NOTE - As always, thanks to thephoenixandthedragon4ever, Esha Napoleon, and Moriarty-assbutt for the lovely notes and reviews. I can't tell you how much I love you and all the Blackfrost readers.


24. Time Travel


"Something's wrong," Jane insisted.

"What else would you expect? The Bifrost has appeared in the middle of a dustheap, which sits in the centre of a pisspot. The entire situation is wrong, and I only hope Natasha has the sense to survive it." Sif spoke with strident anger, probably because she felt frustrated.

"You are exactly right, but there's a lot more to it than that. I'm pretty sure the mere fact of this final test will impact us here in Asgard as well." Jane went to one of her saddlebags, piled on the floor of the forest, and plucked out a scroll. She unrolled it to study the map within, her forehead crinkling.

"What do you mean?" Sif stalked across the clearing to join her.

"If there is an Einstein-Rosen bridge here-" Jane pointed to the map at the spot where they stood, "it could set off a chain reaction within the entire realm. I have noticed that time is unstable in some areas – a lot of places, actually - in Asgard. It's how I reached you and Natasha in the forest. Remember?"

"Set off? Chain reaction?"

Muttering more to herself than Sif, Jane traced a few lines on the map. "I don't think we've gotten quite into Church-Turing territory, although I do suspect there could be a universal quantum device within Asgard. The Tesseract, perhaps? In any case, if enough qualiphobes are affected by the anomaly, we should definitely be prepared for…"

"Jane!" Sif thundered. "You might as well be speaking the language of the Jotunns to me. I have not the slightest idea of what your words say."

The scientist got up and brandished the map under Sif's nose. "Simply put," she snapped, "because of the troll's version of the Bifrost in that compost heap over there, Asgard could fall apart and disintegrate into the void." A rumble punctuated her statement, and the ground shook underfoot.

"Is this it?" Sif looked around wildly. "Are we about to enter Valhalla? Well, I am prepared, but I do wish I could have slain a few more bilgesnipe first."

"No!" Jane seized both the warrior's arms. "We can stop it, but I have to get back to the Palace. If we can reach the All-Father's council room and access his map of the realm as well as a few Norn stones, I can rearrange the energies so we are back in balance." The ground shook again, and the scientist nearly fell.

Sif steadied her. "How can we do that? It is a two-day ride even if we travel through the night!"

"Ah." Jane tapped her map. "Not if we go via my route."

"Ah!" A look of comprehension crossed Sif's face. "But can you ride that quickly?"

"I was thinking we should perhaps double up on Sleipnir."

"And what of the other mounts?"

"They are from Asgard," Jane concluded triumphantly. "They'll follow when they're told."


Not stopping to pack, Sif and Jane leapt onto the back of the surprised Sleipnir. Jane clutched the warrior's armour as the steed reared, neighed, and immediately sprang into a gallop at a touch of the warrior's heels. "And you want to head away from the Palace?" Sif shouted. "Are you certain?"

"Yes! Aim for a dark void. You'll see it in a few minutes." Jane wrapped both arms around Sif's waist and ducked her head so it wouldn't get taken off by the branches overhead.

"Yonder!" Sif pointed, and they approached a cave at a blistering pace. Jane could just hear the other horses behind them.

Without a flicker of hesitation, Sleipnir plunged into the gloom. Although the ground seemed murky underfoot, the horse put his head down and increased his speed as Sif whispered to him. "This is a fine adventure!" the warrior laughed. "Although I think we might be running along an underground cliff. Take care, Sleipnir, lest you dash our brains into the rocks or tumble us over the edge."

Jane shuddered as another rumble in the ground shook the trail ahead, and she hid her head against Sif's shoulder. When she looked up, they were approaching a point of light. Sure enough, the three mounts were running along the side of a cliff – the cavern had some kind of fall-in, and the passage through the tunnel was separated in two, so they just had enough room to maneuver. One peek told her that the fall over the side of the road would be immense – the darkness below seemed almost as deep as the Void.

Before she had time to shout she couldn't do it, that they needed to stop and turn back, Sleipnir shot into the light. The other horses followed soon after, and Sif stopped them for a break.

They were in the mountains, near the sea of Marmora and close enough to the plain of Ida to see the edge of the forest. "Perfectly done!" Sif crowed. "A day's ride will have us at the gates of the Palace."

"We don't have time for that," Jane gasped. "I need you to negotiate another time twist. There's one nearby, but it will mean doing something really crazy…"

"Excellent." Sif turned to give Jane a brilliant smile. "More adventure! You know, we may have had our differences in the past, but I find I like you."

"I like you too, Sif." Jane couldn't help giggling, although she was worried about what they were about to ride into.

"So, where anon? Another cavern?"

"Nope." Jane pointed at the Sea of Marmora. "We ride into the waves, just there. And we have to time it perfectly, too, depending on the tides and roll of the waves. The water is heavier here in Asgard, which I have to account for, but I think I have the physics figured out…"

"Art thou a lunatic?" Sif twisted completely around in the saddle and gave her a long stare. "I take back my liking. You have lost your wits if you think we can ride the mounts straight through the surf."

"If my reasoning is right, we will only be wet for a few moments." Jane arched an eyebrow and added, "Are you nervous?"

In answer, Sif headed Sleipnir towards the sands. "By the Gods, you are a cool customer. I have seen many a titled commander crumble before such conditions. Very well, tell me what to do."

Jane scanned the horizon and nodded. "See that dark line there in the water? That's where we need to go. It's a timeslip, and if we hit it just right between the waves we can make it in one end and get propelled straight past the Gopul River to the entrance of the capital. It's a bit like swordplay – we'll have to time our charge between the waves. Do you see?"

"I suppose I do. We'll have to make certain the other mounts follow us, so we shall have to take that into account."

"Yes, good point. Okay, see how there is a dip between the waves? We're lucky since they take longer here – heavy water and all that. We'll have to head straight for it and time our run through the sand to hit the low trough after a tall crest. Are you ready?"

"Aye." Sif's eyes were sparkling as she prepared for the adventure. "This will be something to tell our descendants, eh?" She paused and added in a low voice, "And if we do not emerge on the other side, I am proud to have ridden into death by your side. You have proven your mettle in trial by fire, and the Lady Sif will vouch as much to anyone. Here and now I offer my apology for saying you were concerned only with a husband and children."

Touched, Jane squeezed Sif's waist. "And I'm sorry I said the things I did when I first arrived. There's no one I'd rather be with here than you after all we have been through together."

"Not Thor?" Sif's look never wavered.

Jane grinned. "Thor would surge straight into the waves without waiting for my explanation and I would get water up my nose."

Sif flung back her head in a long shout of laughter. "Yes! I can just picture his surprised face when he sinks in his armour…"

"…And spits out a fish in the bargain!"

The two ladies collapsed, startling Sleipnir; Jane couldn't help a snort of laughter which made Sif explode with loud humour. At last they could barely breathe, having reached the point where all they had to do was look at each other to lose it all over again.

Their mirth was stopped by another long rumble. Jane sobered first and indicated the waves. "We must go, now."

"Very well." Sif leaned over the bridle and headed Sleipnir towards the waves of Marmora. "Charge forward, sweet mounts, for Asgard!"

"For Asgard!" Jane echoed. The next minute they were volleying across the sand, straight into the water.

The surf reached their knees and Sleipnir neighed frantically. Then they were under the waves, riding for a hole in the water. The horses swam for it, and in a moment they were in a tunnel, surrounded by blue water.

The stallion shook back his mane, spraying both Jane and Sif. "This will make a fine tale," the warrior exulted. "Sleipnir's Ride, perhaps it will be called – you and I shall be famous, Lady Jane!"

"Just look at this water tunnel," Jane marveled. "It's held back by some force – but how? I'd love to be able to study it…and check out those fish! Surely no one ever saw such …"

She was unable to finish her sentence. The tunnel closed in, and the next minute they and the horses were striding out of the surf, at the point of water where the docks met the capital.


At the Palace, Sif and Jane hurried to the council room, completely drenched. Odin's heavy brows descended at the sight of two very wet ladies, but when he tried to wave them out Sif interrupted. "There is a danger afoot. Indeed you must listen to Lady Jane."

"Lady Jane?" Thor rose at the sound, his face filling with joy. "My love, at last! I thought you had somehow escaped back to Midgard – I nearly lost my wits with worry."

"Between you and Loki it has been a day for rising emotions," Queen Frigga declared. "He has stormed off to his dungeon after his sudden arrival from Midgard, and you turned the entire capital into a thunderhead of gloom…"

"Your majesties, I must interrupt. If we do not turn the time tide recently unleashed by the witch Angrboda, the entire realm could fall apart." Jane strode up to the All-Father and held out her hands. "I must reset the Norns now before the time channels fall in on themselves."

"Let it descend," a voice sneered from the door. Loki stood there, his face pale and his eyes filled with despair. "My Natasha is taken from me and her last few minutes of life approach out of my reach to help her, so why should anyone have any happiness at all? May the entire realm fall into the Void, as I have done, and we can all experience the joys of working for Thanos together."

"We cannot access Natasha at this point in time, according to Heimdall. I already explained it to you when you first arrived back, Loki." Queen Frigga spoke in a calm voice, but there was an undercurrent of worry in her voice.

"But that's what I'm talking about!" Jane turned to Loki. "If Natasha is still in Midgard, Frigga is right - she can't travel back here now while the time twists are unbalanced. If I can reset the Norns, we could reach her and return her to Asgard, and save the realm in the bargain. And by the way, I could sorely use your help."

"Is this true?" A small light of hope kindled in Loki's eyes. "I felt the rumbling in the mountains and from the Enchanted Forest when I returned…"

"Yes. It was from the Bifrost the witch created within Ironwood, when you opened the Hagalaz rune." Jane nodded.

"She created a Bifrost?" Frigga jumped down and ran to the table where the maps of the Nine Realms were set out. "Odin, this would mean the end of all we hold dear – another Ragnorak. We must listen to Lady Jane and see if we can rebalance the realm now, as she says."

Odin still frowned, but after a moment he nodded. Jane exhaled a long breath of relief, dashed forward to catch Loki's hand, and pulled him to the maps. "Here," she said. "This is where the twist first started breaking down, so it would best serve to triangulate the Norns at this point…"


Sif watched Jane bend over the maps, her head close to those of the Queen and Loki. Thor hovered nearby, trying to steal a look over their shoulders.

The warrior maiden had faced many enemies – Frost Giants, dragons, invading hordes from Muspelheim. She had traversed the Sea of Fear, and yet she felt cold terror run through her veins at what she was about to do.

However, there was no other choice. She eyed the All-Father as he scowled intently at the three clustered over the Realms, and approached him. "All-Father Odin, a word if I may," she asked.

He made a gesture that could have been a No or a Yes. Sif decided to proceed. "Your Majesty, over the past few days I have toiled at the side of Lady Jane. She was unflinching in the face of terror, and indeed our passage home today would never have happened if it had not been for her. In faith, if Asgard stands this hour, 'twill be due to her efforts and none other."

"What is the point of this?" Odin asked. "I take it you are trying to recommend Jane to me, but why?"

"I think you know why." Sif's voice grew very quiet.

Odin's gaze softened, and he reached to brush her cheek with one hand. "I had always thought you loved…"

She tilted up her chin. "Perhaps what I want is not in the balance of things. I only mean to present Jane's case now – that in this instance, perhaps sword-fighting and being a knight are not all. Perhaps there are other considerations – in this only, you understand. And," she added, "if Fandral or Hogun ever come to hear of these words I speak, my life might as well be finished at that moment."

He smoothed his beard. "Your own actions were not to be glossed over, I am certain."

"Perhaps. I live to fight for Asgard, as you know. However, this day I saw another serve our realm just as fiercely as ever I did, and at times even more so." She stood very straight and tall, her eyes not wavering from his direct stare.

"Your words do you credit…" Odin was cut off by a triumphant shout from the group around the maps.

"We have it!" Thor grinned, his entire face lighting up. "My lady has rebalanced the Norns, and Asgard is saved!" He picked up Jane off her feet, swung her in a circle, and pulled her close for a long embrace.

"And now what of my betrothed?" Loki demanded in a deadly voice. "The stones are set and Asgard is safe. But what of Natasha, my life and my love? Get her back for me, now!"

The queen approached and put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "My command to Heimdall stays. She will be returned here the instant she wishes – but she must ask it first. We have no other choice."

Sif regarded at her old enemy. Loki's eyes, pale with anger and frustrated desire, flicked to the massive entrance of the room.

"Loki, does she still wear the ring I saw on her finger? The silver spiral with the moonstone?" Freya stepped down from the dais to stand in front of the prince. "If so, perhaps I can send a message to her - the moon is my purview, as you know."

Loki eyed the goddess of love warily. "Why would you do this for me?"

"I am not doing this for you. I was rather taken with the Lady Natasha - she spoke honourably when you both visited my rooms. And," she added with a laugh, "the emerald diadem you gave me is very becoming."

He leaned forward and put one hand on Freya's shoulder. "Yes! I will do anything if you can rescue her - we have only seconds left. Please."

Freya closed her eyes, concentrated for a moment, and smiled. "It is done. But now, as Queen Frigga states, we have to see what happens next. She must be the one who requests it - we have done all we could here."

Loki opened his mouth, shut it with a snap, and released the goddess of love. His brow black as thunder, the prince paced the area in front of the dais like a caged tiger.

There was nothing else to do. They simply had to wait.