AN: Thank you so much everyone for the kind reviews and story favorites! Sorry for the lag in updates...I had an Organic Chemistry test to study for. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!


Thor stood quietly on the edge of the Bifrost looking down into the darkness. It had been over a year since its destruction, and Asgard was no closer to finding a fix for it than they were a year ago. Looking over its jagged edge, he couldn't help but remember how his brother looked staring back at him—so desperate for their father's approval—only to let go. Thinking about it made him sick, and yet he wondered if it would have been better for everyone had he truly been lost. So many Midgardians had perished, so much destruction was had and yet…

Those warriors he fought with, those Avengers, had become brothers in arms. He had made so many allies on Midgard, he thought, perhaps, there was a silver lining to the cloud of destruction his brother had brought. The tesseract had given Midgardian scientists, like Selvig, new hope to finding an easier bridge to connect both worlds—a bridge to Jane.

"You can see her still, Heimdall?" he asked as he heard the man walk up behind him, "It pains me, being so far away."

Thor watched as the golden-clad man gave him a smile. His extraordinary eyes, much like Eir's looked down at him with a warm, knowing sense.

"Of course," he replied, his voice deep, "She seems to sleep not. Her quest to bring you back to Midgard is much too important."

Heimdall watched as Thor gave him a sad smile. Since coming back from his most recent stint on Midgard, Thor's longing for Jane only grew. In all his years of knowing the prince, he had never seen him so infatuated with a woman. He had watched Jane foster from his place on the bridge, but even after observing the mortal he still knew not what Thor saw in her. She was inferior to Asgardian women in appearance, certainly, but her mind was sharp—something he knew Thor not to value in a woman. Perhaps he saw something he, even with all his powers, could not.

"I am certain Lady Jane will find a way, Thor." He remarked, trying to reassure the sad man beside him, "Few Asgardians can match her mind."

Heimdall watched as Thor gave him a thankful glance before looking down into the abyss of space again. He could tell that he had much more than Jane on his mind. His gold eyes watched as Thor walked a little closer to the edge, and looked farther down. As terrifying as the drop was, it was a beauty unmatched.

"I worry for my brother," Thor admitted, "When I speak with him, I see an unwavering fear in his eyes. Eir knows not what bothers him, and even if she did well…I know her to lie as much as him."

Heimdall gave Thor an uncomfortable knowing look. It had been troubling him, too—what Loki feared. While he was blinded to their presence, much like the Frost Giants that had attacked a year ago, he could sense the painful evil that these beings possessed. Loki had made some regrettable deals during his time traversing the realms, and he feared that they would come for him on Asgard. He knew this was what Loki feared for as well.

"Eir truly knows not, Thor." Heimdall assured, "But I can feel what Loki fears. They want something…more than your brother. Perhaps the Allfather would know what Asgard has that would be most coveted?"

He watched as Thor looked at him thoughtfully.

"The tesseract?" Thor wondered aloud, "But I thought it was just a portal?"

Heimdall gave him a questioning look before speaking again.

"Allfather has been known to keep the truth from even his most precious," Heimdall explained, "Allfather's treasure chamber has much to be coveted…more than the tesseract, I suspect."

With that, Heimdall watched as Thor looked at him with curiosity, his mind considering every scenario, before thanking him and walking back to the palace. Heimdall could tell by the way Thor looked that he was now worried—and rightfully so. The only chance Asgard would have against these beings would be to disown whatever they were after, and for everyone's sake he hoped Thor figured it out.

He could sense they were running out of time.


Eir gave a small smile to the people she passed in the palace as she walked down the long hallway from the Queen's quarters. It had been a particularly taxing day with the Queen, and she desperately hoped that Loki wouldn't lash out at her again like he had last time. She had purposely been avoiding the prince for quite some time, but Thor's constantly pleading convinced her to try again today. For Thor's sake, she had been saying Loki's prognosis was great…but the more he tried to banish everyone from his life, the harder the small lie was becoming.

As she turned the corner, however, her thoughts on Loki were interrupted as she crashed into a mobile wall. Rubbing her head, she looked up to see that it was no other than Thor, and he looked particularly distressed. Looking up at the disjointed man, she gave him a small worried glance as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"My father, do you know where he is?" he asked quickly, "I must speak with him urgently."

Eir gave him another worried look.

"In his chambers, I believe." She explained, "Your mother hoped to have a word with him. When I left her, that was where she was going."

Giving her a thankful nod, he ran off in the direction she had just come from. Watching him run down the hall for a moment, she couldn't think of what could be so important to him. Thor often times over-reacted, but the desperation in his eyes made her think that this time was different. Continuing her walk down to the detainment hall, she hoped that whatever he had been worried about wasn't too severe.

As she approached the containment room, she couldn't help but be shocked by the incredible lack of noise. The silence was eerie, and the air was almost sickeningly still. Continuing down the hall, the only sounds she could hear were those she made herself…her breathing, the click of her shoes…and she wondered why there was such an absence. Usually, her journey down this hall was accompanied by Loki's tortures screams but this time…nothing.

Approaching the door, she was startled when she was greeted by a rather large man who she knew well was a torturer. Looking up at the man, she gave him a small nod of acknowledgment before walking towards the door.

"It is dreadfully quiet." She remarked, before her hands met the door, "Curious, really."

As she went to open the door, she was stopped as his words caught her.

"That pathetic excuse for a prince…" he started, "The sounds of his constant discomfort and his insolent whining were too much for me. He got what he deserved."

With that, Eir watched as the man walked off, leaving her standing in front of a large door, unsure of what was left behind it. Slightly nervous, she pushed the door open and entered the dim room. Shivering slightly at the temperature drop, she continued closer to the containment cell.

As her eyes adjusted, she noticed a figure lying motionless on the dirtied floor. Running up to the cell, her heart stopped as she saw what was in front of her. Before her, Loki lay motionless—breathing pained, and sweat-beads pooling on his back. From what she could see, the wounds from his many tortures were painfully infected, and the sickness had spread throughout his body.

Moving closer to the cell, she could feel a pressure on her as she touched the cage. Odin had placed much magic on the cell to prevent escape, and the pressure of that magic assaulted all of her senses. Shaking off the dizziness, she cautiously placed her hand on his shoulder and rolled him over towards her. As he rolled effortlessly, a small gasp escaped her lips as she finally understood what the torturer meant…

His mouth was wired shut.

Putting her hand on his forehead, her eyes widened at the intensity of his fever—and she suddenly felt very guilty for leaving him this long. Fevers of this caliber were especially dangerous to those of Jotun blood, and she wanted to scream that she didn't catch it earlier. Looking down at him again, she noticed that his green eyes had tried to flicker open at her, only to roll back in his head. Cursing his condition, she began to roll up her sleeves and placed her hand back into the cell once again.

Closing her eyes in concentration, she placed her hand on his face and attempted her magic. She could tell that the infection had spread greatly, ravaging his already weak body. Opening her eyes, she watched as the wounds began to heal themselves, and his breathing became more regular. As she concentrated even more of her energy, she could tell that his infection was waning and that his body had given up its fight against it.

Taking an exhausted breath, she could feel his temperature dropping and his eyes start to crack open. Letting go, she took her hand out of the cell and closed her eyes in fatigue. She was blessed with an extraordinary gift, but it did not come without cost. Breathing heavily, she opened her eyes to see that Loki had begun to try and sit himself up. He had no evidence of bruises, scars or lacerations. In fact, she was sure his torturer would be pleased that he now had a clean canvas to paint upon.

Reaching into her pocket, she tossed a small pair of scissors to the man in the cell. She watched as he cringed while pulling the twine out of his lips, and discarded the bloodied string onto the floor. Moving closer to the cell, she took the small scissors from his bloodied hands and used the last bit of magic she could muster to heal the wounds that now adorned his face. Giving him a small smile, she admired her work.

"You almost died." She explained, putting the scissors in her pocket, "Another day and that would have been it. Allfather wouldn't have had to worry about your execution."

Loki gave her a grunt and turned his face away from her. Eir noticed that he looked distraught, almost like something precious had been taken from him. His frustration was evident, and he just shook his head at her.

"You should have let me die." He growled, "I would have finally been freed of this wretched existence."

Squinting her eyes at him, she sent him a hateful glance. Trying to pay attention to anything but Loki, she looked around the cell again. To her right, she could see a small cup of medicine that lay untouched and out of Loki's reach. Apparently, Sigyn had never followed through with her orders.

"She was displeased with what I had to say to her." Loki explained, understanding Eir's confusion, "Pathetic Sigyn cannot handle reality."

Eir sent a confused glance at him before going over and picking up the medicine. Though he now was rid of his wounds and fever, she could still sense his fatigue. His tired eyes betrayed his now healthy body. Walking over to the cell, she handed him the small cup.

"And what reality is that, Loki?" she asked, watching him examine the green substance, "I knew you not to be one so in tune with reality."

She watched as he gave her a small, dismissive laugh before setting he cup down. He walked back to the wall of the cell and placed his head upon it. Breathing tiredly, he looked at the cup once again before turning his eyes to her gold.

"Sigyn couldn't accept that I have no use for her now." He explained, "She liked not the thought that she was a simple pawn, used to satisfy the wishes of my parents. I need not a wife. That pathetic excuse for a woman thought our betrothal was born through an unspoken love. A laughable sentiment, really."

Eir looked down at the floor and felt a small rush of pity fall over her. As much as she disliked Sigyn, despised her even, she knew all too well how painful it was to hear the person you love tell you they loved you not—that you weren't good enough. Shaking those thoughts from her head, she looked back at Loki and his tired eyes.

"Loki, please drink that." She whispered, "This sleepless torture Allfather has ordered against you is inhumane. I—"

"Odin does not deny me of slumber, Eir." He interrupted, "It is torture by my own mind, I fear."

He looked at the medicine again.

"Besides, I will not drink this filth."

She watched as he gave her another humorous laugh. His green eyes wandered the cell before he rested them back upon her. He gave her a amused smile as he studied her face. Eir had to admit, it unnerved her.

"It pains you, Eir." He began, "You so desperately want to know the workings of my mind. I fear that, despite your noble efforts, it will all be in vain. Asgard has but moments, thanks to my failures on Midgard. My incompetence…"

Eir could hear the pain dripping from his words. She could feel a fear permeate through the room, and she wondered if this was what Thor was so afraid of. In Loki's eyes, behind the fatigue, she could see a child screaming. She could see the regret. Whatever Loki feared, it was something worth fearing.

"Loki, please." She begged, "Asgard—"

"Asgard will have to pay the price of that incompetence," he interrupted, "When he comes, he will make sure I suffer immensely. He will have me begging for death, longing for it. The pain Odin has bestowed upon me here will look childish."

Eir's eyes widened as Loki spoke.

"It would be best if you left before he arrives."

Biting her lip, she closed her eyes for a moment and lost herself in thought. For a moment, the silence between them was painful. Part of her wanted to think he was lying, and the other knew he was far too scared to be. Looking down at the floor, she just shook her head.

"To flee would be cowardice," she decided, standing up to leave, "Drink the medicine, Loki, quiet your mind."

Growling at her again, he threw the cup across the cell in a crash. He watched as she gave him one more look before walking out of the door. For a moment, the light from the hallway blinded him, before his room was replaced once again by darkness. Looking across the room, he gave a sigh as he picked up the cup with what was left of the medicine. Examining the contents once again, he took a deep breath and drank it.

Finally, his mind was quiet.


Odin walked down the treasure vault quickly. Looking around, he could see many treasures that he had collected over the years—the Tesseract, the Casket of Ancient Winters, The Eternal flame—but there was one treasure he knew was coveted beyond all the rest. Its abilities were unmatched, and it had now attracted the attention of the worst the universe had to offer. Looking at the curious artifact, he took a deep breath.

He feared all of Asgard would fall for it.


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