Author's Notes: I know, the convoluted genealogy is a bit much. I've posted a chart on Tumblr. The link is on my profile or search for user KieraPSI on Tumblr. All I can say is, what will Helblindi and his brother think when they find out they're part Æsir!

Anybody have any favorite New York foods that Nyvorlas and Sif need to try or a favorite NYC restaurant they want a shout out given to? Food adventures for Sif and Nyvorlas (and Cap to an extent) will be filler for the next chapter or two.

To those who pay attention to such things, I'm combining the names of the Ambassador and the German Mission's First Deputy. I'm changing the names to protect the innocent and not so innocent.

The TV presidents honored were Josiah Bartlett from 'The West Wing' and David Palmer from '24'.

… …

Barbora Seifert stared at the group waiting in the reception area just under the sign that declared 'Ständige Vertretung Deutschlands bei den Vereinten Nationen New York'. As the aide to her country's Ambassador to the United Nations she'd seen a great many odd things, but this had to top them all. First, she had Captain America in her office. Yes, the real war hero; he still looked as young as he did in the historical news reel footage. Then there was Virginia 'Pepper' Potts, the CEO of Stark Industries; unreal. The other two men were close to two meters tall and were dressed in a style that screamed medieval, and they literally weren't of this planet. The elder had medium brown hair, a sharp blue-eyed gaze and the look of a hardened soldier. The younger was, apparently, an elf. He looked like he'd just stepped off the 'Lord of the Rings' set and could rival Orlando Bloom as Legolas for prettiness. His hair was almost white and his eyes gray under pale upswept brows. A blade of nose with tight nostrils graced a face with high cheekbones. The ears were close to his head and pointed in a way she had to call elegant. Those hard gray eyes were staring straight back at her looking decidedly annoyed as she suddenly recalled her manners. "I'm sorry; I've never seen anyone remotely like you before. I didn't mean to be so rude."

The expression gentled. "You are forgiven, milady," he said in a melodious voice. "I am heartily sick of being stared at, but I thank you for your apology."

Oh good, crisis averted. She smiled uncertainly and looked at the ambassador's door. This was so beyond the experience of a recently graduated student of international relations, even if she had earned a Master's Degree in the field. If this kept up, universities were going to have to start offering a degree in interstellar relations. "Dr. Berger should be with you shortly." She did her best not to fidget or push back imaginary escaped strands of her long thick hair as she knew damn well it was thoroughly tucked into a braided bun and coated with hairspray. Peter Berger hated distractions and felt that loose hair was a big one.

"Your English is almost unaccented," Ms. Potts said. "Have you been in the U.S. long?"

"Not on this trip. I came here as an exchange student in my teens and then came back and visited with my host family several times. I have a number of friends all over this continent that I keep in close contact with." The strawberry blonde executive nodded and then gave a distracted look to the expensive gold watch that adorned her wrist. "Why don't I check on the ambassador?" she offered and then knocked softly on the door before she made her escape.

"Barbora, what is it?" Dr. Berger asked, sounding distracted as usual.

"Captain America, Ms. Potts, and the delegation from Asgard are still waiting, sir. They seem to be getting a bit impatient."

"Let them wait. I know what they want; they want us to let that criminal off without punishment. Herr Bayer did important work; we cannot allow his death at that maniac's hands to be forgotten."

Barbora did her best not to sigh. Johann Bayer had been a pompous ass. Brilliant, sure, but he was no Tony Stark. "Perhaps they will offer some sort of compensation?"

"What is money next to a brilliant life snuffed out?"

"I did mention that the CEO of Stark Industries is with them? Perhaps technological compensation can be negotiated?"

Peter looked up at her with suddenly narrowed eyes. Obviously that hadn't even occurred to him. Männer, dumme Männer. "Of course I considered that," he claimed. "But they can await our pleasure."

"Of course, Dr. Berger." She turned to go. "Oh, try not to stare too much at the elf. He doesn't like it." Slipping out the door she caught a glimpse of his stunned expression before she closed it behind her.

… …

Sif tried not to gape at the view from the top of Avengers' Tower. The sheer number of huge buildings astounded her. While none of them rivaled the Valhöll for beauty, there were a few that were fascinating. So many buildings. "Kind of overwhelming, isn't it?" Darcy Lewis said.

"A bit, yes. It is difficult to fathom the sheer number of people necessary to have built all of this, let alone to occupy it."

"Yeah, yet with all of that," the girl said, waving an arm at the sea of structures. "We have scads of homeless people eking out an existence on the streets."

She gave the other brunette a sharp look. "Surely you jest?" To her surprise a shake of the head told her it was no joke. "That is shameful. Why do your rulers not see to their welfare?"

The green eyes rolled. "Because our rulers bow only to the mega-rich in the hopes of either becoming mega-rich themselves or to pay them back for making the rulers rich. It's disgusting, but that's how things work here just now."

It was horrid. Someone needed to take these people in hand, to give them guidance, to… She trailed off, horrified at her train of thought. The mortals had to make their own decisions, carve out their own destiny. To think otherwise was madness, as Loki had been, quite literally she now knew, mad. "Then I wish your people the courage to make a change," she finally responded.

"We're kind of lacking in that department, overall." The girl stepped over to the edge of the platform and looked down. "Not counting the residents of this tower, anyhow," she finished with an irrepressible grin.

"Ah, so you are courageous?"

Darcy laughed. "You haven't seen Dr. Banner hulk out, have you?"

She'd heard of it from Hogun, Fandral and Thor, but no, she hadn't seen it. "I have not. Is it truly that impressive?"

"Yeah, and kind of terrifying as he's kind of never sure he can hold his temper and not do it." Sif started at her, not understanding. The girl rolled her eyes again. "I'm dating him. I mean, seriously with him, you know?"

It took a moment for the inference to sink in. "Ah. Definitely courageous, then."

"And I dropped Thor using a Taser the first time he came here."

"What is a Taser?"

"Just a single girl's best friend other than a vibrator," Darcy said with a wicked grin, which wasn't very informative but had Sif wondering just what a vibrator might be.

… …

Banner had measured wind speed and direction; he'd taken soil samples, had studied Helblindi's records of their normal weather patterns and had poured over the manuscript Odin had given them concerning the Casket's use. "I think this would be the best spot," he said.

Loki frowned at him. "We're not fully facing away from the city," he protested.

"No, not entirely, but we can't get far enough back from where the ice begins melting to do it properly from that position. Going at it from this angle means that the brief storm you intend to release will dump the snow and freezing cold on the greatest portion of the plains without hitting the city head on."

He stared at the angles and nodded. Even though this was not his field, Banner had thought it all through carefully. Loki decided to trust his decision. "Very well. Perhaps all of you should return to the fortress with one of the guards. I'm not certain how large the area of effect is immediately surrounding the casket."

"I'm staying," Kara said, with an edge to her voice that told him she was willing to be obstinate about it.

Giving her a look to tell her that he was annoyed but knew that argument was futile, he turned toward the guards. "I need one of you to escort the other Æsir and the mortals to the fortress, my lady will remain with me. The other guard may remain with us as witness to what I do here." He smiled because he knew it would unsettle them. "And to ensure I do only what I've promised, of course."

The two exchanged looks and the taller one, Gymir, nodded. "I will stay, Prince Loki," the giant grated. "Slingard will escort the others."

"Don't you think splitting up is a bad idea?" Barton said over the comm unit.

"I think seeing the three of you and the Æsir frozen solid is a worse idea. The Æsir might survive it, Heimdall did, but you, Natasha and Bruce would not."

"Why don't I stay?" Banner asked. "The worst that could happen is that I would hulk out."

Loki bit his lip. "Doctor, what do you think would happen in this valley should a very loud roar be suddenly voiced?" He waited as the man looked up at the surrounding mountains that were still covered with a thick layer of snow.

"Oh. Definitely a last resort then, got it."

He nodded as Banner joined the others then looked at Hogun. "I know you don't like it, but Kara and I shall have each other's back. We have little choice; both Thor and the All-Father would take it poorly should I let any of you be harmed for taking a foolish risk."

"Be wary," was all the man said as he signaled to the other Æsir and followed Slingard back toward the fortress.

Kara sighed through the comm. The cold had become distracting and she'd finally closed her helm's faceplate. "Don't sigh at me, I haven't argued with you, have I?" he asked.

"No. But you wanted to. Let's just get this over with, okay?"

"Kara, this will be a first round of storms only. I will not be able to fix this much damage so easily."

"Oh. Then why don't I back off a ways first. Then we can find out if we really need to leave the others inside; unless you want to have this argument with them every time we do this."

He really didn't like the idea of having her out of his sight, but she had a point. "All right; take Gymir with you and the two of you can watch my back from there." He looked up at the guard. "I'm trusting you with her. If you betray me, you are betraying Crown Prince Helblindi. Neither of us will be forgiving."

Gymir nodded. "I would sooner be abandoned in Muspelheim than disobey my shield brother."

Loki barely managed to suppress his surprise. Helblindi had not assigned this man to guard his people from them, but to guard them from others. Did the elder of his half-brothers have misgivings as to Býleistr's loyalty? Interesting. "Good." He waited until the two had retreated a good hundred meters then turned in the direction Banner had chosen. Lifting the Casket, he braced it against his abdomen before opening it. When he'd used it to freeze Heimdall the force of the released power had nearly knocked him on his backside. This time he was prepared and managed not to stagger as the howling winds emerged and a wave of cold shot out over the plain. It was a whiteout; he could not see the ground or the distant mountains through it. Counting in his head, he left the Casket open for the recommended time and then forced it shut. The winds still roared, but he was expecting that it would take some time for the magically induced storm to subside.

"I came up to within ten yards of you and still didn't have to pull my heat," Kara said over his earpiece about a quarter hour later. "You shut the Casket before I could get any closer." He nodded, and continued to watch the storm. "Wow, it's still blowing."

"And it will continue to do so for several hours. Let's go inside before the temperature drops any further and starts to drain your energy."

… …

Kara stared out of the thickly glazed narrow window. The ice storm still raged over the plain. Helblindi looked through another window every so often, nodded, and then went back to the reports he was reviewing. "How much longer do you think the storm will last now that the magic has subsided?" she asked.

The Jötunn Crown Prince narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and peered out at the swirl of arctic wind. "Another hour before it tapers off. It is a good start," he decided. Holding up a tablet made of some kind of wax he turned back to them. "The situation on supplies is less desperate than I suspected. We were able to move much from the more prosperous areas of my realm far more quickly because of the weather changes. We will still need some things brought in, but not nearly so much as I'd feared."

"Whatever is needed you will have," Loki told him. "Where has our brother gone?" Kara hid a grin as Loki claimed Býleistr as his brother.

Helblindi snorted. "Off talking; that one talks too much and does too little. He wants the glory but does not glory in the work." He shook his head. "He's too much like our father." Oh, that didn't sound good, Kara thought.

"I never knew him."

"Yet you killed him."

Loki nodded. "I did. Tell me, if Laufey had abandoned you to die and you discovered it once you'd come to manhood, what would you have done?"

The giant's grin was predatory and displayed far sharper teeth than Loki possessed, even in this form. "I would have ripped him limb from limb and then carried his head about as a trophy." He waved a surprisingly graceful hand in the air. "I was outraged by your action, but I understand. He fell for the bait he himself set out in the trap. When a hunter forgets in his arrogance that he too can be the prey, he deserves his fate."

"Býleistr does not agree."

"No. He worshipped our father and could never see his faults. Even I did not see him clearly until I began to take the reins of the kingdom. He was no true king, he was a…" he frowned, trailing off into a troubled silence. Kara dropped the edges of her shields and reached out. Helblindi's emotions were in turmoil. His hero had toppled from the pedestal he'd set him upon. "He cared not for our people, only for his crown," the prince finally admitted aloud.

"Thor used to be like that. Fortunately he's learned better. I no longer fear the day when he will take Hlidskjalf in Odin's place."

"I cannot convince you to take Asgard's high seat?" Helblindi asked, sounding half-serious.

"The Æsir would never stand for it." Loki's lips curved into a wry smile. "And I find I have no wish for it, I know not why. It was all I thought about, all I dreamed about when I was a boy. The idea has lost its appeal."

"You would have to share your lady with your people. I think you are far too possessive to do so."

Kara couldn't hold in her laugh. "Very perceptive, your highness," she agreed. "He gets so mad when Thor gives me a familial hug you'd think a dagger was going to appear in my brother-in-law's back at any second."

"That," Loki claimed. "Is because I fear he will forget his strength and do you harm."

"Uh huh, you go ahead and stick to that story."

"I'm…ah, henpecked. Yes, that is the term used on Midgard," Loki said crossly.

"Not these days, it isn't. Now we say 'whipped', for short; and I'll warn you, you don't want me explaining the full saying in public."

Helblindi laughed loudly. "It is a good thing, Loki, having a wife one puts above all others. I want this for myself one day," he assured her scowling husband.

"Was your mother such a wife to our sire?" Loki asked.

His half-brother sobered. "No. We, Býleistr and I, do not know our mother other than she was one of many concubines Laufey kept after he killed his queen, Fárbauti."

The Crown Prince felt not just uncomfortable, but wary. Kara had a bad feeling about this. Loki's eyes had narrowed. "And why did he kill his queen?" he asked mildly.

"He assumed, incorrectly as we now know, that Fárbauti had been unfaithful to him." Helblindi abruptly stood and stared out the window at the still near whiteout conditions. "And that she had been so with one of the enemy as the child she bore, that she claimed to be his, was far too small to be Jötnar, and shifted back and forth between a Jötnar and Æsir appearance."

Loki's eyes closed and she felt the stab of pain that ran through him. "My mother's name was Fárbauti," he murmured.

Helblindi nodded. "You've come here in good faith, Loki. Once I was assured of that, once I felt I could trust you to do as we have been promised, I wanted to have something for you, something of value. What I have for you is knowledge. I have been asking many questions of the elders since I returned home from Asgard." He stood and collected a scroll from a cubbyhole in his desk. "This is everything I have been able to discover about your mother. It isn't much; she was a mystery to our people as well. Our father found her in a remote village, fell for her wisdom and beauty, and made her his queen."

Loki looked up at his half-brother and accepted the scroll. "We had a theory that my mother was an Æsir with the ability to shift forms. But if she lived here for any length of time, she must have had Jötunn blood as well."

"So it would seem." Helblindi frowned as he took his seat. "This is why Býleistr is so distrustful and why I must again insist you renounce the throne publicly, even though I believe that you do not want it. You are not just the firstborn of King Laufey; you are his only legitimate son. And you are his son; you could not have inherited these markings from Fárbauti. The elders tell me her clan markings were far different."

"Ah, you'd considered perhaps I was not Laufey's get after all once they told you that she was suspected of unfaithfulness."

He shrugged. "It was a possibility. Odin does not know all he claims."

Loki smirked. "That, my brother, is an understatement." That smirk was hiding a deep pain that Kara knew he wouldn't appreciate her acknowledging in public. It could wait.

… …

Býleistr frowned at the dark figure that sheltered under a glade of half-fallen trees. "No. You will wait until after the ice fields have been restored," he told his ally. "That was our bargain."

"Is his power still bound?" the puny fool asked.

"Of course, else he would not have accepted my insults so readily." He looked away from the smaller being, using the pretense of checking for any who might come out in the edges of the storm that had strayed to the other side of the fortress to hide any sign of the glaring omission that might show in his expression. "He is only taking his female and one of my brother's guards with him when he makes use of the Casket," he continued. "Take out the guard first; he will be your main concern."

"Do not think to tell me my business, Prince Býleistr. The woman is far more dangerous than any of your people. I was fortunate before. She is a clever one and will have learned from her mistake."

"She is nothing. I could squash her like a rodent."

"Do not be so foolish as to make that attempt; I need you alive. You do not have the power to withstand her might. She slew dozens of her enemies on Asgard, and from a distance. I will not underestimate her and nor should you. I will have what I came here for."

Býleistr shrugged. "Just kill the pretenders to my throne and you shall have it. After the ice fields have been restored or all you will accomplish is to gain another enemy."

"As you command, your highness," the dark one said with a sneer.

… …

"Tony Stark, I swear to God. You've been back for all of a day, and you've already been locked in your workshop for eight hours."

"Not true. I was stuck on the phone with Fury for two of those hours."

She frowned down at his mock-offended expression and had to grin. He looked like a kid who'd robbed the candy store. The floor of his worship was littered with what looked like honest to goodness parchments and bits of metal. He was sitting cross-legged in the middle of it all with three holographic screens up covered with calculations, schematics and notes, and a bottle of…was that actually water sitting beside him? "What's that?" she asked, pointing at the container.

He stared at her incredulously. "I have the secrets of the universe surrounding me and you're asking about the water?"

"You never drink the stuff."

"Sure I do, just not when you're looking." He smirked at her exasperated snort. "Seriously, Pep, this stuff is amazing and I need to keep a clear head. It could revolutionize everything. Well, everything I'm allowed to use it for, which is mainly the Avengers."

"Is this," she asked, gesturing at the mess. "Odin's gift?"

"Sure is. My new suits are going to be lighter, stronger, faster, and they'll hold their power longer because it won't take half as much energy for flight and life support. I've got a few ideas in mind for some ultra-lightweight armor for Natasha and Clint, and a bit heavier for Cap. It's going to be great!"

No, not a kid who robbed the candy store; it was Christmas with an All-Father instead of Santa Claus. "Okay, well, you'll need to get back to it later. You've got guests, remember?"

"I left room assignments with Jarvis. It's handled."

"It is not handled. Yes, they have their rooms, but you need to have dinner with them. So get up, get showered and get dressed. We're going to The Four Seasons."

"Huh. You had more strings to pull?"

"Dr. Nassar did, and no, he is not joining us so wipe that annoyed expression off of your face."

"Grill Room or the Pool Room?"

"The Pool Room; I think it will suit them more."

He sighed and then shrugged. "Okay. Soufflés all around for dessert, order two of each and a couple of bottles of that Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta Brut you love. Now, lemme finish up here and…"

"No, Tony, absolutely not; Jarvis save everything just as it is to whatever private file Mr. Stark has set up for it and lock down his access until we get back from dinner."

"Yes, Miss Potts."

"Aw, Pepper…"

"Now, Tony; or you'll be couch man for the next week."

"You do realize I have extra guest rooms, each with at least one perfectly good bed."

"Jarvis, lock down all of the unoccupied guest rooms until further notice and restrict Mr. Stark's access to his credit cards. The only place they're to be used for until I instruct otherwise is at The Four Seasons restaurant."

"Jarvis, countermand that order."

"The lock down and restrictions are complete Lady Pepper."

"Lady Pepper? Son of a bitch; I swear I will find a way to make Loki regret fucking with Jarvis if it's the last damn thing I do."

… …

"I don't think I'm ever going to look at the color blue in the same way again," Clint muttered.

Natasha bit the inside of her cheek. "You never were much of a fan of it, so small loss."

"There's so many of them. Fandral gave me the impression that there weren't all that many Jötunn left in existence. Either he was wrong or they breed like rabbits."

"I was wrong," Fandral said as he joined them. "We were all wrong, apparently. I would not wish to face this many Jötunn on the battlefield, not with all the might of Asgard at my side."

"I think there's a lot of non-warrior types here, Fandral. For all we know this could be their entire population, women and children included."

"Women can't be warriors, Hawk?" Natasha decided to tease her lover.

"Hell, Nat, you know what I mean."

"True. And I think you're right, at least about this being the bulk of the population. There seem to be frail elderly looking Jötnar among them as well as young children. Their crown prince probably wants everyone to hear Loki renounce his claim on the throne so there's no confusion about it."

"Wouldn't it be funny if Loki claimed the thing instead?" Hawkeye flinched as Natasha glared at him. "What?"

"Sometimes I wonder about your sense of humor."

"As do I," Fandral offered. "Such a thing would like as not cause a riot with us in the midst of it."

"Well, yeah. But just the looks on their faces…"

"Button it, Hawk."

"You used to be a lot more fun, Nat. Remember Canberra?"

Appalled, she shook her head. "You and I remember Canberra very differently."

… …

"What happened in Canberra?" Bruce asked the former assassins.

"Nat did this fantastic…"

"Clint if you finish that sentence our child will lose its father before it's even born."

"She looks serious, I'd button it were I you."

Barton sighed. "Definitely not fun anymore. Bruce, does being in this room make you feel small?"

"I always feel small when I'm me. The only one of the men on the team who isn't a lot taller than I am is Tony. Even he's a bit taller…Pepper, too."

Natasha smirked at him. "You're taller than I am when I'm not wearing heels."

Looking down at her boot clad feet he asked, "When are you ever not wearing heels?"

"Rarely. But Clint has a point; even the majority of the obvious children are at least our height."

"That's why they're called giants," Loki said snidely.

They turned to find that Loki and Kara had joined them. With all of the ambient noise, she hadn't heard their approach. "They make you look like a runt," Natasha responded.

"Both of you be nice," Kara said as Loki's blue lips twisted in a snarl. "I swear; Bruce and I are the only adults on this team."

"And I'm not so certain of me," he told her with a smile.

"Enough," Hogun interrupted. "Gymir comes."

He certainly did. The guard that Helblindi had assigned to them was making his way through the crowd. Gymir even towered over the majority of the Jötnar by nearly a full head. The giant stopped in front of Loki and gave a respectful half bow. "Your highness," he said in that sharp edged voice that seemed to be typical of his race. "It is time."

… …

Helblindi waited as his shield-brother approached the dais; Loki was barely discernible beside him through the crowd. He likely would not have been able to see him at all if it were not for the gleaming golden scaled armor that adorned the lady on his half-brother's arm. Bringing her in front of his people was likely a good move. It would emphasize why he had no desire to take the Jötunn throne. Even an Æsir of her gifts would be hard pressed to survive here indefinitely. Loki and his lady wife stopped before him and they gave a formal bow of equals to him and a slight bow of respect to Býleistr. Gymir must have coached them in the proper etiquette. Ymir knew he had certainly forgotten. "Welcome, brother and my sister by marriage," he greeted them and motioned for them to join him on the dais. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Býleistr sneer. He would have to deal with that later.

"Thank you, brother," Loki responded. His lady nodded. "May I have your permission to address the populace?" he asked politely.

"Of course." Turning back to the crowd he raised his voice. "This is my half-brother, the eldest of Laufey's sons. Listen to his words."

Loki stepped to the edge of the dais. Gymir positioned himself on the main floor, close enough to protect the half-Æsir should the mood turn ugly. Helblindi fervently hoped it would not be necessary. "People of Jötunheim," he began in a strong clear voice. "I am Loki, only son of Laufey by his queen, Fárbauti, true heir to your throne."

Helblindi grabbed Býleistr's arm and hissed "Do not," in warning as his brother began to advance with a snarl. Loki stiffened but did not spare them a glance. His lady was another story. She glared at Býleistr with narrowed eyes.

"I was abandoned by my father, your king, as he thought I was not his child. Those who are experts in your clan markings now know this to be untrue. I was rescued by Odin All-Father of Asgard and raised by him and the Lady Frigga as the prince I was born, but not of the land in which I was born, my true heritage hidden from me by powerful magic. As you know, in my anger once I discovered my birth father's crime against me I first slew him and then tried to destroy his land. I regret blaming all of you for his misdeeds more than you will ever know and have come here, bearing my heritage, the Casket of Ancient Winters, to repair the damage I have caused. I hope that, one day, you will all be able to forgive me for striking out against you in my anger over what was done to me."

"He will betray you and claim the throne," Býleistr hissed in his ear.

"Silence. Let him continue."

"I am told I have the first claim on your throne," Loki told them. "Not just through birth, but through tradition as I defeated Laufey in single combat." His half-brother waited for the agitated murmuring to die down. Helblindi was beginning to understand why the Æsir called him 'silver tongue'. "However," Loki's voice cut through the end of the whispers. "I do not feel entitled to that honor. The throne should go to one who has grown up in this realm, one who has loved its people and the land for all of his life. In light of that, I stand before you today to abdicate my claim on your throne in favor of the eldest of my half-brothers, Helblindi Laufeyson."

"There, see?" he told Býleistr as the crowd erupted in cheers. Býleistr snorted and folded his arms across his chest, still appearing doubtful. Loki had held up his hand to get the attention of the populace again.

"I do this with conditions," Loki said and Býleistr started forward again. Helblindi once more pulled him back. "I was raised in Asgard and that realm, though it owed me nothing, gave me much. Their crown prince, Thor, calls me his brother and gives me a brother's love. Their queen calls me her son, and has treated me as such since I was a squalling infant. When I fell in love with a woman of Midgard, their king allowed her conversion to Æsir so that I would not have to watch my love die of old age while I remained young. I owe them my gratitude. I abdicate my claim in Helblindi's favor until and unless he should break any peace treaty reached between Jötunheim and Asgard. Should that happen, my abdication is null and void and I will fight for the throne here and will hold it until such time as peace is reached and I find a worthy heir who will keep that peace."

Gymir stepped closer. "Tell me, Prince Loki. What makes you think you could take the throne by force," he asked loudly as the mutters filled the room and Helblindi twisted Býleistr's arm behind him to restrain him from advancing.

"Helblindi, he…" his brother hissed.

"Shut up, he speaks so with my permission." Býleistr's jaw dropped and Helblindi prayed his trust in Loki was justified so that he would not get caught out in this lie.

"The Casket of Ancient Winters is sacred to the Jötunn people. While any Jötunn can handle it safely, only those blessed can truly know its power," Loki claimed. He motioned and his lady came up beside him holding a cloth-wrapped bundle in her gauntleted hands. She pulled the covering back and Loki lifted the Casket and held it aloft for all to see. "I am using it to repair the damage I caused to your realm."

"Any of us could have done the same," Gymir said calmly.

"He is our enemy," Býleistr shouted.

Helblindi watched as Loki spun to face their brother, red eyes narrowing as he pulled the Casket down to his chest. "Silence!" his half-brother bellowed as the unopened Casket emitted a blue glow. Loki's voice echoed through the cavernous room and the floor shook beneath them. Gymir had told him of the odd effect earlier, but experiencing it firsthand had a much greater impact. Many of their people had dropped to their knees. And was it his imagination, or was Loki suddenly the height of a full-blood Jötnar? "Were I your enemy you would even now be laying dead in a pool of your own blood. Were I your enemy, I would lay waste to the rest of this realm rather than do my utmost to restore it. Were I your enemy, I would betray our brother to those who would take over all the nine realms if they could." Helblindi didn't miss how Býleistr stiffened at Loki's last comment. "I am not your enemy, Prince Býleistr. Do not make yourself mine."

… …

"Well that all went to hell," Clint muttered as they regrouped in the large room that had been assigned to Loki, the Avengers, Hogun and Fandral. Another large room held the company of Æsir warriors as space was at a premium in the fortress.

Kara frowned at him. "Stow it, Clint." She turned to where Loki sat staring at the bundle that contained the Casket. "Loki, what happened?" His inner turmoil was absent from his expression, but it seethed through him. "Loki? Talk to me." The lost expression he turned up to her all but broke her heart.

He held up a hand as she reached out to hold him. "Wait. You've expended too much energy." His skin slowly paled to his Æsir form and he dropped the hand. He sighed but didn't otherwise protest as she sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him. "It spoke to me," he told her.

"The Casket?" He nodded. "Okay, what did it say?"

"Between murmuring about unlimited power and other such…I suppose they were meant to be enticements, it told me what we'd suspected. Býleistr is actively betraying his brother and planning an attack with the objective of killing both me and Helblindi and taking the Casket and throne for himself."

"I don't suppose it helpfully told you how?" she asked and then shrugged at his annoyed glare. "I don't know unless I ask. I can tell you're upset and frustrated, but I can't read your mind."

Loki pulled back and pulled off her gauntlets to take her hands in his. "I need you," he began and then paused to look at the others. "I need all of you to keep a close eye on me. Like the cube, the tesseract as Midgard calls it, the Casket possesses a kind of sentience. It calls to me, promises me power, everything I could have wished for at one time. I resist it now because it offers me nothing I truly want. But you must watch me, especially you, Kara. If my moods shift too far from normal, you must separate me from the thing. And if I try to use it inappropriately, you must stop me."

"Great, how are we to know what inappropriately is?" Clint groused. Fandral and Hogun nodded agreement. Nat smirked and looked at Bruce.

"I'll have to be there," the scientist said. "I'm the only one who would know for certain if he's veering off plan and I'm the only one who can stop him without doing him serious damage."

"Trust me, your other did me serious damage. Not fatal, but I did have multiple fractured ribs, a concussion and a shattered patella."

"Ouch. How long did it take you to heal all of that?"

"We tend to heal from the inside out, so the bones were stable enough to walk on by the next day. The concussion was no longer a problem in two days, and the cuts and bruises a day after that. I could have easily reinjured the bones with a sharp impact for about a week. And yes, for us, that is serious."

"Better than what Kara would have to do to you," Clint told him.

"True." He squeezed her hands. "I know what I ask of you, more than they ever will," he began, referring to the fact that his death would mean hers, something Odin had advised them not to share with anyone else. "But if there is no other way, you must stop me. I will not be the toy of another power again. I cannot."

"You weren't a toy before. You stopped them," she told him.

"Kara."

"I know. I get it. That's a last resort though; you know we're going to try everything else first."

"Well, certainly. I don't want…you know what I mean."

She leaned in and kissed him. "I know."

… …