"Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody."
–Stephen Chbosky
Freyja opened her electric blue eyes, only to flinch at the blindingly bright light above her. She went to shield her eyes but recoiled when the steel manacles bit into her skin with the impact. Biting back a sharp inhale, she blinked furiously in hope her eyes would adjust to the harsh brilliance. She had to force herself to calm down as she waited, the situation reminding her of the dark memories of the last time she had been shackled to anything.
Dr. Erik Selvig, who sat in front of a laptop across from her, looked up surprise at the sudden movements. It had been a bit of a surprise when he got the call from S.H.I.E.L.D. to come in for an analysis of a new extraterrestrial. He had been a bit reluctant to agree, as he still had problems from when he met Loki, but had agreed when he received the audio files of her transmissions. She hadn't sounded like a megalomaniac who would take over someone's mind.
Despite the fascinating biology that they had gleaned from the specimen, the fact that she was now awake was much more interesting. He stood up and walked closer to see what his specimen was doing. From her table, Freyja began to see her surroundings more clearly, recognizing the figure next to her as human. The words she spoke to him were first in Old Norse. His brow furrowed in confusion before she repeated herself in French, German, Spanish, and Cantonese.
Selvig raised his eyebrows in surprise at the languages, "Incredible. Can you speak English?"
"I speak it well enough," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Where and when am I?"
"We're in a research facility," he explained.
"What is the year?"
"Two thousand thirteen."
She let her head fall back against the examination table she lay on, "Nearly a century…"
"What are you?"
Her eyes flashed to his, "Let me go and I shall tell you. I will answer any questions I can."
He put his hands on the table, "It's a tempting offer, but that's the one thing I can't do."
She was silent for a second, focusing intently on him. There was something about her gaze that made him shiver. It was as if, for those few seconds, she was looking straight into his soul.
"Not a year before now, you put your faith in Prince Thor of Asgard. If you trust the Asgardians, you can trust me."
His eyes widened, "How did you know-"
"Please!" she twisted her wrist so she could reach his hand. "I cannot remain here long."
Her fingers brushed his and he stiffened, his pupils dilating. He shook his head, eyes back to normal, and walked over to the control panel. The shackles snapped open at the push of a button and Freyja carefully sat up. Rubbing her wrists gingerly, she exhaled in relief. The feeling faded as she realized something was missing.
"Where are my belongings? My cloak?" she asked, her eyes widening as she noticed her fingers were bare. "My jewelry?"
Selvig shrugged, "They should still be in the other lab, being analyzed, but I'm not sure."
"Will you take me to them?"
"Of course," he said with a smile, walking out the door.
She hesitated at the edge of the room, "Are all rooms in this facility made of glass?"
"No, but most of them are."
She didn't answer as she passed wearily through the door and after him. While she followed, Freyja examined her surroundings in excited curiosity. Although she wasn't unfamiliar with metal walls, as the majority of Asgard was comprised of metal, it was the type of metal and design that interested her. So much had changed since she had last been to Earth and the difference was startling. They soon reached the laboratory that held the objects the agents had managed to scavenge from her ship. The scientists stared in shock as the two walked in nonchalantly.
"Dr. Selvig, what are you doing? Why have you released the extraterrestrial?" one scientist exclaimed.
"Extraterrestrial?" Freyja asked, an incredulous look on her face. "Not quite broad enough, I'm afraid. I think what you're looking for is extragalactic." – a pleased expression crossed her face – "Oh, you do have a word for that now! That simplifies matters."
A few of the men and women within blinked in surprise at the woman. Selvig seemed completely oblivious to their reactions, instead turning towards the man who had previously spoken.
"It's alright, Dr. Lansford. She won't hurt us."
Freyja nodded in agreement, turning to peruse the tables, "I'm just coming to get my possessions. Once I have everything, I'll take my leave."
She spotted her emerald ring, along with the others, on one of the tables. Walking carefully through the room on bare feet, she made her way towards the table. One of the scientists grabbed a Taser out of a compartment and aimed it at her. She froze at the movements, holding her hands out as if to show that she was unarmed.
"Whatever that weapon you hold is, do not harm me. I don't want a fight. I swear on my honor, as Princess of-"
She was cut off as the scientist pulled the trigger to the taser gun, sending the wires flying towards her. Her eyes widened at the electrical surge, her body convulsing as she tried to minimize the effect. But the voltage was too high, and her strength had not entirely returned, causing the opposite effect. The scientist leapt for cover as shockwaves flew through the room. The glass walls shattered and the very air seemed to hum with energy. A sharp cry escaped Freyja, pain rippling through her as she forced the energy inward, and the chaos ended as she collapsed to the floor.
The scientists in the room glanced around warily as everything went silent. A group of agents, led by Director Fury, came running through the door within the next second. Selvig blinked furiously, looking at the scene in horror. Fury's eyes scanned the room, taking in every aspect of the mess around him, but remained silent. Everyone stood still, not sure what to do in response to the ordeal.
"What happened here?" Fury asked, enunciating each word slowly as if to force himself to remain calm.
All eyes went to Selvig who quietly mumbled, "She's a Vanir."
"A what?"
"A Vanir. The Norse believed there were two houses of gods: the Asgardians and the Vanir. They're believed to be shape shifters and wielders of magic – the epitome of spirituality that balanced out the universe when paired with the Asgardians' physicality."
"Another Norse myth?"
He nodded gravely, "Most of them live in Vanaheim, but a few were known to live in Asgard. They were said to have some form of clairvoyance, which explains how she knew about Thor coming here…There were a few darker myths, those stating the Vanir could manipulate the minds of those around them."
The agents and scientist went silent at Selvig's words, their eyes turning warily towards the unconscious Vanir. She hadn't seemed all that dangerous when she walked in but it was better to be safe, they thought, than sorry.
Fury turned to one of the agents behind him, "You said Thor returned to Earth recently?"
The agent nodded, "Via the Tesseract about two days ago. He's in Puente Antiguo with Dr. Foster."
"Get Dr. Foster on the phone immediately. Tell her we need her boyfriend here."
"Yes, sir."
"The rest of you, get her back to her lab."
Selvig spoke up suddenly, "There's no need for the shackles this time. The Vanir were renowned for their pacifism."
Fury looked him over, "No shackles then, but keep some guards on duty at all times. We can't have her walking out of this place."
Fury left, along with the agent who was to call Dr. Foster. The three remaining agents carried Freyja out of the room. Selvig stood still as stone, unable to make himself move. In those few minutes, the Vanir woman had bent his will to her own, just as he had experienced a year ago. But her grip was not like Loki's. Where the Asgardian had taken over him completely, the Vanir had simply filled his head with an overwhelming calm that stomped down every precaution he had previously felt. His actions had still been his own.
One of the younger scientists walked closer to Selvig, "That – thing – can use magic?"
"Use it, manipulate it, teach it. Even the Asgardians could not have been able to wield magic had the goddess Freyja not taught them…although sometimes the myths state it was Frigga who taught them. Regardless of which, the Vanir were sometimes more powerful than their Asgardian cousins."
Thor walked through the glass doors wearing a half-open red plaid shirt, a black T-shirt beneath and torn jeans, yet still his presence commanded attention from everyone who could see him. His lank blonde hair hung to his shoulders, muscles threatening to break through the too small muscle shirt and flannel, and his eyes gleamed with interest as he walked through the halls after a black-haired agent.
"Who again did you say was your captive?" he asked in a lilting accent that very nearly matched Freyja's.
"We don't know who she is, and she's not our captive," the woman answered. "Dr. Selvig said she seemed familiar with you. He thought you might know her."
"And she is of the Vanir?"
"Yes."
He thought about that, trying to narrow down the list of people she could be. He had been with many women in his time, but that could have been any of them. Shape-shifters were nearly impossible to place.
The agent stopped outside of the door to Selvig's lab. Thor could just make out the blue-black-skinned figure of a Vanir lying on an examination table. He took a deep breath to control his shock. The Vanir very rarely took their true form, especially not before another species. She must have been caught off guard when they found her. The only place Vanir shed their false-skins was Vanaheim, and no outsider had seen its skies since the Æsir-Vanir war. He had heard the descriptions of their true form but this was the first time he'd actually seen it.
"I'll leave Dr. Selvig to explain the rest to you," the agent said, breaking through the prince's shock.
The thunder god walked through the door, surprising a disconcerted Selvig as he did. The scientist's face split in a broad smile as he recognized the blonde god.
"Thor!"
"Selvig," Thor laughed as he embraced his friend. "What is this about a Vanir knowing me?"
Selvig gestured to the woman on the table, "They picked her up about a week ago not far off the coast. We have no clue who she is or why she came."
Thor took a closer look at the woman, "What is wrong with her?"
"Do you remember when Darcy Tasered you?"
"Aye."
"She received the same treatment," he explained, "only with much more explosive results. The main lab still hasn't been fixed."
Thor shook his head, "A shame that she should face such treatment. The Vanir only harm others when they must. They see all life as sacred, and any harm they cause, unless absolutely necessary, is seen as disgraceful."
He nudged the girl with his fist, causing her to groan in response. Both men jumped at the sound.
"She's coming back around!"
Freyja opened her eyes slowly, trying to make sense of the blurry visions see was seeing. Shock bloomed across her face as she recognized the blonde before her.
"Thor?"
His eyes widened as he recognized the voice from his past, "Freyja?"
Selvig looked astounded, "Freyja? As in Freyja, the goddess of love?"
Her eyes wandered towards Selvig, "You know of me? I have not visited Earth with that name in nearly a millennium, how is it that you still know our stories?"
"Selvig knows all of our stories," Thor answered. "Freyja, why are you here? I thought you were dead."
She sat up slowly, wincing as her muscles protested, "I did not return in time to die. But I understand how you could come to that conclusion."
"Dead? Why would she have died?" Selvig asked, glancing between the two.
Thor turned towards him, "Vanaheim was destroyed by a nameless army not long after the majority of the Norse stopped worshipping us. Only a few Vanir still live today. Freyja left Asgard to fight for her people, and I have not seen her since."
"I never made it," she whispered. "I was too late. And I would rather not speak of it, if you don't mind."
"Why did you not return to Asgard?"
Her eyes flashed with sadness, but it was quickly replaced by anger, "Odin refused to send warriors to help us. He knew many of us could not fight and yet he sat in Asgard and watched as we fell. And we were not the first race Odin watched fall to ruin. I could not face such a man again."
"Freyja, I know you well enough to know when you are not telling the full truth," he said. "You have never been fond of my father. He is not the only thing keeping you away."
She narrowed her eyes, "That's highly perceptive of you, Thor. You are not the man I once knew. Something has changed you." – she examined him carefully – "And why, pray tell, are you wearing such ridiculous Midgardian attire?"
He smirked, "I have changed. And I cannot simply walk around in battle armor. The sight of me would give anyone a heart attack."
She blinked in confusion, "A what?"
"It is a Midgardian term," he replied. "I don't believe we have a translation for it. Why did you come to Earth?"
She shrugged, sliding herself off the table, "I thought it would make a suitable temporary home. I only plan to stay for a few days, maybe a few weeks. Time passes so differently here…"
In the silence that followed, as Thor did not bother to interrupt her as she stretched, Selvig decided to make the most of his time. He had too many questions to ask and not nearly enough time to ask them.
"How is that you're speaking English?"
"English?" she repeated, thinking carefully before realization lit up her eyes. "Ah, yes. I'm not currently speaking English. When I first awoke, I was, but my knowledge of your languages is limited and I've been using an all-tongue spell since."
"All-tongue spell?"
"A spell which allows any spoken words to be understood by those around the caster," Thor explained. "As I understand it, Freyja should be speaking Vaniric, but the spell allows you to hear it as English and myself as Æsirian. Am I correct?"
Freyja nodded, "You understand it well enough. Is there any way you can talk these humans into returning my property?"
Her eyes suddenly flashed silver, becoming blank and vacant. Selvig watched with a mix of fear and interest.
"What is she doing? Working magic?"
Thor shook his head with a laugh, "No, she is examining the threads of the future."
Freyja shook her head, her eyes clearing once more, "The chances are very high."
"I shall try what I can."
"And may I walk with you? I feel as if my limbs have turned to stone."
"Of course," he answered, helping her limp towards the door.
The three walked out of the room, Thor leading and Selvig bringing up the back. Freyja examined her surroundings with the same curiosity as before.
"Where are they keeping her possessions, Selvig?"
"Just down the hall, third door on the left. You'll know it by the empty glass panes and the broken windows."
Thor entered the room Selvig described, catching the interest of every scientist inside. Nick Fury looked up at the trio and returned his attention to the scientist in front of him, satisfied that Thor was there in case another problem arose.
"Would it be acceptable to you if I revert to Asgardian form?" Freyja asked as she examined the scientists. "It is uncomfortable to know so many have seen me without an illusion."
Thor shrugged, "It is your choice. No one here will say anything against it."
"And may I borrow your strength? My energy is still working to heal the wounds I obtained."
He nodded and she put her hand on his shoulder. Where her skin touched his, gold smoke began to form. The gold turned to silver as it coiled around her, up her arm and across her torso. Everyone watched in awe as she shrank slightly, taking on a subtle hourglass figure, and the color of her skin and hair changed. Her features became softer, her hair turning a vivid shade of red, her skin paling to resemble that of a Scandinavian, a dusting of freckles appeared across her nose and cheekbones, leaving only her eyes the same strange shade of blue.
She let go of his shoulder, now just barely shorter than him, and the golden wisps disappeared instantly. The silver coils slowly faded away as she exhaled and turned her attention to the staring scientists. Their shocked expressions seemed to catch her off-guard, her lips tugging down in a confused frown.
"Whatever is the matter?"
"Humans can neither preform magic nor change their appearance more than a haircut," Thor answered helpfully.
She cocked her head to the side, "Ah, yes. I had forgotten the Midgardians are not as adept as us – traveling for centuries will do that to you. How exhausting it must be to stay limited to a single form." –She turned back to the scientists- "If it is alright with you, I'd like to retake my jewelry."
"Take what you need," Fury waved his hand impatiently. "There's nothing we can discern from any of it."
"You are a princess and a goddess, you need not ask," Thor pointed out, nearly cutting off the Director's words.
"I believe that manners are essential for everyone, be they noble or peasant," she said before turning to Fury. "And you found nothing strange about my belongings because you know naught about them nor what you are looking for."
She walked over to her feather cloak, fingers brushing gently across it, "This cloak is coveted by many of all Realms, for its abilities to make one become enamored with the wearer as well as allow travel across short distances. My necklace can protect the wearer from even the most powerful of enchantments. And each of my gemstone rings holds energy to power my magic."
She fastened the necklace around her neck, donned the cloak, pulled the armbands up, and placed the rings on her fingers before realizing something. The look of worry crossed her face once more as she scanned her surroundings.
"Where is my emerald ring?"
"Emerald?" Thor asked, confused. "You do not have an emerald ring."
Her bright eyes flashed dangerously as her head snapped in his direction, "You must have never noticed it. I have had the ring since before I left Asgard."
"It's over here," Fury said, holding out the ring in the palm of his hand.
She walked slowly towards him, unsure of what he was planning. Very carefully, she picked the ring up. But as her fingers brushed his hand, bright burgundy smoke began to coil around his hand. She jerked her hand back quickly in response, and the fog disappeared.
"What is it that you do, exactly, to make that smoke appear?" Fury asked.
"Every creature has an aura, a field of energy around them, which one can call upon if one so learns. My aura ignites your own because I have recently used magic. It is helpful when I teach, but a nuisance any other time."
"You teach magic?"
"She was the first to teach us sorcery," Thor interrupted. "Some of us did not receive that gift, however."
"It is no fault of mine that you do not have the delicacy to wield magic," she snapped. "Am I to blame for your reliance on brute strength?"
He laughed, "That is not what you told me before. I believe you used the phrase 'I cannot teach a man who has the patience and creativity of a tree'."
Freyja looked offended, "I would never dishonor the druids in such a shameful way. I'll have you know that every one of them, including the trees, have patience and creativity that outshines even that of my people. I said you had the patience of a bilgesnipe and the creativity of a rock."
Thor gave a laugh, "So you have no trouble shamefully dishonoring me, but the trees are another story entirely?"
"You had no trouble shamefully dishonoring me when Thrym stole your hammer!" the words were sharp, but he could hear the smile in her tone.
"I did apologize for that unfortunate event."
"No, I don't believe you ever did."
The thunder god's smile widened, "Well, in that case, I offer you my sincerest regrets for dragging you all the way to Jötunheim in the middle of the night."
"About time you apologized. I had never been so insulted in my life."
"Are we disrupting something?" Selvig asked cautiously.
"Nothing except a conversation that was long overdue," she replied, slipping the ring onto her left ring finger as she spoke.
"Is that your wedding ring from Odr?"
Confusion flashed in her eyes at Selvig's question, "Why would I wear a ring of Odr's on my hand?"
"Legend says you were his wife."
Thor's eyes widened in shock, "Selvig, I would not-"
"I was married to no man."
"Then why do you wear it?"
"Selvig…"
"There is a man I would marry, if the circumstances were different. This is his ring."
Selvig raised his eyebrows, "I've never heard of anyone besides Odr that had that sort relationship with you."
"And it will remain that way. Is it proper here to ask a woman of her consorts?"
"Freyja, he meant no harm," Thor interrupted. "We should stray from the matter."
She nodded, "You are right." – she turned to Fury once more – "Thank you for your hospitality. I'll take my leave now."
"You cannot simply walk out of this fortress," Thor announced. "You have nowhere to go. Come back with me to Asgard."
She hesitated before saying, "I do not foresee my return to Asgard, Thor. I wish to stay here for the time being."
"There is nowhere for you to stay," he protested. "I would ask Jane if you might stay with us, but there are no vacant rooms…"
"Actually," Fury interrupted. "I think I have the perfect answer. There's a favor I need to call in."
"Where would you have her stay?" Thor asked.
"You're familiar with Tony Stark-"
"No. The man has a reputation with women that even I have been made aware to. I will not condemn Freyja to his company."
"Come now, Thor. I tolerated you at your worst for six years. Do you honestly think I cannot handle a human?"
"I fought alongside this man in the battle against the Chitauri. I know you would not take well to him"
"I'll be the judge of that."
"What makes you so willing to throw your company in with a stranger's? Do you even know of what became of-" – Thor stopped short, looking around at the agents within before continuing – "him after you left?"
The laughter in her face disappeared abruptly, her voice hard and sharp when she spoke again, "I have had no contact with Asgard since my departure. Why?"
"I was banished," he responded. "And, in my absence, complications arose. You know his penchant to overreact more than most."
"What happened, Thor?"
"He found out the truth."
Her jaw dropped in horror, "His blood."
Thor's eyes widened, "You knew?"
"I should have told him when I had the chance…"
"Anytime you want to bring us back into the conversation," Fury snapped suddenly, catching both their attentions, "feel free to start speaking English again."
Thor went red as he realized they had switched back into Asgardian, ducking his head in apology, "I beg your pardon. I cannot always tell which language others hear with the all-tongue spell."
"Our conversation regarded private matters," Freyja explained, not sounding the least bit sorry.
Thor looked at her imploringly, "He needs you."
"Who is 'he'?" Fury asked irritably.
"It doesn't matter," she said, looking Thor straight in the eye. "I cannot go back. Both he and Asgard are in the past, and I strive for the future. As we all should."