Chapter 27

It had been five hours since the group had defeated Nazara and the Dark Elves, and almost instantly, Soladat and her team were assailed by calls from S.H.I.E.L.D. demanding to know what the hell had happened. Soladat ignored them for the first few hours, opting to join Darcy and her enterouge in lounging by the TV in Jane's flat, drowning themselves in Darcy's homemade waffles. The whole thing gave a sense of deja vu to Darcy, Sif, Soladat, and Hikesh, reminding them of New York, the Chitauri, and... shawarma.

Eventually, Soladat had to leave for a while with Agent May to report in to Director Fury. Darcy asked Archangel to pass a few words to the one-eyed director, specifically in regards to their vandalized car.

So, the rest of the group, minus Soladat and May, were left in the flat, looking exhausted and typically worse for wear, when a rumble of thunder suddenly became audible just outside. Everyone turned in confusion, and all jumped when a pillar of light suddenly fell down from the sky and collided with the patio. Darcy and Sif smiled and immediately stood up.

"Well, shit," Darcy murmured as everyone crowded around outside to see what the Bifrost had dropped off.

It was a welcome surprise when Fandral, joined by a pair of golden armored Asgardian warriors, stepped out from the light. Fandral almost immediately bowed at the sight of Darcy.

"Milady Darcy." He greeted. "The queen requests your presence immediately."

ooooo

Darcy was impressed as she found herself walking along the Bifrost once again. Sif had mentioned that the Tesseract had been able to repair it after Laufey had destroyed it, but she didn't realize that it could work this fast. She was currently being led through Asgard by Fandral and the two Asgardian guards, joined by Sif, Loki, and Hikesh, who Sif had requested come along. The damage done by the Dark Elves was still apparant, but Darcy, after seeing what the Asgardians were capable of, was capable that they could rebuild from all this with time. She couldn't help but notice the stares directed towards her, and Darcy felt her heart swell with pride when she saw what looked like admiration and gratitude in the eyes of the onlookers.

They soon arrived at the palace, the grounds of which were still littered with ruined Dark Elf technology that the locals were doing their bests to sweep away. Fandral led the four into the palace, and soon, they found themselves before Frigga, looking as regal as ever in what use to be Odin's throne.

The smile she wore was one of pride and happiness. "Words cannot even begin to express how grateful I am for all that you have done."

Sif bowed. "We only did what was best for the Nine Realms, my queen."

"Yeah." Darcy said, smiling. "What she said."

"You've done so much more than that." Frigga said with a chuckle. "The Convergence brought all of the realms together. Every one of them saw you and your comrades offer your lives to save them. In spite of the seemingly insurmountable odds, you have saved us all."

As Frigga said those words, the council present all bowed before the four heroes. Darcy blushed, while Sif gave a smile in return. Hikesh appeared stoic, but the edges of his lips quirked a bit. Loki on the other hand seemed a bit uncomfortable, but oddly content.

Frigga continued. "You, Lady Sif, stayed true to your duties as a shield maiden of Asgard, and stepped up to accomplish what few of us have ever done in regards to the survival of our home."

Sif nodded, and Frigga looked at Hikesh. "Xegh Hikesh, who assisted us even after facing scorn from our former king, and risking his life when you were asked so little in return."

Hikesh nodded, a smile forming. Frigga looked at Loki.

"Loki, while your reasons may have been selfish in nature, you did contribute greatly to all of this." Frigga said, her eyes flashing with pride. "In spite of your... grueling activities on Midgard last year, your assistance in the defeat of Malakith and the Reapers was proper compensation. In spite of what you may think, I am proud to call you my son."

Loki flinched slightly at those last words, but nodded at his mother figure nonetheless. Frigga turned towards Darcy, who shuffled nervously under the queen's gaze.

"So... I guess it's my turn now?"

Frigga chuckled. "There is a lot I could say to you right now, Lady Darcy. Much has changed since you came into our lives. Some of it good, some of it bad."

Darcy gulped, but Frigga didn't appear at all angry. "In spite of our initial viewpoint of you, you have risked your lives many a times to ensure that order was retained throughout these realms. You defeated Laufey and the Frost Giants, preventing another civil war from breaking out between us. You stopped the Chitauri from taking control of Midgard, preventing any possible discord between us and those repugnant invaders. And of course, you assisted us in stopping Malekith even when he and his allies had the entire Nine Realms, and quite possibly the entire universe, by the throat. And you did all of this only in a span of two years. That is not a lot by Asgardian standards."

Darcy smiled. "Ah, you know. Give a girl a hammer, you never know what might happen."

"Mjolnir couldn't have chosen a better wielder." Frigga countered. "Continue to use it as you do now, my son shall rest peacefully knowing that his successor is a worthy bearer."

"I'll try my best." Darcy said, smiling. "Thanks."

Frigga nodded, and then looked over at Sif and Hikesh. She gave a rueful sigh. "I can imagine that given all that's happened, Sif, you desire answers."

Sif's face grew hard. "Indeed. We found the Prothean intelligence on Svartalfheim. It told us a great many things. Many of them were... troubling."

Frigga nodded in understanding, and looked up to the guards at the doorway. "Please. Leave us."

The guards did as instructed, leaving the queen alone with the four heroes. Frigga sighed again, and gave Sif an apologetic smile. "I will not bother lying to you about this, Sif. Everything that the intelligence may have said in regards to our origins? They were most true."

Sif's heart clenched at that. "And you knew? Odin as well?"

Frigga nodded. "Yes. After the Dark Elves' original defeat all those years ago, Odin was but a young warrior. None to different from Thor. He discovered the cave holding the intelligence, and his reaction to the truth was just as yours was. He ensured that no one would find out, and only shared this information with Heimdall and I."

"But why?" Sif said, angrily. "Why hide something of this scope?"

"Is it really that hard to see, Sif?" Loki interjected. "It was peace. Odin believed that if Asgard were to learn of its true origin, it would have shattered everything upon which this realm was built upon. It's faith, it's warrior spirit, it's will to go on."

"You were always the insightful one, weren't you, Loki." Frigga said with a smile grin. "But yes. As selfish as his reasons may have been, Odin did desire peace in Asgard. Keeping the Prothean interference a secret was the only way to keep things the way they were."

"It didn't exactly end well for him in the end." Hikesh murmured, crossing his arms.

Sif looked down in thought, and clenched her fists. "I see..."

Frigga sighed. "Do not take this so hard, Sif. Mortal or not, you are who you've built yourself up to be. As are the rest of us."

Darcy put a reassuring hand on Sif's shoulder. "She's right. No matter what you all started out as, you're still an ass-kicking Asgardian chick."

Sif couldn't help but smile, and gave a defeated sigh. "Then, for the sake of Asgard, the secret will remain a secret."

Frigga nodded. "Thank you, Sif. I hope, Hikesh, that this isn't a problem for you?"

Hikesh smiled. "Not at all. With threats still arising day by day, Asgard will need its strength to survive. Besides, my people are dead now. It's best they remain forgotten."

"Your actions are worthy of remembrance, Hikesh." Frigga responded. "Don't make any insinuation that you will ever be forgotten amongst Asgard."

Hikesh simply nodded. Frigga then turned towards Loki, a sorrowful look on her face. "Now, Loki, there is still one issue that needs to be taken care of. In spite of what you have contributed, it was not enough to lift your sentence completely."

Loki sighed. "I suppose it's back to the dungeons then?"

"Now wait a minute!" Darcy suddenly spoke up, looking mad. "After everything he's done, you're just gonna toss him back into his cell? That doesn't seem fair, to be honest."

"I wish it were not so, Lady Darcy." Frigga said ruefully. "Odin, being the one who place this sentence, is no longer alive to lift it. And even though I am queen, I still but a maiden, and the royal court's final choices preside over mine."

"That's bullshit." Darcy said, glaring. "There's got to be another way!"

"It's okay, Darcy." Loki said with a sigh. "I still have a good five-thousand years left. A few centuries in the dungeon won't kill me."

"You can't be serious!" Darcy said incredulously. "I-"

"Wait." Sif said, putting a hand up. She looked up at Frigga. "I may have an alternative."

Frigga cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Sif nodded, and stepped up to the throne. She knelt down by Frigga and whispered something into her ear. Darcy, Loki, and Hikesh leaned in to attempt to pick up on what was being said, but couldn't get anything. They guessed from the changing emotions on Frigga's face that she was interested in it.

When Sif pulled away, Frigga looked at her impressed. "Interesting. I think that may actually work."

"Wait, what?" Darcy said. "What will work?"

Sif was now standing beside Frigga, looking proud of herself. Frigga looked at the three. "Lady Sif has just pointed out a flaw in Loki's sentence. Odin decreed that Loki was to be cut off from the rest of Asgard. Though, specifically, he was not to be confined to just the dungeons."

"Where are you going with this?" Loki said slowly.

Frigga smiled. "As requested by Sif, Loki is hereby sentenced to life in exile, a sentence that shall be henceforth served out Midgard. Darcy Lewis, Midgard's most formidable warrior, has been requested to take on the role of Loki's caretaker."

There was silence in the throne room, as Darcy, Loki, and Hikesh looked shocked at Frigga's words. It was Loki that broke the silence. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

"Like Odin said, your sentence was only to be isolated from Asgard. So technically, you don't have to live this sentence in the dungeons." Sif pointed out. "Given everything that's happened, Earth seemed like a suitable place to live it out."

"You... want me to live out my sentence on Earth?" Loki clarified. "You do realize that the mortals despise me?"

"Which is why we are appointing Darcy was your caretaker." Frigga said, smiling. "The history between you two should give the humans, S.H.I.E.L.D. especially, some reassurance."

"You want me to be his parole officer?" Darcy said, a smile creeping to her face as she looked at Loki with mischief in her eyes. Loki gulped and quickly turned to Frigga.

"I don't suppose I get a say in this?" He said.

"I'm afraid not." Frigga said. "Your magic shall remain confiscated, but your Jotun abilities shall remain, as they are out of our power to contain. You are to be exiled on Earth, effective immediately."

"This is going to be such a bother explaining to Fury..." Hikesh said with a sigh.

"Mother, I-"

"My decision is final, Loki." Frigga said. "Besides, I'm sure you can find ways to entertain yourself on Earth much better than you can in the dungeons."

"But-"

"Ah come on Lok! It'll be fun!" Darcy said, pulling Loki into a half-hug. "I can show you all kinds of stuff on Earth. How to drive a car, take you to Disney World, oh! We should watch Frozen! You'd love that movie. I think..."

Loki groaned, resigned to this fate. Frigga and Sif looked on in amusement, Frigga clearing her throat to get their attention. "I am so glad you're happy. But I believe we have discussed all that there is to be discussed. You are free to leave whenever you please."

At that, guards suddenly appeared from the door, led by Fandral. He gave Darcy a devilish smirk. Darcy blushed, while Loki narrowed his eyes. "If you will follow me, I will take you to the Bifrost."

By then, Sif had stepped down to join her comrades, and she looked at them with a smile. Darcy huffed. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

"For now." Sif said, smiling. "I have no doubt we will be seeing more of each other in the future. With Loki living on Earth, we'll be checking in now and then."

"Wonderful." Loki said, rolling his eyes.

"Indeed." Hikesh said with a smile. "This whole experience has been interesting, so say the least."

"No kidding." Darcy said, before looking at Sif. "It was a good fight, though, wasn't it."

Sif nodded. "Yes. It was. I misjudged you when we first met, Darcy. You have grown into quite the warrior."

Darcy smiled, and Sif put her arm over her chest and did a slight bow. "It has been an honor fighting alongside you."

Darcy repeated the gesture, albeit a little bit sloppy. "Likewise."

With that, Fandral led Darcy, Hikesh, and Loki away, and Sif watched them leave. Soon, she and Frigga were alone, and Sif looked over at the queen. "So, what else is to be done?"

Frigga sighed. "We are still rebuilding. The damage is still great, and for a time we are without a king. Prisoners still run rampant throughout the realms after the breakout, and we are doing our best to recover them. There is also a greater issue. Lorelei is among the prisoners unaccounted for."

Sif froze upon hearing that name, and a great feeling of rage that she had not felt in ages boiled within her. Her fists clenched. "If we find any sign of her..."

"We will alert you." Frigga promised. "Lorelei is a very dangerous individual, and you know her best. You will be the first to know."

Sif nodded.

"There is one more thing." Frigga said. "The Aether. We have just recovered it from Midgard, and have it contained. But we cannot keep it here. Not with the Tesseract already in the vault, and Loki's former allies still combing the galaxy in search of it. We must place it elsewhere."

"Where?" Sif asked, wondering what kind of place would be suited enough to hold such an abominable weapon.

ooooo

Soladat looked at Darcy as though she had lost her mind. "I'm sorry. You're his what?"

"I'm his parole officer!" Darcy said, linking her arm with Loki, who looked about ready to die.

She, Loki, and Hikesh were back in the flat where Jane, Erik, and Soladat were waiting. The rest of Soladat's team were back at the Bus, waiting for her. Soladat looked at Darcy incredulously, before looking to Hikesh for help.

The Prothean sighed. "Sif convinced Loki's mother to allow him to live out the rest of his sentence here on Earth. In exile."

"Is she nuts?!" Soladat said, looking unhappy with the decision. "This is Loki we're talking about. The number one enemy of Earth who nearly conquered the planet and killed eighty or so people in only two days. Asgardian choice or not, S.H.I.E.L.D. will never go for this. Especially not the Council."

"Hey, don't fret, Archangel." Darcy said. "Loki's magic is gone. All he's got is his strength, and if he tries anything, I can just beat him up."

"I'm standing right here!" Loki said, but was ignored. Erik and Jane were watching wearily from the table. Erik looked especially unhappy.

Soladat looked at Loki with obvious dislike, and sighed. "I'll check in with Fury. We'll see what he has to say."

"He won't like it." Hikesh clarified.

"I know." Soladat said. She looked back at Darcy. "Fine. I trust you Darcy. But if Loki tries anything..."

"Relax." Darcy said. "I know what I'm doing."

"If you say so." Soladat said, and then looked at Jane and Erik. "I assume you two are okay with this?"

"I wouldn't say okay." Jane said, looking at Erik. "But, I think we can manage. Right Erik?"

Erik continued to look at Loki with apprehension. "I'm far from happy with this. You all know what he did. That's not something that can be forgotten. But I'll play along. For now."

Soladat nodded, and soon, the air cleared of any hostility when she smiled at Darcy. "Well, me and the Prothean need to get going. We both have a lot of explaining to do at HQ."

"Indeed." Hikesh said. "I assume you relayed your part of the story to Fury?"

"Yeah." Soladat said with a chuckle. "The news of the Reapers really got him worried. He's gonna wanna here your part of the story now."

"So they're still out there." Darcy said, eyes growing hard. "The Reapers."

"Yup." Soladat remarked sarcastically. "And we currently have no conventional means of stopping them if they were to try and come back again. Which is why we need to get to the Triskelion and explain everything to Fury."

"We'll find a way." Hikesh said with confidance. "We always do."

"That we do." Soladat said.

Darcy looked at Hikesh. "So, I guess this is it? You're leaving?"

"Yes." Hikesh said apologetically. "I suppose that-Umph!"

Hikesh was surprised when he was engulfed in not one, but two hugs from two human girls. Darcy and Jane pulled away from him, giving them smiles.

"We'll see you around, Hikesh." Darcy said. "Take care of yourself."

Hikesh looked surprised, but a smile slowly formed on his face, and he nodded. Soladat smiled at the display, and put her arm over the Prothean's shoulder. "Well, I guess we'd better be off. We've both got a busy schedule. I have another mission to get to once we're gone with Fury."

"Another one?" Jane said, surprised.

"Yup." Soladat said. "Some kind of supernatural murder in the Trillemarka National Park in Norway. I'm sure it's nothing."

"Well be careful." Darcy said. "We've faced a lot of crazy shit in the past."

"We're Avengers, Darcy." Soladat said with a smile. "It's what we do."

With that, Soladat and Hikesh left, and then there were four. There was an awkward silence as Darcy, Loki, Jane, and Erik looked between each other. Eventually, Darcy spoke up.

"So... you guys ever tried shawarma?"

And that was the second to last chapter. The next chapter will finally conclude this story. Took me over a year to finish, but it's finally reaching it's end. I actually have the chapter done, so it won't be long til you see it.

Anyway, thanks for reading :)