~ Chapter 15 ~

The air was crisp. Like it was freshly made from a long night and low temperatures and water. Like dew colored the air and made it crisp and clear. A soft wind of memories swayed the grass in waves like the sea under a wast blue sky with white skies.

After the light faded Thor felt the faint morning mist on his skin. He looked around at what appeared to be a reborn world. It looked peaceful and felt relaxed. In the distance he could see ruins of what had once been Asgard.

There was not much left of the once magnificent city, just broken walls and rocks. Time had passed between Ragnarok and now. Time that had helped the realm heal from its wounds.

The trees rustled and forced Thor to look around only to see his fellow Asgardians emerging from the lush vegetation.

The longer Thor stood there and watched more and more of his people came forth from all over the place and were gathering around him.

It felt strange. His memories from Hel were clear as the sun, no doubt all other remembered the underworld too, so why would they stand next to him when they knew his crimes?

He could see their trust and it was nerve wreaking to be the center of that trust.

Still, he felt strangely calm. He didn't feel like his old self which had been irresponsible and held and unrequited love for his brother. He felt older. Wiser.

What he didn't know yet was that the people of Asgard saw a King standing before them.

Somehow he knew he wouldn't see some people.

As they started to rebuild their glorious home, Thor made an unconscious count in his head who had returned with him. Along with the souls that had broken during the confession, there were a total of 170 souls that hadn't returned. His father, brother and Sif among them.

Also the souls of the warriors who had raped Loki had not returned either.

His mother was among them and helping to rebuild their home but she was no longer the same. There was a new air about her, and it not only came from declining being called Queen. She carried herself with a new dignity and refused to live in the past. Any questions about her husband was rejected right away.

It was strange really, it was not like there were a shortage of hands, or that forgiveness had been given to all sins that had been committed before Ragnarok, but at least Thor felt like Asgard was empty.

While Asgard was reborn and full of life there was something missing.

He tried to understand everything that had happened and where it all left them. Where it left him. His failure in being honest and the net of lies he had created by being a coward. Not being able in protecting Loki from the anger and jealousy of others. He knew he had failed all, even himself.

To Thor it was a guilt he would always carry with him and not forget. He would allow it to fade into the back of his mind, but he would never forget. Never again would he let something so disastrous happen in Asgard again. Not if he could prevent it.

That promise to himself would never change.

It had taken years.

Before any of them really realized it, over 50 years had passed. It was just like every day were remembered by their hardships but at the same time passed in the blink of an eye.

Asgard was now rebuilt and had established itself among the nine realms as the home for Gods once more. On the throne sat Thor Odinson.

Gone was the child who once had been spoiled and arrogant, and left behind were a King who ruled by his heart and fairly. Gone was the innocence of a child, and left behind was a man who knew where his actions would lead him.

Over the years, most of the missing people had returned after paying for their sins in Hel. The rapists and murderers were still condemned to suffer but the others were reborn. Odin had returned and while some guessed he would take the throne again, they were proven wrong.

Even if he had re-taken the seat of power, his people had lost their trust in him as a ruler. They were now looking up to Thor to guide them where the Allfather had failed. The former King had instead sough out his wife to seek forgiveness but found the woman he had been married for so many years, were not the one who waited for him.

Sadly for Thor, Sif were returned two years ago. He would never say it but he would have liked to never see her again. He had seen her sins in Hel and knew for sure now that she had taken advantage of his weakness. While he blamed himself for what happened that night, he had come to realize that Sif also carried the blame for Loki's imprisonment, and eventual rape.

It had barely been days after her return before she started to run after Thor. Her attempts on seducing him now that he sat on the throne disgusted Thor.

He couldn't guess if it was because of his aged wisdom or a more sensitive observation skill on his part but he could see Sif's ultimate goal, and he was just a stepping stone for her. So her attempts were rejected forcefully and heatedly.

But no Loki returned to Asgard.

There were no point in denying it either. His heart still longed for Loki. It might be that his memories were glorified from the years and he didn't remember all the details the same but there were no doubt in his soul that he loved Loki. To the point where he would not deny it anymore.

While he didn't go around declaring it every time he met someone, he didn't seek out the company of others. At first, many thought that he should give up since they doubted Hela would let Loki be reborn in Asgard. But as the years went on and Thor stayed true to his words they gained a new respect for their King.

It was lonely on the throne but Thor couldn't stand the idea of replacing Loki with anyone. Even for a night. He chose to remember his time with Loki instead. Alone.

One day...

Through the empty halls filtered a low voice that lead the marching steps to where Thor was hiding in the dying hours of the day. Soon the sky would shift in color and bid farewell to the day that had come to pass.

The doors opened with just the click of the lock parting easily and let the visitor into Thor's private chambers. They stopped short.

'Flames burning low on a winters night. Keep believing and we will meet again. Try to understand. I'll be there by your side night and day. Come, hold me and keep believing.'

The voice sang to the dying fire as the King of Asgard nursed a mug of mead in his hand. The once cool liquid had gone warm from the heat of his hands.

"My King." said Heimdall from where he was standing.

Thor turned his head to face the guardian without getting up from his seat.

"There is something that requires your attention." Heimdall continued when he was sure he had his liege's attention.

"Can it not wait till tomorrow?" Thor asked, although he knew that wasn't what a King should ask for.

Heimdall shook his head. "It would be best for you to see this immediately, my King."

Thor sighed heavily, "Aye, you are probably right, my friend." and stood up. "Lead the way."

The all-seeing Asgardian took Thor down to the sea and the new bridge that had been built on the ruins of the old bridge. Since the cause for its destruction had been caused by an overwhelming strength and the foundation still stood strong it had felt like a waste to redo everything.

The bridge took them to the new Bifrost which also stood on the brink of the realm. The water rushing over the edge in an endless circle of life.

"What did you want to show me?" Thor asked as he couldn't see any wrong with the Bifrost or any other reason for him being summoned.

It was with confident steps Heimdall walked over to the center, where the key hole for the Rainbow Bridge which could take them any where, lay.

"Something that will please you, my King." Heimdall put his sword into the key hole without turning it, something which would activate the Bifrost. He held onto the sword with his hands as he focused his eyes into the distance between then realms.

TBC & Conclusion In The Next Chapter