Goodbye

Thor's nerves were on edge as Loki spoke calmly to the guards blocking the corridor to the healing room. No, not Loki – Odin.

He tried not to fidget but he couldn't help it. This was stupid. Even for him, he wouldn't have thought of this. Loki impersonating the king – that could earn him as lengthy a punishment as Thor for his kidnap and abuse. Maybe more. It was reckless. And they were bound to get caught.

And then there was what would happen after Loki got him through – then he'd face Alyse. What could he say? Would she want to see him? He only hoped she did, because he didn't know what he'd do if she said otherwise. What if she truly was afraid of him? What if those guards were there because she asked for them to be, because she didn't want him near her? The thought hadn't even crossed his mind…

It was numbing.

But then 'Odin's' hand was pulling at his arm, dragging him forward as the guards parted way, and he didn't have time to think anymore. He quickly fell into step beside his brother. He had to pull himself together.

He strode quickly beside Loki, fixing a stiff expression on his face. He was so anxious, just waiting to get caught.

He didn't dare breathe a word until they had turned a corner, out of the guard's earshot. He wasn't taking any chances. Even so, he was half expecting the soldiers to chase them down the corridor and arrest them, drag them back to the real Odin… step after step, there was nothing though. They were getting away with it.

The moment they turned around the corner and out of sight, Loki grabbed Thor's arm urgently, pulling him closer as they walked. Odin's face started to melt away, a tall, dark haired god taking his place.

Loki didn't break stride. "We don't have long." He whispered under his breath. "Heimdall will have seen. You have five minutes at most."

Before the place will be swarming with guards and we are hauled away, Thor finished in his head. He knew the drill. Still, he didn't argue: he knew this was his last shot to see Alyse again. He wasn't going to waste it. Even if it was just five minutes.

What could he do in five minutes? Explain? Apologise? Kiss her? Hold her? They would never make love again. That was over. At least they'd had a good last fuck, on the balcony. It was memorable, burned into his mind forever. But every fuck with Alyse was memorable, because it wasn't just fucking. It was an expression of her sensuality ever time he touched her, seeing how she would react, how she would turn that around to please him in response–

"We're here."

Loki stopped abruptly and Thor tumbled to a halt in front of an innocent looking door. He knew it well – but somehow it looked different. Before, it was a place of refuge. Now, it kept what he cared about hidden from him.

His heart sped up; this was it. He was going to see Alyse again – maybe for the last time. His eyes lifted to Loki's, round and thankful.

Loki just shook his head. "I'm committing treason for this." He breathed quietly, almost fearfully. "Don't waste it."

Thor could see it in his brother's eyes – this was the last thing Loki wanted to do. The gods emerald orbs weren't sparkling with mischievous delight. Gods, he wasn't happy in the slightest. His expression was little more than a dreading grimace, knowing this act would get him in the worst trouble with their father.

And for what? For a girl he didn't even knew. For a girl Thor had consulted him for advice about once. That was it. He had no reason to do this for her.

He was doing it for Thor. For his brother.

Suddenly, Thor loved his younger brother more than anything for what he was doing for him, for the sacrifice he was making. What business of Loki's was this? He didn't even know Alyse's name…the soft gleam in his eyes told him he didn't care though. He saw what she meant to Thor, how much he cared. That was obviously enough for the younger brother.

Thor just met Loki's gaze steadily, silently revealing to the other what they daren't speak aloud. "Thank you." Thor breathed gratefully.

He didn't linger on his brother for long though. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he was turning to the door, trying to find the strength to go inside; Loki would be with him forever - Alyse may only have the next five minutes.

His eyes roamed the door, and he gulped. Behind this door was Alyse. Alone? He hoped so. But he wouldn't have the option of simply coming back later if she was not. He would have to take this moment, whatever he was presented with. But knowing that this might be their last encounter together just filled him with dread for the future… a future without her.

And he only had five minutes before that future came crashing down around him as a reality, last moments with Alyse or not. He didn't have time to waste.

Before another thought could cross his mind, his hand swiftly jerked the door handle and he pushed the door open. Smoothly and silently, Thor slipped inside. He pressed his back against the door as he closed it behind him, body tensing as if he was preparing to fight even more opposition in trying to speak to Alyse.

Eyes scanning the room though, there was no one. Just a golden walled room, empty beds, a curtain behind which was the examination and treatment area – and one figure lying still in one of the beds.

Thor's mouth ran dry.

She was so still.

His legs moved him forward numbly, picking out traces of the body that linked them to Alyse: the blonde hair, the curve of her hip, the pale of her skin…"Alyse?" his voice croaked betrayingly, stepping tentatively closer. His heart was hammering. She was so still. She couldn't be…

Then she twitched at her name, head lifting. Her round brown eyes shot sharply to stare over her shoulder, wide and startled. They only widened further as soon as they found him though.

Her heart froze in her chest. "Thor…"

She didn't dare so much as blink, frightened it would all just be a dream if she took her eyes off him for even a moment. Even if it was a dream, she didn't want it to end.

Her eyes scoured every inch of him; his round blue eyes, his blond hair, his armoured body…just as she remembered him, but even more beautiful. Slowly, she turned herself over, sitting upright to get a better view. The god didn't faze or waver – he was real. He'd really come for her.

Tears welled in her orbs at the thought. He cared. Her hand rose to cover her lip as it began to quiver – even more so as the god's lips flickered gently at the corners.

His shoulders slumped visibly in relief.

She was well, by the looks of it; pale in the face perhaps but unblemished as far as he could see, hair ruffled and eyes slightly red from crying. Her luscious curves were only emphasised by the white tight corset and underskirt the healers had temporarily clothed her in. They must have gone to fetch her a dress, Thor pieced together. Which meant they'd be back soon.

Any thoughts that Alyse might not have wanted to see him vanished from Thor's mind as he watched her take him in, watching the disbelieving spark in her orbs bloom into a happy shine, believing he was there for her. His next breath was more of a groan, chest aching painfully – but gratefully. She was really here, just a touch away…

His lips flickered happily as he watched Alyse tear herself from the bed, ripping the sheets out of her way. He wished he could come to her but he was frozen, just paralysed. The best he could do was open his arms to her as she hurtled herself towards him. He had mere minutes – but at least Alyse was not wasting them like he was. His heart felt like it was ready to burst as she crashed into him.

His arm crushed around her in a heartbeat. "Alyse." He sighed gratefully into the side of her neck as he clung to her, holding her as tight as he dared. She was here.

A gasping sob broke against his neck and he screwed his eyes shut, feeling her tears moisten his skin. Gods, she was crying. No..

Arms tightening around her, he lifted her clean off the ground and strode her back to the bed, her arms clinging around his neck. A solid resolve settled in the god's heart – he didn't want their last moments together to be ones of sadness. There was so much to say.

He knelt at the bed's edge and it took everything he had to release her, to sit her back on the bed instead of holding her in his arms. His hands cupped her face instead, thumbs wiping away her tears. She looked oddly plain like this, Thor noticed, with no make up or paints to decorate herself with, nothing in her hair …she was ordinary. He missed the way she was.

Teary brown eyes blinked sadly back at him as the pads of his thumbs gently ran underneath her eyes, loving ceasing her tears. "Don't cry, my darling." He murmured softly.

Her fingers rose to clench around his. "H-how long do we have?" she gasped through her tears. She knew as he did – they couldn't have long.

Thor pressed his lips together; he couldn't even say how little time they had left. He couldn't bear it. His eyes just scoured over her face, memorising every perfect detail for as long as it was still his to gaze upon.

Her lashes stuck together adorably from her tears and Thor couldn't help but smile softly. Even crying, she looked beautiful…

"H-how is Baby?"

Thor's heart ached even more at Alyse's question. Gods, he hated his father for what he had done… "They drowned him." Thor told her gently, eyes glimmering with sorrow. He knew how much the pup had meant to Alyse, so small and lively. Odin hadn't wanted anything of Alyse to remain after she left, not even her dog. They'd stolen him when Thor had been in the Hall. The god had been crushed to find that his last reminder of Alyse had been ripped from him – until he'd come to see her for himself.

Her face crumpled. Fresh tears washed over her cheeks and Thor didn't bother holding her back as her head bowed – he just straightened up and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her to his chest comfortingly.

Whatever words he thought he might say in his last moments with her withered away. They didn't matter. It was all feeling; all touch and sensation. Holding her in his arms, feeling her heart beat he held her so tightly…that was what he wanted to remember her by: by how she made him feel.

He closed his eyes and basked in her.

Slowly, her trembling form ceased quivering and went limp against his body. She sighed against his armour. "What happened?" she asked in a quiet, defeated voice.

Thor didn't need to see the lifelessness in her orbs to know it was there. He sucked in a deep breath. "I am to be trialled for kidnap, rape and assault." He admitted reluctantly. "And your parents are to take you away."

For a moment, Alyse said nothing. Then she echoed what both of them were thinking, what they both knew to be true: "I'm never going to see you again, am I?"

The thunder god screwed his eyes shut, bowing his face into Alyse's hair. He couldn't answer her. He pressed a tender kiss to the crown of her head instead, fingers stroking comfortingly through her hair.

She sucked in a shaky breath.

Thor wanted to say that he would fight. That he would never let her go and he wouldn't let them tear her from his side…but his father was king. He had armies at his disposal to bar Thor from Alyse. Every fibre of his being was itching to fight for her, until his last breath...but even if he did, it wouldn't change anything. She'd still be gone.

"Alyse, I need you to listen to me." He said darkly, tone urgent. She needed to hear this. "I am so sorry."

He felt her hand clench into a fist against his breastplate, her face burying into his chest. "Don't." she whined softly.

Thor's heart cracked. "I have to." He breathed. He needed to. "If this is my last moment with you I need you to know how sorry I am. I never meant for this…"

His head shook sadly at his words. What would he change? If he could do it all again, was there something he would do to try and keep Alyse with him? Yes… so many things… but he couldn't and he had to live with that. He would; it would weigh heavily on his heart for as long as he lived.

A tiny hand covered his cheek. Glancing down, Thor found Alyse's watery brown orbs staring up at him. The gentle touch of her hand brought a lump to his throat. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

It was a dream. Thor had been paradise. She didn't regret a second. Not even the beatings; were it not for the beatings, he might never have told her he loved her. And that was something she always wanted to remember. Those memories were priceless.

Thor stared down at Alyse, wondering what on Asgard he'd done to deserve this wonderful woman in his life. She wasn't just some woman, wasn't just someone he fucked. She'd changed him in ways he hadn't thought possible. She was perfect, flawless… his. She was his. It filled him with rage that Odin was tearing them apart, when they were so right for each

other.

"What if I deny it?" she asked quietly, lips barely moving. Thor's brow twitched in confusion. "Tell them you didn't do any of those things to me."

Thor's heart bled with adoration. She would do that for him…"It wouldn't make a difference." He sadly sighed.

If she did that, he would still be accused, charged.. just by the state, not her. Nothing would change. He would still receive a sentence. She would still be sent away. It would just tarnish the prince's name even more.

The flash of deep sadness cut into Alyse's gentle orbs and Thor knew he had seconds before she bowed her head and wouldn't look at him anymore – so he cupped her chin, angled her face to him and smothered his lips smoothly with his. She gasped into his mouth, but Thor didn't stop, kissing her urgently, getting his last taste. And then Alyse's hands were in his hair, doing the same.

Thor's hands scoured her body, memorising the touch of every curve. Gods, she looked delicious in the corset; something so feminine, drawing her waist in in just the right way…

He broke the kiss before just a kiss wouldn't be enough. And it had to be this time. It was all that was left. He rested his forehead against hers as they both fought for breath, sighs intermingling. Thor's hands didn't leave her waist. Alyse's stayed locked in his hair.

"I love you." She breathed, eyes fluttered shut in bliss. "I always have. I always will."

Thor's palm moved to the side of her head tenderly. "And I love you." He said, finger stroking through her hair.

"What are you doing here?"

Thor froze at the words outside the door, but slumped against Alyse, knowing they had seconds left. He sank against her, his body moulding against her; around her waist, the curve of her breasts…she was his. It was everybody else that was trying to tear them apart.

When the door crashed open, Alyse jumped, but Thor didn't move - it was no different to how he expected this to end.

Thor's eyes glared bracingly to the side, drinking in the Asgardians striding through the door – except for Loki, staggering as the guards lugged him forward into the room. Odin led the party with thunderous eyes, a man and woman who had to be Alyse's parents flanking him.

Thor honed straight in on his gasping brother, finding Loki's apologetic eyes easily. "Time's up, brother." The younger god shrugged.

Thor nodded grimly.

His eyes swerved over to his father, only to find Odin had shifted his glare over to Loki's direction. "I'll deal with you later." The king muttered darkly.

"You!"

The man beside Odin – Alyse's father – was trembling, red faced with rage beside the king as he growled at the prince, fists clenched at his sides. It looked like it was taking all he had not to stride forward and strike Thor. He wouldn't dare. Thor may have caused enough insult to Alyse and her father, but he was still the prince. Attacking the prince still bore the same consequences regardless of circumstance.

Thor's eyes glazed over the man's fine clothes and shiny boots, neatly trimmed hair…they must be a rich family, educated – Thor had reasoned they must be for Alyse to know how to read so eloquently. Still, it was interesting to see where Alyse had come from.

"How dare you defile my daughter!" the man yelled on, eye twitching slightly. Thor didn't even blink. "Do you have any idea how hard she'll be to marry after what you've done?!"

Thor just frowned, cradling Alyse close tenderly as she whimpered at her father's anger. Marriage? He'd just found out his daughter had been raped and beaten and kidnapped yet what was troubling him was her future suitability? "Is that all you care about?" the god seethed, his own fury rising. "How hard it will be to marry her? She's your daughter and yet that's all that concerns you?!"

Every inch of Thor longed to move Alyse out of his lap and to challenge her father… but he couldn't bear to let her go. It just drove him mad; all the things Thor had done, yet her father was more concerned about her marriage prospects than her wellbeing. What kind of a man was he? It made Thor sick.

The man's angry expression didn't change – but when he moved forward, Odin's staff struck out across his chest, barring his way.

For a moment, Thor half thought he would cast the staff aside, ignore the king's warning glare and continue on his war path to the prince. Mercifully, he had more sense than that. With a dark glance to his wife, Alyse's father stepped back.

Vaguely, Thor's orbs flickered to Alyse's mother – the woman stood beside the kind. Her hands were covering her mount, trying to muffle her deep, fast breaths. Over her fingertips, her watery eyes were wide. He could see the same blonde colour of her hair as Alyse, the same brown eyes…

She couldn't help them though.

Thor's arms tightened around Alyse. "If that is what you are so concerned about, then I would marry her."

The words spilled shamelessly from Thor's lips in an instant, eyes boring into Alyse's father's. He felt her arms around his waist loosen. His heart beat steadily though, and he didn't regret saying it. It was true – he would marry her.

"That is enough." Odin's voice was quaking with anger as he forced out each short word tersely from the doorway.

Of course… Odin would never allow it. Thor's heart sank.

The god's arms flexed around Alyse as his eyes moved to the king, a keen balance of denial and pleading in his shimmering crystal orbs. Odin just glared at his son mercilessly; he would never allow Thor and Alyse to continue, the thunder god realised. Not just because of the scandal of her discovery – but the obvious affection Thor held for her. It was too much. For a servant girl anyway, even one from a good family.

Thor was to be a king one day, with a noble queen at his side. He was destined to marry a woman very different to the one he held in his arms. His father would steer him towards that destiny with every determination.

Still, Thor wasn't going to simply roll over and comply. He wanted Alyse, and he would fight for her.

But the more he held his father's gaze, the more it sank in: this was it. Ultimately. Every glimpse of Alyse from this day on would be a struggle, a battle, if he even managed to get one at all. Odin would do everything in his power to keep the two apart, never mind Alyse's parents.

The truth sinking in, Thor's eyes roamed on to his father's merciless orbs, pleading with his own, begging. "Please." He said simply, eyes glimmering with imploring..

Odin's didn't shift an inch.

Thor's heart plummeted; his body tensed in a heartbeat, ready to fight. He wouldn't let her go easily.

"Please, Father." Loki said softly behind the king, held back by the guards flanking him. "I have heard Thor speak of this girl and I can assure you he means her no ill will-"

"He confessed by his own tongue the harm he has done her." Odin interrupted calmly, not taking his eyes off Thor's. They pierced through the prince accusingly. "As far as he is concerned, I am being remarkably merciful. A man in his stead would face prison, flogging, exile even...Thor is spared all of that, on the condition this ends peacefully." The king's eyes darkened a shade, warningly as he spoke directly to Thor: "Let the girl go, and this matter shall be finished."

It was a wonderful offer. Thor could save his reputation, his hide, his dignity, if only he handed Alyse over to her father without a fuss – but there was no way in Hel he would.

"I would rather take the beatings." Thor answered gravely.

Odin's eyes hardened. "Then you leave me no choice."

Thor's eyes shot to behind the king as Odin flicked his hand and the guards restraining Loki cast the prince aside, marching forward to his older brother instead. He had seconds, he knew.

Vaguely, he heard Odin growl at Loki to stay back, heard Alyse whimper into his chest as she clung tightly to him, heard the ragged aspect to the next breaths he sucked in…then he focussed on the guards in front of him and his eyes narrowed, teeth gritting angrily. How dare they. His arm clenched around Alyse, trying to angle her away from the guard's reach, as futile as it may be.

Her curling into his chest, Thor pulled his fist back and struck the first guard clean across the jaw. The second grappled the god's arm as if he could hold it back, only earning himself a bloodied nose in the process.

The god rose to his feet, holding off the few puny guards… but then more came called to attention. And more, and more. Before he knew it, it was ten on one. His fist flew every which way, elbowing, knocking, punching, striking out at every armoured figure he saw before him.

The one behind him, he didn't notice until it was too late.

Alyse squealed as she slipped out from under his arm, the guards arm around her waist pulling her smoothly away in one fluid motion. "No!" she shrieked.

Thor swivelled round in a heartbeat, but the moment his foot moved forward to claim back his woman eighteen hands grasped his armour, his arms, his torso, pulling him back. Holding the god back with all their might, Thor watched, fighting their grasp as Alyse struggled in the guards arms, kicking and screaming wildly. It gave him heart – she was fighting for him too.

But it didn't stop the guard from walking easily around the bed, Alyse's meagre struggles futile. Within a matter of steps, the guard had brought her to her parents.

Thor clenched his fists and fought to get to her, but the guards pulled him back, enough of them to match his strength. Growling almost feral, the thunder god refused to give in – but he didn't get any closer to Alyse.

"Alyse!" he roared.

He was helpless, he realised as the guard holding Alyse strode on past her parents towards the door, her mother and father turning to follow. Her father paused to send the thunder god a venomous glare first though.

Thor didn't care. All he could hear as he struggled was Alyse's endless screaming in his ears, unable to tear his eyes off of her. Squirming in her captors arms, Alyse's eyes glimpsed over his shoulder half a second before she was whisked through the doorframe. Her beautiful gaze caught Thor's easily – round eyed, crying, pleading…. scared.

Thor noted the last one with a heart as heavy as stone. Alyse, he breathed in his head, unable to pass the sound from his lips as her frightened face lingered in his mind.

Then he blinked and the suddenly the doorway was empty.

For a moment, the god's orbs were a mirror of Alyse's: round, glistening…but his were gleaming with disbelief. She was gone… breaths hauled uncontrollably into his lungs and reality sunk down hard on the prince the longer the god stared at the empty doorway, praying that a small, underdressed form would dart back through it and back into his arms.

None did though.

He could still hear her screaming as she was taken away from him, fading with every second… and then there was silence and Thor felt something inside him balk.

His knees sank as weakness crashed over him and he doubled over as if he was going to be sick. He just couldn't believe it…he felt his father's eyes watching him but couldn't distinguish what kind of emotion was coming from them. Perhaps he just didn't care anymore. He didn't care about anything – not even Loki's struggles as some of the guards abandoned the task of restraining the limp thunder god to re-arresting his brother.

He had no will to fight anymore. He couldn't reach Alyse and now she'd been taken from him. And if their fathers had their way, they would never see each other again.

He didn't want to admit it, everything inside him wanting to deny it… but he felt it. He felt the emptiness without Alyse there…and he felt like it was unshiftable. He felt like that glimpse of her might be his last.

But he couldn't bear to say the word, just as he hadn't been able to when she'd been there, in his arms.

It ran unwillingly through his mind though: goodbye.

A/N

Naturally this is not yet the end. As if I would let a story end with Thor giving up! No way.

Please review!