Hello to you all - once again, thank you for sticking with me. Got a lot on my mind at the moment. My daughter gets her A Level results tomorrow - meaning she also finds out whether she's off to university. We're sitting up at the moment, watching The Hobbit and trying not to think about what's happening in a few hours... Keep your fingers toes, eyes or anything else crossed for us please... in the meantime, here's chapters 15 and 16.

As always Thank You for reading - don't forget to send me a message in that nice little box at the bottom of the page. I love to hear from you... MM x

When Thor stepped out of the Bifrost at the top of Stark Tower, it was ostensibly to check on the progress being made by the scientists. In truth however, he longed to see his wife again. He had not seen her since he had first left for New York, and he had missed her far more than he had expected.

"Good evening Your Majesty". The disembodied voice of Jarvis greeted him as he entered the building.

"Good evening Jarvis. Where is everyone?"

"Mr Stark, your wife, Dr Banner and Dr Selvig are on the 52nd floor Your Majesty. Elevator 4 is waiting for you."

"Thank you Jarvis". Thor stepped in to the hi-tech elevator, allowing the AI to conduct him to his destination. It had taken him a long time to accustom himself to Stark's major domo, but now he conversed with him as easily as he would a flesh and blood being. Stepping out of the elevator, Thor followed the sound of voices to a laboratory halfway along the corridor. Before he could reach for the door however, a slender figure entered the corridor from the other end, clutching an armful of soda cans. Seconds later, there were cans all over the floor, and Thor's arms were happily full of his wife. "Ah Jane" he murmured into her hair. "My Jane, I have missed you so much".

"Thor" The face he loved was lifted to his, a kiss clearly expected and he was happy to oblige. The gods only knew how long they might have stood there, had not the door of the laboratory swung open.

"Jane are you alright.. ah – hello Thor. I'll leave you to it... Sorry." Eric Selvig closed the door quietly, and left them in peace.

They finally parted, Jane burying her head in his chest. "I've missed you too, and the boys, are they alright?"

Thor kissed the top of her head. "They are well, and being thoroughly spoiled by mother, but they miss you, as do I. How does your work progress?"

His wife smiled excitedly. "We have made tremendous progress Thor. The gravitational spikes that Eric has developed are being tested at the moment, but we believe that they will allow the Convergence to pass by the Earth without causing any significant damage. The only issue is pinpointing the focal point of the Convergence. Come in and we'll brief you."

The couple entered the lab, where Thor greeted Selvig, Banner and Stark. "Greetings my friends, I understand that you have been making progress. My congratulations to you all."

The three scientists were poring over maps, trying to locate the aforementioned focal point. Banner shook his head. "It's no good – this makes absolutely no sense. Every reading of the gravitational and temporal anomalies we're detecting indicate that the focal point of the Convergence is an isolated spot in the Highlands of Scotland, not far from Dufftown. The only problem is that the area has a history of strange anomalies going back as far as recorded history, so we can't be certain that our findings are accurate."

Thor bent over the map, frowning. "Dufftown, I have heard this name before... Dufftown..." His face cracked into a broad smile. "Dufftown, of course" a large hand struck the table triumphantly, making the image flicker alarmingly.

Jane drew him carefully away from the sensitive cutting edge technology – much to Tony's visible relief. "What do you know about this place Thor?"

Thor's face was suddenly serious. "In telling you this, I must break a confidence, I must tell a secret which is not mine to tell, but I hope that those who's secret it is will be able to forgive me."

Jane looked confused. "Thor, what are you talking about?"

Thor smiled. "The location you have identified is one of the most powerful and significant locations on Midgard. It does not surprise me at all that this is the focal point you seek." He smiled. "It is the location of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is the school where both Hermione, and Harry Potter were educated, and for two years it was the place where my brother found sanctuary, healing and ultimately redemption. My family has long had ties of friendship with the school, dating back to its founding almost a thousand years ago. That is the reason I took Loki to the school when I freed him from the cave."

Tony looked sceptical at his mention of witches and wizards, Eric and Bruce looked puzzled. Jane, being familiar with the story, smiled, understanding at last.

Eric was the first to speak, momentarily distracted from anomalies and data "What cave?"

Briefly, but sparing nothing of the horrific details, Thor told of his brother's travesty of a trial, of his journey to the cave and of his ultimate rescue, and his healing at Hogwarts School. At the end of the tale, even the normally flippant Tony looked sick.

"Thor, let me get this straight. Your Dad knew that Loki was being controlled, knew that he was half crazy from what he'd been through in the Void, and at the hands of Thanos and his Chitauris – not to mention the fact that he was pretty fucking messed up before he tried to commit suicide by jumping into space - and it made no difference to his sentence? He couldn't cut the guy a little slack? Shit. I mean – don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning what went down in New York.. I'm still having nightmares myself, but dissolved over years. Fuck man – and I thought I had Daddy issues. That is messed up." Stark was silent for a moment. "That must be what Steve found out..." Thor looked curious. "When we were in Asgard for your wedding, Steve went down to the training grounds early one morning and found Loki sparring with that big red haired guy. I guess they were stripped down, because Steve saw Loki's scars, and asked about them. He wouldn't give us any details, just said that Loki had been punished enough. But he looked sick. Really, really sick."

Thor shook his head. "I still hold myself responsible for what happened in New York. How could I have not noticed something so very fundamental." When the others looked puzzled, he elaborated. "I grew up side by side with Loki for over a thousand years. Yet when we met on the helicarrier, even under these bright lights you mortals love so much, I failed to notice that his eyes were bright blue." The others still looked blank. "Green gentlemen. My brother's eyes are the purest emerald green, a most distinctive and unusual shade. In New York they were the same blue that was later reported in you Eric, and in the Hawk. Yet still it took me far too long. Had I known, I may have been able to aid my brother earlier, and save so many lives."

Eric sat down suddenly. "So it's true. Jane told me that he was the puppet of a greater power – but I have never believed a word that he's said since."

Thor shook his head. "He speaks the truth Eric. There is no doubt…." Guilt and regret were clearly written on his face.

Jane put her hand on his arm. "Thor you cannot keep beating yourself up. I can't deny that the catalog of mistakes made with Loki over his lifetime could fill half of The Library, but he is well and happy now, and we must look to the future." She looked to the three scientists. "Gentlemen, I think we've done all we can for now. If you wouldn't mind finishing the testing of the gravitational spikes today, I will return to Asgard. Apart from everything else, I can speak to Heimdall to ascertain how long we have before the Convergence." She smiled fondly at Thor. "Besides, I have a husband and two little boys that require my attention. I've neglected them over the past days" she smiled "although it has been a lot of fun"

Thor realised that he had completely forgotten to update them on recent developments with the Aether, which he did, very quickly, warning Stark that he may be required very soon, should the Dark Elves attack Asgard. Banner also expressed his willingness to come, but agreed that he would only be summoned as a last resort. Thor had serious doubts about the long term implications of unleashing 'The Other Guy' on an unsuspecting Asgard. Bidding farewell to his friends, Thor and Jane returned to the roof and to the Bifrost. Jane squealed, laughing as Thor picked her up in his arms as he looked up...

"HEIMDALL! When you are ready my friend..."

oo0oo

It was the very early hours of the morning, and in all but the rowdiest areas of the city of Asgard, all was quiet. A similar silence hung over the palace, where even the two infant princes were sound asleep

Down in the dungeons, the prisoners slept under dimmed lights. The guards had made their rounds a full half hour ago, and all was now silent. In the furthest cell, two of the three prisoners that had arrived with the trade delegation were snoring lustily.

The third, a huge armoured beast of a man opened his eyes.

It is time my friend... you will be the last of the Kursed

You will become darkness, cursed to this existence until it consumes you... until then, no power our enemies possess can stop you

One huge hand reached beneath his armour, for the gaping wound that it concealed. Not to staunch the bleeding, or to alleviate the pain, but for the secret that it contained.

A single glowing piece of lava...

At the other end of the dungeon, the dozing guards were awoken abruptly when the screaming started. Seconds later the screen shielding the end cell exploded outwards and all hell broke loose….