Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Marvel Universe, The Amazing Stan Lee and Joss Whedon, or anyone else involved with the movies or comics. I am not making any profits from this writing, it is all for the purposes of fun and creative writing.

Chapter 8

Asgard was golden and grand, there was no denying it. From every brick to every rail, everything was exquisitely designed and built. But as the procession they were part of made its way along the main roadway that no doubt led to the palace of the All-father, the mortals, from Jane all the way down the line to Erik Selvig could not help but notice that there was a somberness in the lightly snow-filled air that seemed to blanket it far more thickly than snow actually ever could.

It didn't take much for all of them to realize that this was not Asgard as in normally was, but Asgard under the dark veil of mourning. There were flags and banners flying in the snowy wind, the colors of green, gold, and black, some bearing runes that no doubt spelled a name and title.

Loki, Prince of Asgard.

For city so vast and imposing, it people were far to quiet as they came to stand along the sides of the wide main road, bowing to Thor, their remaining prince and the company he returned with as they rose past. Men, women, and children all came to show their respect, all of them garbed in dark colors, just as muted as their prince. The mortals for their part did there best to be as polite and respectful, accepting the respect the people of Asgard were showing them when they remained bowed for them as they rode past. Even Tony, who normally would have made a comment that no doubt would have been daft and wildly inappropriate remained silent and focused on praying that the horse he currently had the reigns over didn't suddenly start to think that it was a rodeo horse or anything like that.

From where he road behind Jane, Steve couldn't help but feel his heart go out to the people he saw, not at all liking that this was his first experience of Asgard, its people mourning, a bitter cold to the air, and a dimness over what would surely have been a very grand and luminous city. But there really wasn't much anyone could do about that, it was what grief, and now doubt guilt too was, the black pall over everything, and everyone. Behind him with her arms wrapped tightly around Steve's middle, even Darcy gave a somber sigh, her phone for once absent and she herself uncharacteristically quiet.

Thor for his part looked every bit the somber yet regal prince atop his powerful stallion, his eyes scanning the crowds every now and then, even nodding at a familiar face here or there. A part of him wanted to just galvanize his horse to its fastest gallop and just get to the palace already, and not have to look at the many faces marred by sadness, and yes shame. He had seen enough of it to last him the rest of his days, he wished to see it no further. But Thor didn't do this, instead he forced himself to go at this agonizingly slow pace, leading the procession onward, his hands white-knuckled as they gripped the reigns between them.

Elsewhere, at the very back of the procession, Sif was trying her very best to keep her face as neutral as possible, but her eyes were burning with the tell-tale sting of salt. Beside her Volstaag kept glancing forward at the back of Thor's blond head, the prince so very far away at the front. Hogun rode with his face as grim as ever, although his eyes showed the barest hint of a bone-ddep sadness. Fandral was the picture of utter dejection, and made no effort to hide it. The four warriors who would have been riding at the front with Thor, had been relegated instead to last place by their prince.

They had not been forgiven, nor did it look like forgiveness would be coming anytime soon.

Sometime later...

Thor gracefully dismounted from his stallion, handing the reigns to a waiting stable hand before immediately going to help Jane off her horse. Behind them Steve dismounted and help Darcy down too, bags and all. Tony grumbled to himself as he awkwardly dismounted from his steed, nearly dropping his briefcase as swearing that this would be the last time he every got on a horse for as long as he lived. Clint and Natasha had no problem dismounting from their steeds, giving their respective horses final pats of goodbye before handing them off to the awaiting attendants. Bruce let out a startled noise as his horse actually knelt, making it easier for the scientist to climb down from him. The dark colored horse gracefully rose back up onto its feet and lightly tapped Bruce on the chest with its velvety muzzle. Bruce let out a breathless little chuckle as he handed the reigns to an attendant.

" Thanks buddy." Bruce said, actually thankful to a horse for being so accommodating.

Behind Bruce, Selvig climbed off his horse and landed back on the ground with a small grunt, his hands going to his back which was undoubtedly aching from the ride. It had been many years since he'd been on one of those things, and now his lumbar region was loudly making that unfortunate fact known. With a small groan Selvig adjusted his bag, every thankful that he had packed light, and headed off to join the others who were gathering around Thor.

" My friends, I present to you the palace of Asgard." Thor said as he gestured behind him.

All eyes went to the building in question, and there were gasps of wonder all around, even Natasha stood with slightly wider eyes as she and everyone beheld the gleaming palace. It was a grand feat of architecture, unlike anything any of them had ever seen. The palace almost looked a giant crown in and of itself with massive towers that seemed to stretch almost to the sky. The building gleamed with the sheen of otherworldly metal, ornate carvings and imposing golden-metal statues everywhere one looked. From the top most towers, large flags of green, black, and gold flew about in the wind. Steve wanted to just sit down right there and pull out his sketch pad, while Clint had to resist the urge to ask Thor it he could climb up to the highest tower there was at the place. Bruce squinted against the gleam of the structure, but wanted to see what it looked like inside, Natasha stood as neutral as every, but she was silently impressed. Tony looked like a kid in a candy-store, and was suddenly of the mind to ask Thor later if the builder of this fine place was around, maybe pick his brains about some design ideas. He had his own tower he was constantly making improvements and upgrades on after all. Jane and Selvig were struck speechless at the sight of the awe-inspiring structure, while Darcy had whipped out her phone and was happy to see that while she may not have had any service, her phone was functional otherwise. But she thought better of taking any pictures now, knowing it was not appropriate given the circumstances.

Any other time Thor would have been beaming with pride and boasting about the famed palace, but today he just stood with a small smile on his face glad that his friends were so awestruck, but feeling now more acutely than ever the emptiness at his side where a tall and thin figure with dark, jet-black hair should have been standing beside him. Thor knew that had he been here now, Loki would have been grinning wide, maybe even stifling a laugh at the mortals' awestruck faces and have been just as curious about them as they were of Asgard.

Except, Loki wasn't here now was he? His Loki had been ripped from him and he hadn't even noticed. The monster who had murdered Loki had had to spell it all out for him, and everyone else to finally see the truth. Thor felt his heart lurch in despair, and yes bitter self-loathing as well, but stubbornly fought back the urge to just lay curl up right then and there and let the ground swallow him up. Instead Thor steeled his frayed nerves and spoke.

" My friends, let us proceed inside, no doubt the All-father will wish to see us and welcome you all to our kingdom." He said as he held out his hand for Jane to take.

Jane immediately took the hand with a sad but reassuring smile Thor's way. The moment Thor had spoken and all eyes turned to him, any feeling of wonder and awe quickly evaporated. They were all reminded that it was not for a happy reason that they were all here. It effectively toned down the excitement as Steve, Tony, Bruce, Clint, Natasha, Selvig, and Darcy all fell in behind Thor and Jane, instinctively forming to lines behind the pair. Behind the group, Sif and the Warrior's three somberly followed as they all made there way up the glittering silver steps that led into the palace.

There was a sudden groaning sound, loud and with the feel of ages as all eyes went to the pair of truly gigantic arched doors that Thor was leading the way to. They were about the same height as a six-story building, and magnificent in their carved grandeur as they slowly parted for the incoming party. Once Thor had led his group over the threshold, the mortals were all of them struck dumb by the interior of the palace. The ceiling seemed to stretch all the way to the heavens themselves, pillars that would probably stake five or six people holding hands to encompass stood proudly, great armored figures carved into them with amazing skill and attention to detail.

But even as they gazed on the grand interior, the mortals also noticed the black curtains, the wall hangings that adorned the wall bearing Loki's colors of green, black, and gold, and the all around subdued quality that clung to everything from the paintings to the every present and faithfully standing guards that stood watch.

" Where are we going Thor?" Jane asked.

" We go to the great hall, my father shall greet us there." Thor said as he looked back at Jane.

" The great hall? Isn't that where..." Steve began, but trailed off with unease.

" Yes friends Steve, that is where Menkos revealed himself and his truth to us." Thor said gravely.

A feeling of unease fell over the mortals, all of them realizing that they were about to enter the hall where Thor, his mother, and his father had all unleashed their terrible wrath on Menkos. The place no doubt held very bad memories for Thor, and now they would all see the place itself for themselves. After much walking Thor turned a corner and there were the stood the golden door that led to the great hall, standing tall and imposing in their own right.

Thor came to stand before these door, his friends topping behind him, breaking their lines and crowding around the tall god.

" Why'd we stop?" Tony ask, admiring the Asgardian bling.

" We have paused here Man of Iron, so that our presence can be announced before we enter by father's hall." Thor explained simply.

" Are we gonna have to kneel or anything?" Darcy asked.

" I will kneel before my father for he is also my king, but none of you will have to do so." Thor answered, sending a tired smile Darcy's way, one which she returned. She truly hated see the blond man-mountain being so down, but unfortunately there really wasn't much she could do about that.

Suddenly, they could all hear a man's voice from the other side of the door, his words muffled but they could make out Thor's name being said. Then there was a low creaking sound as the golden doors began to slowly part to reveal the great hall within.

It was just a splendid as it had been shown in the memory stone, spacious and filled with many members of the Asgardian court. However it was not as filled to the brim as it had been that terrible day, and for that the Avengers were quite thankful for they felt that a heroes welcome would have diminished the real reason why they were here. In truth none of them, not even Tony felt like they would have been keen had there been such a welcome.

Still taking things in, they all followed in a neat line once more as Thor, with his mournful black cape billowing out behind him as he led the way across the great hall. As they all walked with their heads held high, maybe even a little bit of swagger on Tony's part, but did their best not to come off as arrogant or abrasive, they just wanted to show that they were a solid group behind Thor. Jane squeezed Thor's hand, notice the barely there tremor that was wracking it while the rest of him appeared outwardly composed. It didn't take the young woman much to understand why Thor would not like this room as he should, for even she felt an uncomfortableness here.

As they walk, the mortals all collectively pause when their eyes fell on the scorch marks that marred the smooth marble floor near the center of the hall. Around them the many Aesir eyes watched on in sad silence, realizing that these mortals had witnessed the agony and rage of the Queen as they had themselves, and were now gazing at the remnants of the rage that had been left untouched by the servants.

" This was were Queen Frigga roasted his sorry ass." Natasha said simply as her eyes went over the marks, studying them. Beside her the others could almost hear the echoes of the Queen of Asgard's rage filled shrieks as she had exacted her wrath upon the murder of her youngest son.

" Yeah, but we should keep going." Steve said quickly, noticing the pained look on Thor's face where he had paused with Jane, who was staring at the marks with a sad kind of awe.

" Sorry Thor." Clint said quietly as he sent an apologetic look the god's way.

" Think nothing of it friend, you are seeing the real thing now, not the image projected from a stone." Thor assured, before he grew more serious.

" We must not delay any further though my friends, the All-Father awaits us."

" We definitely shouldn't." BRuce said with a sad expression, his eyes lingering the poignant remnants of a bereft mother's rage before they all hurried to catch up to Thor and continue down the long aisle towards the throne.

Behind the mortals, Sif and the Warriors three eyed the mortals with respect and maybe even gratitude as well, for being so understanding and willing to be there for Thor, and also for Loki. They were paying rather dearly now for having no been there for the latter of the two princes of Asgard, if Thor's coldness towards them was anything to go on. With sadness and regret in all of their hearts, the four warriors wordlessly followed in the wake of the Midgardians.

The Aesir in the hall bowed to Thor as he passed, and much like the people outside in the city, stayed bowed for the Midgardians who followed in Thor's wake, curious and speaking quietly after they passed, for these were the warriors Thor had spoken so highly of after he had returned from the victory against the Chitauri. As they walked over the marble floors of the hall, Tony glanced up and felt his eyes widen as they fell on the large dent that marred one of the giant pillars that head up the ceiling of the hall, instantly recognizing this to be the first of the many dents that adorned several of the pillars of the hall, a reminder of the icy punishment he had doled out on Menkos after his wife had finished with the foul beast.

This time though, the Midgardians did not pause and kept moving forward. When they neared the great golden throne of Asgard as say the regal, white haired man sitting proudly upon, they all paused as Thor bade them so to do. Giving Jane's hand a final, gentle squeeze, Thor parted from his friends and stepped forward along. He cane to stand perhaps an arms length away from the steps of the dais. As Thor slowly knelt before the throne and his father upon it, Jane notice with a chill running up her spine that a few feet from where the god was kneeling, there were three large craters in the floor. The spot where Thor had unleashed Mjolnir, the instrument of his grief and rage, upon Menkos, maiming the grotesque fiend once and for all, the final of the three enraged royals.

The chill that had run up Jane's spine was soon running up the spines of the other Midgardians who stood by her, all of their eyes going to the three craters in the floor. Where he knelt before the throne, his heart crumbling, Thor spoke.

" I greet thee All-father." He said, his voice seeming to carry over the entire hall.

Odin stared at Thor a moment, his one eye dulled and every line of age prominent over his face. He had just come from a most taxing incident and was gladdened beyond words to lay eyes upon his remaining son.

" I greet thee in turn my son." Odin replied before he fluidly rose to his feet. " Now rise."

Everyone else in the hall watched as the king, clad in black armor and robes, with only a few dull, golden accents and gold cape, made his way from the throne and down the steps of the dais with more speed than he looked capable of. In the time it took for Thor to rise to full height, Odin was standing before him, an arms length separating then.

Father and son simply stared at each other a moment, sadness reflected between them. Then surprisingly, Odin, known for his reserved and stoic nature reached out and all but yanked his son into a tight embrace. Thor for his part tried at first to be composed about it, simply wrapping his arms around his father and returning the hug as stoically as he could. But when he heard the shaky breath Odin released against his shoulder, Thor could not bear it any longer.

To hell with being manly.

Thor tightened his hold around his father, turning his face inward, all but burying it in Odin's pure white hair.

" I have missed you greatly my son." Odin whispered into Thor's ear.

" I missed you too father." Thor whispered back just as softly, feeling his eyes burning painfully. But Thor stubbornly kept the tears at bay. It enough that his father was embracing him so tightly in front of his friends, and the rest of the great hall for that matter, but to dissolved into tears and sob into his father's shoulder was something Thor would not do, no matter how desperately he wanted to.

" Where is mother?" Thor asked quietly.

" She is indisposed my son, I will tell you later." Odin said before he gave Thor's black caped back a hefty thump with his hand before finally drawing back.

It pained Thor to see the weariness on his father's face, it made him look more old that Thor had every seen him. But steadying his threadbare nerves and quashing down the despair that had become his constant companion, Thor managed a smile and he looked over his shoulder at his friends and gestured to them.

" Father, I present to you the Avengers, my shield mates in the batter against the Chitauri, and the Ladies Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis, and Dr. Erik Selvig, who aided me in becoming worthy of Mjolnir after my banishment. I have shown them the truth, and they had all understood and accepted that Loki... That Loki was innocent. They have all accompanied me to Asgard, to pay their respects."

Thor looked to his friends with such pride and gratitude, it made something in each and every one of them even Natasha ache.

" Come forward please, I would look upon those my son holds so dear." Odin said, his voice strong but not commanding.

Steve led the way for the Avengers while Darcy and Selvig want to flank Jane on either side. Seemingly as one whole unit, they all dropped their bags and bowed low before the king. Even Tony, who had a well-known lack of respect for authority bowed, albeit a little stiffly. When they stood back up, they saw that the All-father was gazing at them warmly enough, but also curiously. They probably looked like a rag-tag group of pieces that seemed incongruous, but they somehow fit, Earth would not be standing if they didn't.

" I greet thee warriors of Midgard, my son has spoken very highly of you all, and I am most pleased that you have elected to join him hear during this dark time." Odin said, stepping forward to get a better look at his new guests.

" Come father, let me introduce you." Thor said quietly, smiling a little as he proceeded to introduce his father to each of the Avengers.

Steve almost blushed as Thor regaled his father of Captain America's prowess as a warrior and leader. Tony being Tony boldly shook hands with the king, earning a few open mouth stares, but it was worth it to see the fleeting amusement on the clearly grieving king's face. Clint may or may not had stuttered, nervous about meeting otherworldly royalty and all, but a warm look from Thor had the nerves fading and Clint thanked Odin for allowing them to come to Asgard. Natasha was calm as could be as she was introduced. She looked Odin in the eye and told him that it was an honor to finally meet the man behind all the stories Thor told back home on Earth. Bruce actually blushed when Thor introduced him, and consequently the Hulk, calling them both friend and a source of great comfort during this awful time. Bruce had voiced his condolences to the king, to which Odin sent him a quiet look of veiled gratefulness.

When Thor introduced Jane, the brunette turned beet red when Odin actually took her hand an kissed it, thanking her for showing Thor the way to being worthy of his godhood. Darcy was shy for once as she was introduced, quietly greeting the king of all of Asgard and being completely appropriate for once. And finally, when Thor introduced Erik Selvig to Odin, the mortal man told Thor's father that it was his honor to finally meet the actual King from the stories he grew up hearing. Odin graced the mortal man with a small smile at that.

After that, Odin turned to the warriors three and the lady Sif who had all come to kneel before their king. Thor pointedly had his gaze turned elsewhere, barely acknowledging the quartet.

" Lady Sif, I charge you and the warriors three with attending to Thor's guests. They shall not be want of anything, am I understood?" Odin asked, every bit the commander that he was. While his face was neutral, there was a slight hardness to his eye as he gazed upon these four warriors.

" Your will be done my liege." Sif answered neutrally, before she and the warriors three rose to their feet.

" Now show them to the quarters that have been arranged for them, if anything is not to their liking, see too it that the problem is rectified with all due hast."

" Yes All-father." The four warriors said in unison.

Thor looked like he wanted to say something, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

" Thor, I would have you come with me my son, for there are certain matters I wish to discuss with you." Odin said quietly.

" As you wish father." Thor said, knowing something was going on.

Thor took his leave of the Avengers and Jane, Selvig and Darcy and then followed after his father as the two of them left the great hall through a side exit some feet behind the great throne that was partially hidden in the shadows.

" Come warriors of Midgard, we shall show you to your quarters." Volstaag said with a barely mustered smile, while Fandral called for servants who seemed to materialize out of no where and take the bags that the mortals had brought with them. Tony declined to allow his briefcase to be taken, but it was understandable, it was potentially hazardous to anyone unfamiliar with it. Plus, it wasn't an actual briefcase anyhow, no need to startle the poor servant who might accidentally push a button or what have you. Once the bags were taken, the Avengers and Jane, Darcy, and Selvig all followed after the four warrior as they led the way back up the aisle to the main door of the hall, from there they proceeded upstairs.

Meanwhile, through the exit Thor and Odin had taken...

" Forgive me my son, for I could not go out to the Bifrost to greet you all personally." Odin said as he walked down the log corridor flanked on either side by firelight.

" Do not trouble yourself so father, but now I must ask why you could not do so, was it mother?" Thor asked as he walked along side his father around a turn in the corridor.

" Yes my son, your mother was fine earlier in the day, as fine as can be expected anyway. But while I was being consulted on the preparations for tomorrow, one of her ladies in waiting came bursting into the room I was holding council, eyes wide with terror. She told me that your mother's grief had turned to rage. I rushed to your mother chambers and found all of her ladies standing out in the hall where she had banished them to it. When I entered I found the chambers in shambles, and your mother with her hands glowing with the same fire they had burned with mere days earlier in the great hall. I knew instantly that your mother had it in mind to go down to the dungeons and pay the vile whoreson a visit. " I will burn him to ash." She kept saying over and over, her mind seemingly gone from her being. I managed to quiet her down and bring your mother back to herself with words and caresses, but she has since then dissolved into tears once more." Odin said gravely.

" We go to see her now?" Thor asked quietly, though his eyes had started to burn with both despair for his mother and fury renewed for the one who had caused all of this pain.

" Yes my son, she is need of us both." Odin said as he led the way up a winding coil of silver steps that led to the upper levels of the palace.

When they were done climbing the stairs and found themselves on the floor in question, it was as if a wave of despair not his own washed over Thor. Feeling his own aching heart ache painfully further, Thor silently followed his father down the long corridor of his mother's hall, father and son walking in solemn silence. As they both neared Frigga's chambers, the despair from before seemed to grow ten-fold with each step until by the time they had both reached the door to the room, Thor felt like his very skin was on fire with it.

Without preamble Odin pushed the doors to the chamber open with a solid push, and the moment Thor laid eyes on the room behind it, he felt his crumbling heart shatter once more. The room was immaculate, no longer in disarray, most likely Odin had magically repaired it of the damage left by Frigga's grief-stricken rage. But what had shattered Thor's heart was the sight of his mother, the Queen of Asgard herself sitting along in a chair by the entrance to the balcony, silent and slumped, the picture of utter dejection instead of a smiling, regal queen.

Without saying a word, Thor all but ran across the room to where he mother sat with her back to everyone. Still not saying anything, Thor stepped around and smoothly sank to his knees before his mother. Thor fell his eyes well rapidly at the sight that greeted him.

Frigga sat with her face devoid of all emotion now, her usually vibrant eyes were dull and empty now, read rimmed from tears barely dried. When Thor looked down at her hand, he felt a pained gasp escaped him before he could stop it. There in his mother's pain, white knuckled grip was a small, emerald green tunic, the kind meant for a child. It did not take Thor much to realize that this little shirt had once belonged to his brother, he had seen his brother wear it many times during their childhood. Frigga had woven it, she had made a green one for Loki, and a red one for Thor so many years ago when they were just boys. It made Thor's heart come alive with fresh pain to know that Frigga had kept these shirts, long after he and Loki had outgrown them.

" Mother?" Thor whispered, almost pleadingly as a tear broke free and carved a bitter trail down his cheek.

Frigga remained utterly silent, the only acknowledgement she gave Thor was a slow blink of her empty eyes. The rage from earlier had quieted for the time being, they was only the tired desolation now.

Feeling his face crumble, Thor screwed his eyes tightly shut and barely bit back a sob as he reached out and covered his mother's pale and lightly trembling hands with his own, trying to warm them of the chill that had settled over them.

" Thor." Frigga finally said, her voice hollow and far away.

" Yes Mother, I'm here, I'm here." Thor said softly, before his whole face seemed to crumble in on itself.

Screwing his eyes tightly shut Thor all but fell forward, resting his head over his mother and his joined hands, his face buried in the soft material of his brother's childhood shirt. As he breath harshly against the cloth, Thor let out a small, pained sound as his nose caught the barely there scent that still lingered on the shirt, from bygone days of youth and happiness. Frigga's lip trembled as she gazed down at her son, and with tears gathering in her eyes once more, the queen pulled one of her hands out from under Thor's head, but only so she could tenderly stroke her son's shaking, blond head that was in her lap. A hand settling over her shoulder had Frigga looking up with tearful eyes to see Odin standing beside her, a silent pillar to draw strength from.

Only perhaps twenty minutes or so Odin had been here in this room, having to physically hold her back as she had raged and sought to go down to the dungeon and tear Menkos apart once more. But Odin had managed to keep her at bay, holding her tenderly and letting her beat at him with her fists without a single complaint until she had calmed down. It was only after she had calmed of most of her rage that a servant had come and informed them that Thor had returned and had brought his friends from Midgard with him. When Odin had repaired the room and reluctantly taken his leave of her to greet their son, Frigga had dismissed her ladies and made her way to a small chest she kept next to her desk. From this chest she had pulled out the slightly ratty, aged little green shirt and pressed it tenderly to her chest as she made her way to the chair she now sat it. She had not moved from it since, her mind plagued my memories of a little boy with sparkling green eyes, raven black hair, and a shy little grin who wanted to show her the latest spell he had learned and perfected with ease.

Frigga let out a small sob before she leaned her head again Odin's arm, dissolving into tears once more. Odin looked sadly at his wife and son, in the privacy of Frigga's room he allowed his own despair to show on his face as tears gathered in his own eye. While his wife and his son gave in to their tears, Odin turned his tired and tear-filled gaze out to the rest of Asgard through Frigga's large balcony, observing the darkening of the clouds that hung over the realm he ruled over.

This was how they were now, the royal family of Asgard. They would draw strength from each other and present a composed face for their people, but the moment they were in the privacy of the inner palace, they would each break one right after the other. It was a repeating cycle of becoming strong enough to go before their people, only to crumble in each other's presence in private, and then compose themselves once more. It was a vicious cycle that showed no sign of stopping anytime son.

While the royal family of Asgard broke in private, on the floor of the palace where Thor's room was located...

" I hope these lodgings are adequate for you all, Thor requested that you stay on the floor where his personal rooms are." Volstaag explained as he pushed open an intricately carved, arched door and held it so that Steve and the others could go in.

" Not bad." Tony said as he looked over the circular common room they had stepped into, decorated with plush looking furniture and real fur rugs, and ornate looking weapons and tapestries hanging from the walls. To one side in the curve of the room, was a grand fireplace that was already roaring with a reddish-orange fire. It was rather tasteful and comfortable looking.

" If you could all follow me, I shall show you to your bedrooms." Sif said quietly as she led them around the common room and down the small hallway that led to another circular area that had nine carved doors that stood within its circumference.

" You may chose the room that is to your liking, and show you be in need of anything, the four of us are here to attend to you." Hogun said from where he stood beside Sif, Volstaag and Fandral flanking them.

" Thank you very much, could you give our thanks to his majesty for us?" Steve asked kindly.

" Of course Steve Rogers, will there be anything else?" Volstaag asked with a smile, that was albeit a bit sad.

" No, thank you though." Steve said quickly, around him the others all shifted somewhat uncomfortably while the servants who were holding their luggage stood silently beside them. There four tour guides looked more like kicked puppies than warriors at the moment.

With that the Sif and the Warriors took their leave of the mortals, saying they would be in the common area should they need anything.

" Alright people, lets go pick our beds." Steve said before he took his bag back from the young man who had been carrying it for him and dismissing him with thanks and headed for one of the doors that stood in the middle of its fellows.

The others all followed after Steve, each of them picking a door and walking through it. Each room was relatively the same, the beds were all king-sized and immaculately made, the curtains were all different colors while the furniture were all handmade pieces with intricate carvings and the feel of Asgardian craftsmanship. In the process of room choosing, Tony switched with Clint, taking the room with red curtains and a neat-looking desk, Clint taking Tony's original room that had purple curtains and a firmer bed. Bruce ended up switching with Darcy, who wanted to be next to Jane's room. Selvig bunked up next to Steve, while Natasha took the room across from Clint's. Once everyone had locked in their choice of room and unpacked their bags and utilized the drawers and other storage areas that had been provided, the Avengers and the three civilians all wandered back out to the common room. Tony had opted to change out of the expensive suit and was now in a simply pair of jeans and dark read Henley shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The others had left their winter jackets back in their rooms and as one they made their way to the common room.

They found the four warriors standing by the fire, the melancholy on their faces accentuated by shadows the roaring fire cast upon them.

When they noticed the mortals in their midst, the four warrior sort of scrambled to greet them.

" Warriors of Midgard, are your rooms to your liking?" Volstaag asked with joviality that they could all tell was forced.

" Yes Volstaag, the rooms were all very nice and we've settled in." Jane said.

There was a beat of really awkward silence and then Darcy spoke what was on everyone's mind.

" Why's Thor mad at you guys?" She just blurted out.

" Darcy!" Jane exclaimed, while others winced at the young lady's less than tactful question. Tony the other hand smirked a little, his fondness for the little fire-cracker increasing.

" I'm so sorry." Jane said as she sent an apologetic look the four warriors' way.

There was a stricken look on Sif's face, while Fandral's face reddened with quiet humiliation. Hogun looked as blank as ever, but it was Volstaag who shook his head and spoke.

"There is no need to apologize, for what Lady Darcy has asked is accurate, the four of us no longer have the prince's favor." Volstaag said gravely.

" Why? I thought you guys were his really good friends, you can all the way to Earth to bring him home when he was banished and everything." Jane said, going to one of the many sofas placed about the room when Volstaag gestured to it. Everyone else followed suit after that, the mortals sitting down opposite the four warriors.

" Indeed we were, but in the wake of all that had been revealed, Thor grew angry with himself, no doubt feeling guilty for not protecting Loki. When we went to comfort him, Thor rounded on us and asked us why we were shedding any tears at all, for we were never friends to Loki as we should have been. I suppose he remember the days spent in youth, and how we were not exactly the kindest to Loki." Volstaag said.

"You were never kind to my brother. " A deep, cold voice sounded, and had all eye turned to see Thor himself standing by the entrance to the common room, his eyes hard and glacial as he gazed upon his four Asgardians.

" Thor we-" Sif began, rising to her feet but Thor just gave her this scathing look that had her sinking back down as the Thunderer made his way into the room.

The mortals could all tell that he had been crying, but stayed silent as they gazed upon the prince. Thor took a deep breath and spoke, addressing the mortals, but with his hard eyes locked on the four warriors.

" After all that was revealed to me by Menkos, I stopped to think back on the life I shared with Loki. It made me realize just how awful a brother I was to him."

Jane opened her mouth to speak, but then thought better of it, remaining silent along with everyone else and Thor continued, turning to his mortal friends.

" I was arrogant and brash, and I always looked down on Loki for not being like me, for preferring to learn sorcery and reading books instead of training how to fight and going hunting. I suppose others learned from my example, for they too looked at Loki like he was less, like he wasn't worthy. I have to live the rest of my days knowing that I hurt my brother so badly in my foolishness, that I laughed cruelly at his attempts to join me and my so called friends, and never once took the time to see him for his worth, that where I was foolish, he was wise, where I reckless Loki would be the one to save me. I never appreciated his talents and took for granted that he loved me even after how horrible I was to him." Thor said, his voice trembling at the end while his hand went to Loki's pendant that hung around his neck still.

Then Thor's gaze hardened again as he looked upon the four warriors.

" While I acknowledge that I played my part in belittling Loki, you four who sit before me now had your own minds and judgment, not once did any of you try to include Loki in our group, you all just tolerated him because he was my brother. I remember the annoyed looks you would all send his way whenever he was there with us. You Hogun, would not even spare him the barest of warmth in your gaze, while you would do so for me without question even though Loki was often the only reason we would get out of the messes I would drag us all into in my arrogance. You Volstaag would remain indifferent to his anguish, you made fun of him every chance you got for being different." It was here that Thor paused, gritting his teeth a moment before he turned his gaze to the two individuals out of the four who had garnered the most of his anger.

" You Lady Sif, who claimed so loudly that Loki was jealous of me because everyone lauded me so much, I thought long and hard and realized that it was you who was jealous, jealous of the fact that while you being a woman had to fight so hard to earn your place amongst the warriors of Asgard, Loki being a male chose to learn seidr, considered a woman's art. You could never stand Loki, and now that I have thought about it, it was you who insulted Loki that day in the , you who called him ergi for his love of magic and provoked him further. So what if he took a knife and chopped off your precious golden hair? had you every spoken to me the way you spoke to him, Loki who is... was just as much a prince of Asgard as I am, I would have done the same thing, maybe even worse." Thor growled harshly.

The mortal's sat stunned at Thor's harshness, while the Volstaag, Hogun, and Sif all bowed their heads in shame, Sif looking on the verge of tears, their faces ashen at Thor's words.

Then the Thunderer turned his burning gaze to the final member of the group.

" And then there's you Fandral the Dashing." Thor spat, causing the person he was addressing to flinch and avert his gaze.

" You always belittled Loki as well, looked down upon him for his magic, egged the other three on, even whispered in my own ear of how Loki shouldn't be included in the latest hunt, always asking what was wrong with my brother, why he was not like us. You even had the nerve to scream out for all to hear that you thought Loki was in league with that vile creature. You forget that you personally owe Loki your life, for it was he and his magic that saved you from falling to your death that time we all went to Nornheim, Loki's knowledge of healing that saved you from the poisoned bite of a snake on Vanaheim, and countless other instances where Loki was their to save all of our sorry hides."

Fandral hung his head the lowest of the four, but Thor was not done.

" There are many instances I could think of where all of you disrespected Loki, but the worst still was your blatant disregard. Even though it has now been revealed that it was actually Menkos, at the time all of you thought it was Loki who sat on the throne while I was banish and my father was in the Odin-Sleep. Loki was my brother, and a Prince of Asgard, and though you were deceived by Menkos, the fact still remains that you thought it was Loki on the throne, he was your rightful king, and you deliberately disobeyed. I know with certainty that had it been the real Loki you would have done the exact same thing, such would have been your brazen disrespect." Thor seethed.

Thor had to pause here a moment to keep his wits about him and not reach for Mjolnir to destroy something, instead he reigned in his temper and spoke further.

" And now that he is dead, butchered by that Chitauri animal, you shed your false tears, tell me how sorry you are, expecting me to fall into your arms as I did that day in the hall after we had just found out, thinking me so desperate of your comfort, forgetting all the disrespect you piled onto my brother without me even being there to instigate it half the time. You had no love for Loki when he lived, why should I believe you suddenly have it now? In the time since the truth became known to be I have seen what true love and condolence looks like, and it sits across from you there." Thor said, pointing his finger at the stunned mortals sitting across from the chastised four.

" These people, they had every reason to hate Loki for all they have every known of him is the distorted image Menkos presented. They had every right to not believe me when I told them that my brother was innocent. But when I showed them the memories of the stone, they believed, they even shed their tears, they accepted the truth and gave their comfort freely and lamented the loss of Loki, who was a bright star I failed to appreciate. They stood beside me when I sought to convince the rest of Midgard of the truth without fail. The realm itself had slowly begun to accept the truth as well. These people here have proven what kind of friends they are, the kind that are beyond price."

From where they sat, the Avengers and Jane, Darcy, and Selvig were stunned by Thor's declaration. They had all figured that Thor was angry with the four warriors who had come to greet them on the Bifrost, but never had any of them thought that Thor would be downright furious. Thor's words resonated deeply within each other them, but it also made them feel uncomfortable as well, for Thor had soundly chastised the warriors three and lady Sif in front of them. The warriors three and Sif all looked up at Thor, their faces reflecting their shattered hearts, but Thor was not moved in the slightest by their heartache as he spoke.

" I have had much to think over these dark days, and my contemplations revealed many harsh truths about myself and about the four of you. The four of you were my friends, just that, my friends, Loki was my brother, where as any of you could have faded out of my life at any given time, he would have remained had he not been torn from me. I failed to see the malice and hurt you were all capable of, and now it is too late for me to make amends to the one who was hurt by us all. But I least I can put you four in your place, as I should have done long ago." Thor said flatly.

Then, turning away with his gaze focused on those he considered his true friends, Thor spoke.

" As my father has ordered, you shall tend to my friends should they had need of anything, but for now you are dismissed." He said with an air of finality.

The four warriors all rose from their seats as one, stiff and mechanical with their eyes downcast.

" As... As you wish my prince." Volstaag managed to say, his face almost as read and his beard and his eyes over bright before he, Hogun, Fandral, and Sif all nodded mutely to the mortals and then all but fled from the room.

The moment they were truly gone, Jane was on her feet, all but tackling the god in a surprisingly strong hug. Thor returned it wholeheartedly while the others gathered around the pair.

" Geez Thor, are you alright?" Clint asked, feeling a myriad of things at all that he had just seen and heard.

" No friend Barton, I am not alright." Thor said quietly once drew back from Jane, who looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. Thor sent them all a wane smile, looking utterly exhausted as he spoke.

" I am not alright my friends, but I am here and I have you all with me. It makes things somewhat bearable at least."

Not even Tony had a snarky comeback for that.