"That's what normal Frost Giants look like?" I remarked as Heimdall and I entered the palace. The large, lumbering blue aliens were swinging clubs made of ice as the Chitauri skittered around, shooting at anyone who moved. "Loki is a midget!"
"Really? That is what you have taken from this?" Heimdall asked me reproachfully, swinging his sword deftly for the Chitauri coming at us.
"Hey! I'm an oddity; leave me be!" I complained in return, shooting one Frost Giant in the head as it lunged for me. It came crashing down before me and I scrambled up over its body, shooting a few Chitauri and jumping down again. I used my claws against another Frost Giant, ducking when it took a swing at me and taking a chunk out of its inner thigh before tearing its throat apart and moving on.

I made my way through the battle, seeking out my friends… if they were still my friends after what I'd said. I wouldn't be surprised if Thor never wanted to speak to me again… And Steve thought I'd betrayed them; that was clear… I should have been paying attention. A sharp, numbing pain bit into my calf and I stumbled, falling to one knee as a Frost Giant approached me. I looked down to find my calf pierced by a javelin made of ice. I turned and shot at the Giant, and it grunted when the bullets hit, but kept coming. I tried to stand, but my leg wouldn't obey me. Behind me, the Giant leaned down and grabbed the spear, dragging me backwards. I couldn't hold back the whine that I gave as I felt the fibres in my leg tear. I was picked up by the lance and squealed when it cut through the back of my calf and I dropped to the floor again.

I started shaking, whimpering as the beast towered over me. Just before it brought the spear down through my back, I rolled, aimed my gun, and fired. This time, the Giant jerked and crashed to the ground, fitting with the electricity my Taser punched him with. I sat up, took aim, and put a bullet through its eye. Panting and trembling, I sat staring at the creature as the sounds of fighting faded around me. I was surprised by the features of this Frost Giant. I could see similarities between it and Loki; sharp nose and angular jaw… and yet Loki was so very different from this thing… Grunting, I hauled myself slowly and painfully to my feet and limped off to find the others. On my way I once again met Heimdall and asked where the others were. He told me that Loki and the others were congregated in the throne room. I nodded and made my sluggish, aching way to the room.

When I arrived, the Avengers were standing around in a loose circle with the Warriors Three and Sif. Loki stood with his back to the door and I came up behind him as he spoke to the rest. "...messengers. I have tried diplomacy with these realms. The messenger from Jotunheim never returned. I think it is evident that peaceful negotiations have failed, given today's events."
"Is everyone okay?" I asked softly. All eyes turned on me. None were particularly friendly.
"I thought you were leaving," Clint remarked bitterly. I blinked as the edges of my vision started going fuzzy and my ears buzzed a little.

"I was. But Heimdall… and the explosions…"
"We handled it well enough without you," Tony sneered. "After all; you're not an Avenger." I nodded lethargically, eyelids getting heavy.
"I know…" I acknowledged. "I know…" I swallowed, shaking my head quickly in an effort to clear it. "… I…" The numbness that had been creeping up on me now gripped me tightly and I went limp, falling sideways as my injured leg collapsed beneath me, followed by the rest of me. Arms quickly wrapped around my torso before I hit the ground and I was cradled against Loki's chest. The world took on a dull grey tint and I could only just make out Loki looking me over with nervous concern.

"Ellie? What is it? What's happened?" he demanded quickly, kneeling so I was sitting on the ground, still held against him with one arm as his free hand cupped my cheek, keeping my heavy head tilted up to his face.
"You're not like other Frost Giants…" I told him, my tongue sticking to my teeth and my mouth not seeming to want to open properly. I blinked rapidly, trying to focus. "Can you shoot people with ice too?" I wondered idly as even Loki's pale skin darkened and my vision turned to black…

I woke slowly, easing into consciousness. The room around me was a creamy marble; clean, quiet. Wide windows beside me let in a soft white light filtered through gossamer curtains. I was lying in a bed with crisp white sheets. Some sort of hospital room… Turning my head I found a familiar figure sitting in a chair beside me, leaning forward tiredly, bracing his arms on the edge of my mattress and resting his head on them. I sat up and Loki's head shot up immediately, staring at me with wide eyes. "Easy, Ellie," he said, stretching out a hand to touch my arm. "Slowly. You lost a large volume of blood, my dear." I looked Loki over silently. He was visibly exhausted, blinking heavily with eyelids surrounded by shadows, leaning against the bed for support.

"How long was I out for?" I asked, pulling away from his touch and tossing aside the bed sheets. I was still in full uniform, barefoot, with the lower part of my right pant leg cut away and replaced by a white bandage, slightly stained with blood.
"Two days," Loki told me. "Ellie, please. Don't rush…" I ignored him completely, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed opposite him and carefully dropping to the floor, testing my injury. It was rather painful, but I could stand.
"Give me an update," I ordered, taking a few steps away from the bed towards the window, wincing. "What's been happening?"

Loki sighed, sitting back in his chair again. "Your friends are worried for you…"
"I don't care," I told him sternly, looking at him over my shoulder. "Tell me about the Frost Giants." I looked back to the window and stepped forward again, brushing aside the curtains and leaning against the glass, looking out over the damaged, beautiful kingdom.
"There is not much to tell. It seems their attack was merely to test Asgard's defences. I do not know if they have been discouraged, or if they are now making plans…" Loki sighed heavily, groaning. I turned back to find him with his face buried in his hands, elbows propped up on his knees. "I tried, Ellie. In spite of what Thor and his friends think, I have tried to be a good ruler… a good king… I tried for peace…"

"I believe you," I told him softly. Loki lifted his head again to look at me. "How much time have you spent here with me?" I asked, walking around the bed, unable to avoid favouring my right leg, and crossing my arms over my chest, looking down at the Jotun. Loki looked away from me self-consciously and I shook my head. "You have bigger problems to concern yourself with than my wellbeing, Princeling," I drawled, heading for the door. Behind me, I heard Loki lunge to his feet.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To the kitchens. I'm hungry," I replied. As I stalked down the corridor outside, I passed an open door and a voice called out from inside.

"Ellie!"
"What, Bruce?" I sighed, irritated. The footsteps approaching me from behind faltered and I turned to look at the group now standing in the corridor with me.
"Are… are you okay?" Bruce asked hesitantly.
"No." Silence reigned for a moment before I huffed and started to walk away again.
"Where are you going?" Steve asked.
"To get food. I'm told I've been unconscious for two days," I responded curtly, still walking away.
"Wait!" Natasha came up to me when I paused and looked into my eyes. "Go sit down. We'll bring you something to eat."
"I don't want you to bring me anything, Natasha," I retorted coolly. "I can feed myself. Leave me be," I commanded firmly, turning and swiftly making my way back up the corridor again. No one tried to stop me that time. I remembered where the kitchens were from my previous stay in Asgard and found my way without trouble. One of the kitchen hands, a young Asgardian boy, recognised me.

"Lady Ellie!" he exclaimed. The whole kitchen looked over to me and offered their gestures of respect. I quirked an eyebrow.
"Am I still a Lady by Asgardian standards?" I wondered.
"Of course, Milady," the boy responded. "You are still friend to Prince Thor." I thought on that and stayed silent, considering the rough relationship I had at that moment with Thor and the rest of them.
"Is it possible for me to get something simple to eat? An apple with some cheese and bread or something?"

"Yes, Milady." The boy rushed around and procured a little tray of my requested foods. I smiled at him gratefully and took the tray away. I slipped out of the palace using one of the many back ways I had familiarised myself with during my last stay and hid myself in a little garden, hidden amongst hedges and trees. After I had finished my little meal, I set my tray aside and laid down on the stone seat by a tiny pond, falling asleep soundly. When I awoke, I returned to the palace to find Loki, Thor and Steve standing around near the room I had been placed in. When they caught sight of me, the first emotion I noted was relief, followed swiftly by anger.

"Where in the Nine Realms have you been?" Thor demanded, stalking up to me and standing over me in an aggressive manner.
"Asleep in the garden. If you were so set on finding me, it would have been easy enough for you to ask Heimdall, Thor."
"Heimdall needs all his attention focussed on the enemies of Asgard," Thor grumbled. I frowned at him darkly.
"What do you want from me?" I questioned tiredly, bracing my hands on my hips.
"I want you to shed whatever foul mood has overcome you and return to being the girl we're all familiar with."

"Well, excuse me for being human!" I snarled. "I'm sorry, Thor, but I cannot be there for you all the time! You are all thoroughly exhausting and I can only take so much!" I glared at the three males before me angrily. "You have taken me for granted long enough," I stated lowly. "That's how it is. You call; I answer. You trust in that. You've grown used to relying on me… Can you tell me I'm wrong?" Thor and Steve shifted awkwardly, recognising the truth of my words.
"I don't rely on anyone," Loki remarked.
"You don't trust anyone," I pointed out.
"Almost," Loki replied quietly, and I was immediately taken back to another conversation. One during which I was wearing quite a bit less clothing. I smirked, anticipating his statement.

"You trust me," I said as he continued,
"I trust you." Loki and I shared a smile and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. I sighed, scratching my scalp.
"Is there somewhere where I can clean myself up?" I asked drearily. Loki held out his arm.
"Follow me; I'll have one of the serving girls see to you." I nodded, obeying him and allowing him to escort me from the hallway.

"Hold on; I'll come with you," Steve said. Loki glared at him.
"I can manage Miss Carter alone, Soldier." Steve returned Loki's glare with equal venom.
"I don't trust you. Especially not with Ellie. You like her; that's even more dangerous to her than if you hated her like you hate the rest of us." Loki growled; I could feel is chest vibrating against my shoulder.
"You're all dangerous," I told them. All three men looked back at me and I returned their stares apathetically.

"You think I'd be this way without you?" I challenged with a smirk, putting a hand to a gun at my hip and lifting my injured leg pointedly. The three men looked somewhat guilty.
"We'd never hurt you, though," Steve protested weakly.
"Not on purpose, I expect," I responded. Perhaps I was being a little cruel, but it wasn't untrue…
"Come," Loki said after a pause, subdued. "Let's get you cleaned…"