their love."
"He found a way off the ship then," Val continued. "But he came right back." She didn't understand why he didn't stay with his wife and children. He might have had a chance to stay alive.
"He was a great king even if he was disguised as Odin," the healer started to cry. "He even had a vessel that accommodated all of Asgard when Hela attacked. Some believed he wanted to usurp the throne to run rampant but these past years, he focused on the people and taking Asgard back to its former glory. We never saw Lady Sigyn unless it was for the checkups. He loved her so much, Sigyn would never betray him either."
"He hid her away," Thor clenched his fists. "If she was not in Asgard, she was in a home secluded away where only he would know. He had a way of scheming and hiding. It would be no different with his family. I wanted to tell him to leave, to find Sigyn. All this time, he was with her. All this time, he had started a family." Thor could no longer take it. He felt the burden of being a failure seeping back. He couldn't save his people. He couldn't save Heimdall. He couldn't save his brother. He couldn't stop Thanos, who took half the population. He may have killed him in the end but what did that solve, nothing. The stones were destroyed. All that is left are people trying to rebuild their lives. He could not face anyone anymore. He did not want to keep seeing how much he failed. He was an Avenger, that was just fanfare. He didn't avenge anything. What was left now to avenge? He left them with his fists clenched.
Val and the healer watched him enter his home. They didn't know that would be the last they would hear full sentences from him or that this would be the most they saw from him. Thor started to drink to numb the words that stung. He wanted to become numb and not feel. There was nothing left to do, he thought himself as a failure.
Sigyn fell asleep after another breakdown. Val told the healer to let her know if she needed help or if there were changes. Val left to go clear her head and see how the rest of the survivors were doing. The healer went back inside to start making a pregnancy plan for Sigyn.