Disclaimer: Marvel is not mine

The first thing to feel was the bitter coldness; the second thing to see was the looming, eerie darkness that seemed to stretch forever; the third thing to hear was the singing of the wind and the echoes of a thousand sorrows and pains.

Harmony's first breath appeared like smoke from her lips before slowly dissolving into the chilled air. She blinked a few times, only to find herself lying on her side. Mind dazed, she picked herself up, trying to recall anything she might have missed; she had brought herself to the Tower of Shadows and now had just regained consciousness. Had she missed something?

With a sudden jolt of panic, she whipped around, expecting to see Astrid. But the sorceress was nowhere to be seen. On one part it calmed her; on another, it made her more anxious.

Even through her shoes, the stone floor was colder than age old ice against her feet, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she could be in Jotunheim, the realm of the Frost Giants. Movements slow, the girl looked up and around the empty hall she stood in, apparently alone. Within her chest, her heart was already galloping, as if trying to escape her body. It was making her feel sick and dizzy already.

As she carefully examined the room, almost waiting for something to move and jump out of her, Harmony saw the right side of the room was looking out over a wild black sea. The entire hall was an array of grand, dark stone pillars, in the shape of a long rectangle. At the far end, upon a raised platform was a gothic looking, throne-like chair, to the left of which was a stone basin. Harmony found herself intrigued by it.

Suddenly, before she could move anywhere, a roaring wave crashed against the open side of the hall, spraying the tall pillars with freezing water, and Harmony jumped out of her skin with a loud gasp but the sound was mostly masked by the crashing of the wave. Attention now drawn away from the basin by the throne chair, she turned her body and stepped closer to the edge of the hall, looking out over the uncontrollable water. Standing against one of the several pillars for support in fear of losing her footing and falling to her death, Harmony looked down and swallowed her heart.

One slip and she would plummet down over the black jagged rocks and into the lethal whirlpool below. The wind lashed at her harshly, whipping her long curly hair behind her and she automatically narrowed her eyes into slits. Her dark eyes fixed straight down as she tried to work out how far the drop was and if she could survive if thrown. Perhaps even if she could survive the fall, she would then surely drown.

Harmony drew her gaze upwards, now staring out directly ahead. There was Asgard. Unmistakable, but, oh, so far away. She could see Odin's palace standing out like a beacon of light in the surrounding blackness of the night sky…but it had been morning. Harmony was sure of it. Nevertheless, the world was in its phase of darkness.

A bitter tug in her chest nearly pulled her over the edge, and it was only then that she started to think about her decision. Then again, what did it matter? She was here now, in accordance to Astrid's orders. This had to be done alone.

Speaking of which, shouldn't something have happened by now? Other than the constant battle of the wind and waves, all was quiet. No voices, no footsteps, nothing.

And yet she knew she wasn't alone.

Trembling from the inside out, Harmony stepped giddily into the centre of the room again, ears pricked and sharp. She swallowed. The stone that had brought her there was still clutched in her little hand, more than strong enough to withstand her petrified grip. She couldn't stand this wait. If Astrid didn't kill her soon then the suspension probably would. She didn't know if it would be best to remain where she was or to dare to venture the hall herself. Perhaps Astrid was waiting somewhere for her. What if she was supposed to go searching for Hunter?

Just then, upon that thought, the room lit with fire all around the walls of the halls. The torches cast the room in a soft golden glow but somehow it was just as dark and sinister as ever. With a gasp, Harmony automatically spun to face the throne, her eyes expecting to meet Astrid, the picture already set in her mind. Only, Astrid wasn't there.

The figure of a humanoid being hung above the throne, bound brutally by chains to the icy wall, dead to the eyes as it hang limp like a flag without wind to lift it.

Blood cold, Harmony took a tiny step closer. Her eyes uncontrollably filled with tears; her chest ached as the pillars of her heart crumbled and fell. She wanted to break into a sob, however forced herself to stifle it. As her shoulders hitched and her lip trembled, Harmony took another step closer to the throne.

"Hunter."

The morning had gone by far too slowly for Thor's liking, despite the successful meeting of nobles and generals and the light sparring he had engaged in with his friends and fellow warriors. All he could think about was Harmony and how she would be waiting in his chambers like sacred treasure. His hands were tingling with electric energy, urging to touch her again. The feeling spread like a fever all over his body, burning him up from the inside.

Thor suddenly heard footsteps, faster than his own, approaching him and soon they caught up with him. "Brother," Loki said calmly in greeting.

Thor looked at him but said nothing. He was not in the mood for a conversation; he just wanted Harmony.

"On your way to see your slave, no doubt?" Loki asked innocently, his eyes speaking otherwise.

"What concern is it of yours?" Thor asked, with his own voice slightly strained with frustration.

"If you remember correctly, it was I who found her for you. And it was I who freed her from the dungeons so she could warn you about the plan to kill our father. And I was the first to feel the bonding energy between you and the girl." Loki almost stopped before Thor did.

His older sibling looked down at him. His eyes were narrowed and his face contorted, while vague worry flickered in his eyes. He should have known Loki would have come after him about this sooner or later.

"It is very powerful magic, in case you haven't forgotten," Loki continued.

"No, no I have not forgotten," Thor shook his head. Both their voices had lowered; one might think they were exchanging secrets.

"Then you are aware of the potential dangers, not just to the girl," the emerald eyed god muttered. "If Asgard knew of this closeness between you and a mortal slave, who knows what would happen? Father would never allow it. You were lucky it was only I who sensed it this time."

"I am aware of the dangers," Thor said, starting to walk again. He was not in the frame of mind to be speaking of this because in truth, he wasn't sure what to do and could not predict the outcome. He did know that Loki was right.

"Are you willing to risk the girl's soul and sanity as well, brother?" Loki asked, having to lengthen his strides to keep up with Thor. "Mortals have never been able to endure the entire process. It sends them mad, it rips apart their soul. You may attempt one, maybe two but a third would destroy her."

"We do not know that, Loki," the Thunderer said determinedly. "It has not been proven impossible. There is simply something about her that makes me feel it may be able to happen."

"Aye, her soul is strong and pure," Loki nodded, "But it is also wounded and scarred. I do not believe it is worth this risk, alongside the others. Father shall find out sooner or later."

Thor wanted to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening or make himself feel better by denying it for as long as he could. He couldn't bring himself to think of breaking Harmony's little heart.

"Why must you do this with her to begin with?" Loki questioned. "You haven't emitted the energy for centuries. Would it not be wiser to not go through with this, kinder even?"

"We are already connected through the Binding Law. She cannot be taken out of my possession unless I decide. Not even father could break it," Thor said.

"That is my point, brother," Loki persisted. "She is your slave, she is a mortal slave. You could kill her with a kiss or touch and the kingdom would never allow it."

Before the golden haired god could reply, a troubled looking William rounded the corner. He had come from the direction of Thor's chambers, which was odd seeing as he never worked in that part of the palace. "My lord," he cried to Thor, "Harmony is missing I fear. She has not been seen since early this morning."

Thor and Loki stopped dead in their tracks, almost unable to believe their ears.

"Missing?" Loki repeated.

"How did this happen?" Thor asked quietly, voice shaking.

"I do not know, sire," William said. "I have had servants looking for her for the past few hours, but she is nowhere to be found."

"How can that be so?" Loki inquired to no one. "She would not simply flee; there is too much fear and loyalty in her-"

"That does not matter, Loki," Thor snapped. "We must find her. Send out the guards. Search everywhere. Now!"

William flinched at his voice briefly before hurrying away to carry out his orders. The head servant broke into a run once out of the sight of the princes, thinking it would have been almost inappropriate to do so while they were there.

"First the slave boy, and now the girl," Loki muttered to himself. The God of Mischief turned his body to see Thor striding away. "She lied to father," he said as he caught up with the giant god. "When she gave her testimony, she lied; she did know who was behind the attack but whoever it was silenced her."

"How do you know this?" Thor asked sharply without stopping.

"She told me so herself. She was very afraid, so afraid that she'd keep the truth from father. Perhaps she did flee, in fear of whatever or whoever it was," Loki suggested. "However I do not know where she would run to."

Thor was thinking many things, too many things; he only wanted one focus on his mind: finding Harmony. He couldn't bring himself to care why she was gone, only to care about getting her back. If she had fled, he would soothe her of any doubts and fears. If she had been taken, he would tear her captor limb from limb, crush them to a bitter bloody pulp for taking her from him.

"Where are you headed?" Loki asked, unsure of where exactly they were going.

"To Heimdall," Thor told him. "He will know where Harmony is. He will be able to see her."

"Possibly. But if this is the doing of the same culprits as before then they will have no doubt evaded Heimdall's gifts once again," the dark haired god said.

"Maybe," Thor agreed, voice strained. "But we can still try. Come quickly."

Binding herself in ice chains, Harmony refused to let herself cry. She could not break at this moment. This was the one moment she couldn't break. Her neck was so tight. Her knees wobbled beneath her as she wished with every ounce of her being that the sight before her was in some way not real.

Suddenly the hanging boy let out a weak, throaty cough and Harmony's heart leapt beyond relief. Legs reacting without thought, she darted forward to reach him.

The girl did not make it three steps before an invisible hand snatched her in a vice-like grip and threw her like a ragdoll before she could even make a sound. Only when she crashed into the icy stone floor did a cry leave her lips, the green gemstone lost from her grip, flung somewhere across the room and lost. Reactions like lightening, Harmony scrambled onto her knees, finding herself in a shaking crouch. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths as her wide eyes scanned the room.

"I almost didn't expect you to come," a soft, confident voice said from behind her.

Harmony jerked to face the witch, a gasp knocked from her. She instinctively stepped back, creating a bigger distance between them, while Astrid smiled, her eyes dancing with dark mirth. "You were asleep a rather long time. I must admit, it was very tempting to kill you there and then, but where would be the fun in that?"

A sick feeling rose in the mortal's body. All that time, Astrid had been there and she'd had no idea. She been unconscious for most of it!

"But it is only to be expected," Astrid continued, starting to circle Harmony, "Mortals are ever so pathetic. There is only so much your poor bodies can handle." Her eyes flickered to Hunter. Harmony turned her own body slowly so she was always facing the witch but her eyes couldn't stop themselves from landing upon her friend every few seconds or so.

Hunter let out another strained cough, causing Harmony's heart to seize; she couldn't bear every second that she could nothing. "Will you let him go? You've got what you wanted," Harmony managed to squeak, sounding far less brave than she'd hoped.

"Hmm, I suppose that was my bargain," the blonde sighed, feigning sincerity. She snapped her fingers. The chains binding Hunter to the wall were suddenly broken like the threads of a spider web. The boy dropped to the floor with a clatter of loose chains around him. He made no sound, he was too weak.

Without thinking, Harmony bolted. Her adrenaline and desperation made her fast but Astrid was much faster. This time, the Asgardian seized her in a physical grip, yanking harshly at her wild chestnut curls. "No!" she screamed.

Effortlessly, Astrid, with a flick of her wrist, sent the girl hurtling across the hall. She watched with satisfaction as Harmony rolled helplessly until she was brought to a painful half by one of the stone pillars. The impact had bruised her ribcage and stomach. Wincing, the girl clutched her tummy, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

From behind her, Astrid chuckled, smooth and musical. Harmony could only wait, useless and helpless, for the next impending pain.

"You're making this too easy," Astrid brought down her foot on Harmony's hand, shattering every single bone. Harmony screamed again, three times louder and more piercing, so loud that it made Astrid grit her teeth to bear the sound.

She cradled her burning hand to chest, curling into an even tighter ball, not thinking, only feeling pain. Blood already smeared the cold stone floor like thick crimson paint. Using her unbroken hand, Harmony tried to push herself up. Thoughts were returning to her and a plan had already worked itself out: if she could some way find the green gemstone, she could get to Hunter and command it to take them back to Odin's palace where they'd both be safe. However this was far more easily said than done.

"Going somewhere, human?" the sorceress spat. She slipped her foot under the girl's small, weightless body and kicked her effortlessly across to the other side of the hall, the side open to the sea. Luckily for Harmony, a pillar blocked her way, however succeeded in bruising her back as well, and Harmony was sure she heard a crack.

Energy in her drained with every breath Harmony drew in. She was too weak to get up before Astrid reached her in a few long strides, eyes alight with a glorious burning feeling of power. Picking the girl up in a tangle of clothes and hair, Astrid extended her arm, holding the mortal out over the edge of the hall, above the wild thrashing waves and rough, jagged rocks.

Harmony started to hyperventilate, looking down on her certain death. She hardly cared if she was whimpering with fear, whining like a wounded puppy. She didn't care. She didn't want to die. Hope of being saved burned in her heart and through her veins.

The howling wind threw the women's hair behind them and made the tears in Harmony's eyes trickle onto her skin and then freeze on her skin. "Do not think I would let you go so easily," Astrid bellowed out against the wind before tossing Harmony back over her head. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of this."

Harmony knew she was close to breaking, to being thrown down and not being able to get up again. In the back of her mind she was starting to think about giving up; this was all just sport for Astrid and in the end she'd kill her. But then, as if on purpose, her eyes suddenly found the gemstone, peeping back at her. Breathing so deeply it hurt her chest but gave her a little more strength, Harmony pushed all her weight onto her unscathed hand, still cradling her crushed one to her bruised torso, and miraculously managed to stand.

Her eyes assessed the distance between her and Astrid, and the distance between her and the gemstone, and she tried to work out a way to get to it. She had nothing to say to stall the Asgardian, but maybe if they circled Harmony could get to the gemstone. However the girl doubted the meagre strength in her legs. Telling herself to imagine her bones were iron didn't work in the slightest, typically when she needed it most.

Harmony began with a small sidestep, hoping Astrid would follow. The sorceress turned and strolled casually, "I almost pity that no one shall miss you, not even your handsome prince. He'll soon forget you. Everyone will forget you."

The words hurt Harmony almost as much as her injuries, but her eyes stayed focused on picking the right moment to lunge for the stone. As Astrid slowly moved away, leaving an almost clear path, Harmony took a subtle step forwards, inching closer to her way out.

Astrid turned back towards her and Harmony froze entirely. "How long will it take you to learn that you… are nothing? Nothing but a pathetic, weak, spineless little child. You are not worth anything." The woman turned her back and walked away again and Harmony took her chance.

If her opponent had been human, Harmony might have succeeded but Astrid was anything but human. She was Asgardian, stronger, faster, superhuman senses and reflexes and countless more abilities that no human could ever hope to possess.

Placing her weight firmly on one leg, Astrid swung round, her foot striking Harmony dead in the centre of her already bruised chest. Each and every one of Harmony's ribs were broken like stain glass, her lung was punctured and her mind was sent into a frenzy of panic. Her head smashed against the steps leading up to the throne and stone basin, nearly knocking her out. Blood poured from the open wounds in her spinning head. More blood leaked from her chest, soaking her clothes in crimson.

"You were born a slave," Astrid taunted, coming closer, "and you will die a slave."

Harmony thought she heard, she certainly didn't listen though. Her body shook and writhed as if there was no control over her body any longer. Her neck was so tight she could barely breathe. Every inhale and exhale was a battle for survival. The girl whimpered helplessly. Her mind screamed for help while tears of panic and desperation streamed down the sides of her face and mixed with the blood on the floor.

The pain was everywhere.

Laughing maliciously, Astrid took her time as she carefully ascended the stairs, ready to crush the remaining life out of the medalling mortal. She knelt down besides the squirming girl and whispered, "I had a mortal once. And I loved him. But then Odin took him away from me and I swore vengeance for that and for so many other things. I never once thought I'd be in the same position as he, to take away another's mortal; and I never, ever thought that I would do what was done to me all those years ago." Her large hands slowly wrapped around Harmony's elegant, blood covered neck, gentle at first before steadily starting to constrict. "I will enjoy this," Astrid said even more quietly.

"ENOUGH!"

Astrid gasped and looked up.

Out of nowhere, lightning struck her in the heart, propelling her backwards into the wall of her own lair. Her body felt like it was on fire as the stone crumbled around her. From the opposite end of the hall, the God of Thunder, stood, the very image of rage. Knowing she had lost this fight, Astrid began to conjure magic to teleport away… only to find that she couldn't. Something was suppressing her magic to flee.

"You cannot escape!" Thor bellowed, with Loki standing beside him.

Astrid's blood filled with fury and fear. She raised her hands to shoot an attacking spell at the golden haired prince, which he effortlessly dodged using Mjolnir. Before Astrid could make another attempt, Thor had flung his weapon towards her. She leapt out of the way just in time, landing with catlike grace. Leaping again, she practically flew halfway across the room. Thor had to fight the urge to help Harmony at that moment but he was going to destroy Astrid.

Loki leapt himself as Thor charged, and he caught Astrid by her neck and slammed her into the floor, leaving cracks that stretched across the diameter of the hall. Loki withdrew himself, leaving his brother to continue. The smaller god rushed over the Harmony, scanning her body for her injuries, while whispering sweet nothings to her in an attempt to calm her from her state of panic. He was a very powerful sorcerer but he wasn't an expert in the arts of healing. But he was able to cast a spell that helped to numb the pain. He searched for the largest wound in her head and pressed his hand to it to contain the bleeding as he prepared to do what he could to save her life.

Meanwhile, Thor and Astrid were engaged in a fire blazing fight where the only outcome was a death. Astrid had been forced to use up half her energy in creating a blast to make a distance between them. She knew full that if the Thunderer got her in his grip he would snap her like a twig. With a mighty roar of fury, Thor hurled Mjolnir again and, adding to his limitless anger, Astrid evaded the strike. His hammer collided with one of the pillars, bringing it down as easily as if it were a mountain of cards.

Thor dropped Mjolnir with a clunk. With astonishing speed, he reached the fallen pillar and lifted it without strain or effort. Mouth agape, Astrid readied herself to jump out of the way again. Thor threw the pillar like a javelin and it crashed into another, both of them breaking and sending shards of stone raining down across the whole room. Loki was forced to lean over Harmony to shield her from any more harm.

Using her magic, Astrid lifted over a dozen pieces of broken rock of all different sizes and hurled them at Thor, who was advancing on her. They had no impact on him whatsoever. The rock simply crumbled to dust against his armour though she knew the strength was from him. The truth slowly began to dawn upon her: she was as good as helpless against him. The God of Thunder was nearly invincible.

Summoning the last of her strongest magic, she threw spell after spell, hoping to weaken him. Nothing worked. They would hit him, and yet they would not affect him. He just came closer and closer, his face contorted with hatred and rage, teeth bared in a deep growl that came from his chest, his eyes a terrifying icy blue but burning white hot.

Astrid made another attempt to leap out of his reach, all too late. Her bones snapped under Thor's fingers, spilling blood the way she had spilt Harmony's blood. Before she could blink, she had been thrown into the broken pillar. The sharp pointed edge was perfectly directed for receiving her. Shaking, Astrid looked down to see the point of the stone protruding out of her chest, dripping with her blood.

Only half awake, Harmony watched in fear as she saw Thor do those horrifying things. She'd never seen his might displayed in such a brutal way before. She wasn't sure if she even recognised him. That couldn't have been the same Thor who had held her, kissed her, cared so tenderly for her, could it?

"Please," Astrid croaked, "Spare me."

With one last push, Thor broke her spine into little more than shards of bone, his lip curling back in a snarl and he watched with pleasurable satisfaction as the light and life drained from the sorceress, Astrid.

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