Chapter 8

Asgard has fallen … the Avengers have fled.

The bifrost had taken the Avengers and the surviving Asgardian citizens to Vanaheim. Once there, Hogan rush Clint and Bruce to the healer's den for treatment. Thor and Steve followed, carrying Odin's body between them.

The healers immediately began scurrying around the room, attending to both Bruce and Clint, both of whom had suffered serious injuries during the battle. Bruce is lying on a gurney, pale and listless from loss of blood. The first thing the healers did was put Bruce in a medically induced coma to keep his vital organs functioning without stress. The healers believe that keeping Brue comatose will keep him calm and hopefully allow is body to generate sufficient blood to assist the healing of his other wounds.

Across the room, another group of healers were attending to Clint. The most serious of Clint's injuries include six broken bones and a collapsed lung. To assist his breathing, the healers needed to connect a breathing machine to Clint to help inflate and deflate his lungs. However, to do so, they first needed to feed him a brew of spices and water that released pain, so he wouldn't feel any discomfort from either the broken bones or the connection of the machine and its corresponding tubes. The brew was so strong that Clint immediately fell into a deep sleep.

….

The healers acted also as the undertakers. They took Odin's body and undressed him, cleaning his wound, and cleaning all the blood off of his body, mainly his chest. They bathed him and then covered his clean skin with scented oils and ointments. Although the healers were trained to handle death, they wept for the loss of their king. Thor had fled Asgard in such a hurry that he didn't have time to gather proper burial attire for Odin. Therefore, Thor and Hogan spent much of their first day on Vanaheim searching for the best under garments they could find in Odin's size.

To honor their father and Asgardian king, Thor provided his chest and back armor, wrist guards, and his cape while Steve's donated his shin guards, and bicep and tricep armor. The healers managed to make Odin look absolutely regal in his mismatched set of armor, which left the two princes without much armor to protect them.

Hogan led the two princes to the armory, where they set the dwarves to making complete new sets of armor for both Thor and Steve.

When Steve and Thor returned to the healer's den, they took Odin's body and laid him down on a funeral alter. The strongest men from the nearby villages lifted the entire alter and carried it to the docks.

The dwarves of Vanaheim and the Vanir (Hogan's people) flocked to the docks by the hundreds. They did, however, leave room for the Asgardian survivors. Once the sun had set, the funeral could begin. Two men lit torches, one at the front and one at the back of an intricately carved oak boat. The head of the boat featured a massive hand carved raven, and the rear was carved with the image of the Asgardian palace. The sails were made of the finest leather while on the mast were the carved likenesses of Muninn and Huginn watching over the boat and its occupant. The actual Muninn and Hugan were perched atop the rigging, watching everything happen.

The remaining Avengers, the four warriors, Heimdal, Darcy, Jane, Pepper, and Loki lined up in front of the stone funeral alter, which was also intricately carved with Norse patterns. The carving on the right side of the alter featured Hati, the godly wolf, chasing the moon. Hati was considered the moon chaser. Before Odin took over the realm, king Bor had helped Hati and his brother leave their spirit forms and become true living beings. On the left side was a carving of Skoll, the other godly wolf, chasing the sun. Skoll was considered the sun chaser. Hati sat to the right on his master's alter, while Skoll sat to the left, both guarding their master's body.

Each individual in attendance walked up to the alter and kissed Odin's hand. After each tribute, a man would make an offering to the gods by placing something on the boat to take to the afterlife, either a small barrel of Mead, something golden, or a weapon.

Thor was last to pay tribute to Odin. He stood at the alter, his eyes welled with tears, "I'm sorry father … I will avenge you." He whispered and lifted his father's hand to his lips, and kissed his hand. He carefully laid Odin's cold dead hand next to Odin's body on the stone alter the walked back to his friends to resume his position in line with Steve, Loki, and Heimdal. These four would be casting the arrows.

Finally one of the men with torches walked over to the line and stood next to Thor, Heimdal, Steve, and Loki, who were each holding a bow and arrow. Without the Asgardian Army, these four would have to be the ones casting Odin to Valhalla. Natasha, Sam, Lady Sif and the warriors three, Jane, Darcy, Pepper, and Tony stood back, watching in silence. It had only been a day since Asgard was taken over, and Natasha was still stunned. Not just by the fall of Asgard, but also by how quickly the people of Vanaheim put together such an elaborate funeral. The alter, the boat, everything.

Two women walked up to the alter with a thin white blanket and placed it overtop of Odin, covering him from head to toe. Then six Vanaheim men walked over and lifted the funeral alter and carried it onto the small boat. Odin's body now surrounded by the gifts of mead, gold, and weaponry, the funeral was about to begin.

(Song suggestion: In Noctem)

Heimdal looked up from the ground, his eyes welled with tears. Odin was his friend, his kind, and he failed him. He looked around, his golden eyes glowing in the night's darkness, and reflecting the firelight from the torches. "May the Valkyries welcome you and lead you through Bor's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings. For a great man has fallen. The All Father, the King of Asgard, a father, a husband… a friend… I hope we have served you well. And now we cast you off to Valhalla." Heimdal spoke, his deep voice emanating power and echoing through the realm, sending the beautiful message to all of King Odin's former subjects.

The man with the torch turned and lowered the torch, lighting Steve's arrow, Steve turned to Loki and lit his arrow, Loki turned to Thor and lit his, and Thor turned to Heimdal and lit Heimdal's.

Slowly a tear slid down Heimdal's cheek, "I am sorry I have failed you my friend," he whispered and then lifted his bow in the air and pulled the string back and nocked it. The same motion repeated itself down the line, everyone aiming as two men pushed the boat deeper into the water and it floated a few yards away. Then Heimdal nodded and they loosed their arrows in unison.

The flaming arrows flew high into the sky in a beautiful light show. Almost like shooting stars, the arrows hurdled towards the boat carrying Odin's body to Valhalla. Under the night's starry sky, the flaming arrows mesmerized the mourners.

Finally the arrows landed, one hit a barrel of mead and it burst into flames, catching the other barrels. The body along with the boat were slowly being consumed by flames. Slowly tiny blue lights, like stars, began to float out of the core of the boat. As the blue specs floated higher into the sky, everyone had tears in their eyes – Heimdal, Thor, Steve, Sif and the warriors three, even Loki. Odin was gone…

….

(Song Suggestion: Daniel in the Den - Bastille)

The Avengers had taken refuge at a home in Vanaheim. They all sat silently around the family room, or main room as Vanir called it. They were silent, mourning the loss of the king, and trying to process what had happened to Asgard. Steve knew, Asgard was taken over by mad frost giants.

It was insane, the most powerful kingdom in the universe was over thrown in one day. The king was murdered and most of Asgard's soldiers were absolutely destroyed, citizens were slaughtered in droves, and those who remained were taken to be slaves or forced to become citizens of the Frost Giants, and if they opposed the new regime, they would be killed.

It was all madness! How had this all escalated so quickly? It went from a peaceful, celebratory night in Asgard to a massacre. How could it all have happened so quickly? They lost the most powerful city in a matter of hours. How had they even lost? The Avengers fought the Chitari army and won; so how did the Avengers along with so many skilled fighters lose to the Frost Giants? It made no sense at all.

"How did this even happen…?" Steve asked confused and angry.

"We were betrayed…," Heimdal replied quietly.

All eyes shot to Loki, "How in the world could I have done it with those bloody handcuffs on not to mention being watched all the time," Loki responded in frustration. "If you all would think for a moment, I'm actually the least of the possibilities."

"Loki is right; every time I saw him I saw him, he was handcuffed and guarded. And I saw him a lot." Darcy defended Loki.

There were some raised eyebrows but no one questioned it. "Reindeer games is out; I know it's not me or the two wonder boys over there, and probably not the two bird brains or Brucie. And the loyal four musketeers wouldn't have done it," Tony said looking at Thor and Steve then Lady Sif and the warriors Three. "Red could have done it," Tony announced.

"Stark, I didn't do anything."

"That's what someone who did it would say…," Tony shot back.

"Stark, I didn't betray Asgard you jack…" she was cut off.

"Tony, you need to shut up. I get you can't handle serious situations, and I understand it makes you feel awkward. But don't go blaming Natasha for this just because you can't actually handle the situation." Steve said sternly, glaring at Tony in anger.

Natasha looked at Steve and smiled. She really needed to talk to him but now was most definitely not the time.

"Brenna." Heimdal muttered, "I should have noticed this earlier."

"But we saw Frost Giants carrying her away," Thor said, doubtful.

"It actually would make perfect sense…," Steve muttered.

"Oh my god; I thought I saw her slip something in Odin's drink, but I thought it was medicine. I would have never thought…," Sam said quietly.

"Indeed, she was always near us; she made our food and brought it to us. She was with us, serving us while we strategized, she washed our clothing, drew our baths. She was always there," Sif said.

"A spy…," Natasha muttered.

"It all fits. She cleaned my room, and my books are missing, the books about realm traveling…," Loki muttered.

Heimdal looked stunned, "How could I have not noticed it earlier … The traitor is Brenna Caldersdoiter."

Thor looked furious. He felt so betrayed; he was betrayed by the woman who cared for his family. She had betrayed them and possibly killed his father! She may as well have, she caused it. How dare she!? They paid her! They thanked her! What could possibly be her motive!? Thor growled and shook his head, standing up and storming out of the room.

Jane started to get up, so she could talk to him. She was dreadfully tired, she hadn't run this much since… Ever… But she loved Thor and had to talk to him, to comfort him. But Sif stood, "Lady Jane, rest. I can tell you are very tired, I will speak with Thor," Sif said with all the honesty in the world. Thor loved Jane and Jane made him happy, and that's all Sif wanted for Thor. She loved him, and even if it led to her misery, she wouldn't mind because he would be happy.

Jane looked at her a bit astonished, "Are you sure? You fought a lot today."

"Indeed, you are drained and can barely stand without heavy breath. Lay down and rest. I will speak with Thor," Sif said. When Jane nodded, Sif walked off.

(Song Suggestion: The One That Got Away - The Civil Wars)

Slowly, Sif searched the small home for Thor. She saw him sitting by a fireplace in silence. She could tell he was crying; they had been best friends since childhood, she knew almost everything about him. She knew he was crying by the way his shoulders were moving with each breath he took. Silently, she walked up next to his hunched over body. She tenderly put a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her, his eyes and cheeks wet with tears. "Thor… I am so sorry for your loss," she quietly stated, then she took a seat next to him on the floor.

"I cannot believe that he met this fate. It is cruel and he deserved none of this," Thor whimpered out, and looked back at the fire, the flames danced before their eyes in an elegant array of oranges and reds.

"No one deserved anything that has happened today," Sif's eyes were almost as sad as Thor's.

Thor went completely silent, simply staring at the fire. They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, simply enjoying one another's company. Finally, Thor spoke, "I once thought my father was invincible; I thought he was untouchable. I thought, since he was the king, surely he would never die at the hand of another. As I grew, my naivety slipped out of my heart's grasp, and I began to realize that he bled… the same as you and I – the same as mortals. Not only was he like everyone else, but he was old … and I realized that he could perish by another hand and that he could die any day." Thor looked at Sif, "But even knowing this is different from accepting that it has happened. This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to come to terms with…," Thor whimpered out, feeling a lump growing in the back of his throat.

Sif really didn't know what to say … so, slowly she wrapped her one arm around his back and then turned a bit and wrapped his other arm around him, "I am so sorry Thor…," she whispered and he leaned into her hug, wrapping his large arms around her. "I do not know what to do Sif…," he whimpered out.

"Your father is in Valhalla watching … he is safe now from all the dangers this universe holds," she said quietly. Sif let go of Thor and turned to look into his ocean blue eyes.

"He must be so disappointed in me; I've failed him and Asgard all in the same day," Thor sighed and looked down in shame.

"Thor, he is not disappointed in you; no one is. You fought valiantly, and relentlessly; you protected those who you could protect themselves, and fought harder than you have ever fought before. Many things were out of your control. You did everything you could. Your father … he'd be a fool not to be proud," Sif said gently, rubbing his back in small, soothing circles.

Sif slowly wrapped her arm around his back and Thor grasped her hand. Then he silently leaned his head down to rest on her shoulder.

They sat in silence, warmed by the fire, mourning the loss, and enjoying their comforting presence together.

Thor closed his eyes and whispered, "I love you Sif."

Sif went wide eyed, but decided to reciprocate the feelings, "I love you as well Thor…," Sif whispered.

Thor opened his eyes in amazement and removed his head from her shoulder and looked Sif directly in the eyes. She realized her slip up; she shouldn't have said it. Both looked into each other's eyes boring into their souls … all this time, this was the truth. Slowly they began to lean towards one another.

Uhm hi! It's been awhile hasn't it?!

So the barn is rebuilt which is good, and the crap at my church is done, also good. And I got this done!

A few things to talk about!

Did I depress you!?

Brenna, what to you guys think of her?!

Also did you like that little surprise at the end!? Probably not! But whatevs. I can justify it with the fact that I was rereading the Thor comics and Sif just sacrifices so much for his happiness. like seriously. and it got the same way vice versa. Honestly it changed my Thane mind and I fell in love with Thor X Sif. I still like Thane but I just like Thor X Sif better.