Author's Note: I don't own Thor or its characters. All material belongs to Disney and Marvel. I only own Brielle Cassiusdottir and the other OCs that will appear in the story.
"The truth may hurt, but lies and secrets will destroy everything you have worked for in a relationship." – Unknown
Warrior's Heart
Chapter 4: Secrets
Emmy slowly placed rose petals in the warm water in the tub that Brielle bathed in.
"This will help you warm your skin, Your Highness."Emmy remarked."It's a good thing you didn't get a frost bite. Unlike Sir Fandral."
Brielle didn't say anything as she was lost in her thoughts.
Odin had banished Thor.
Not just banished.
He had stripped Thor of his title, he'd stripped him of his power and sent him to Midgard.
Earth.
The realm she wanted to see herself.
She should consider it lucky that Odin at least hadn't stripped Thor of his memories of Asgard as well.
Brielle moved her hands slowly to pour some of the hot water to wash her face.
"Emmy?"Brielle said.
"Yeah?"Emmy asked.
"Do you think there is hope for, Thor?"Brielle questioned sadly as she rest her head against the tub."What he did today was utterly stupid. But now that his banished…"
"Hey, it will be okay."Emmy assured with a gentle smile."If you love Thor, you must have no doubt that he will return and maybe change for the better."
Brielle glanced at Emmy, giving her a fragile smile.
"Thank you, Emmy."Brielle answered."You're a good friend."
Emmy nodded before leaving Brielle by herself to enjoy her bath.
Loki absently looked at his hand while standing behind Sif and the Warriors Three in the Healing Room.
They all looked worse for the wear, battered and bruised and quite shocked about everything that had happened from going to Jotunheim to them.
Word had spread quickly of Thor's banishment throughout Asgard and none felt more guilty than those in that room.
There was a fire roaring in the center of the room, though it was more for a distraction than heat to them, the men and woman sitting there, staring into it with grim expressions.
Hogun and reached into the flames to pull out a small healing stone before he moved over to Fandral and placed the stone on his wound, allowing it to glow.
"How is Brielle holding up?"Fandral asked.
"Silent as a statue."Hogun responded."She wishes to be alone."
"I don't blame her."Sif complemented."Thor was her everything."
Loki shifted slightly at that, not about to say that Thor was never meant for Brielle, but Brielle deserved someone better.
"We should never have let him go."Volstagg commented.
"There was no stopping him."Sif replied while leaning forward to put her head in her hands."Even Brielle couldn't talk him out of it this time."
"At least he's only banished. Not dead."Fandral commented."Which is what we'd all be if that guard hadn't told Odin where we'd gone."
"How did the guard even know?"Volstagg questioned.
"I told him."Loki admitted.
Sif, Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg glanced at Loki in shock.
"What!?"Fandral demanded.
"I told him to go to Odin after we'd left."Loki declared."He should be flogged for taking so long. We should never have reached Jotunheim."
"You told the guard?"Volstagg repeated.
"I saved our lives!"Loki protested."And Thor's. I had no idea Father would banish him for what he did."
Sif stood up from where she sat and walked over to Loki.
"Loki, you must go to the All-Father and convince him to change his mind."Sif insisted.
"And if I do, then what?"Loki scoffed."I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He's arrogant. He's reckless. He's dangerous. Even Bri saw that. You saw how he was today. Is that what Asgard needs from its King?"
Sif and the Warriors Three looked at each other, unable to argue that Loki did have a point.
"I will go check on Brielle."Loki stated."She doesn't mind my company so much when she thinks."
Loki then left the Healing Room.
Hogun frowned as he watched the Prince of Mischief go, feeling like Brielle was not what he was going to check on.
"He may speak of the good of Asgard, but he's always been jealous of Thor."Sif stated."Especially, when Brielle was announced as his betrothed."
"We should at least be grateful to him."Volstagg suggested."He saved our lives."
"Laufey said there were traitors in the House of Odin."Hogun murmured quietly as the others turned to look at him."A master of magic could easily bring three Jotuns into Asgard."
"Loki's always been one for mischief, but you're talking about something else entirely."Fandral commented."It could've been the Enchantress."
"The Enchantress?"Volstagg said with a hint of shock."She was banished from Asgard years ago."
"Amora the Enchantress is an evil and dangerous woman, but she has big admiration for Thor."Hogun clarified."I don't think it was."
"If not the Enchantress, then who?"Sif asked.
"I don't know."Hogun answered and his eyes narrows a bit."But it is indeed someone in the House of Odin…"
Sif and the Warriors Three then all became silent as the only sound heard in the Healing Room was its fire.
Sometime after finishing her bath, Brielle headed off to check the view outside from the balcony in her bed chamber.
Brielle wore a long-sleeved pink and white dress that reaches the ground. There was a sheer white layer of fabric surrounding the dress that is being picked up. A yellow ribbon is tied at the waist and there are gold rings around the wrist and upper arm. On her feet were white sheer pump heels with two tiny pink fairy lilies near the heel of the right foot. Her long dark yellow-blonde hair was styled loose with part of the hair on the sides was braided and tied on the back with a light pink bow. Long strings of small pearls were attached to the braids and can be seen flowing down in between the locks. Around her neck was a silver chain necklace with a pink gem pendant.
Despite the astonishing view of the kingdom, Brielle couldn't help but to continue worry about Thor.
As she was told by her late parents, Midgard was utterly different from Asgard in various ways.
But nevertheless, she hoped her fiancé was in safe hands at this very moment.
A slight frown appeared on Brielle's face as she made her way inside her bed chamber to look around.
There was her bed, her big closet, her pile of books and scrolls from the lessons she took with Queen Frigga.
Nothing seemed out of place.
However, Brielle still felt someone else's presence in her chamber.
Brielle narrowed her eyes as she glanced back behind her, only to see a figure sitting on the balcony.
The figure was an extremely beautiful woman with fair skin, emerald green eyes and long blonde hair which reached down to her waist. She had a voluptuous yet athletic physique with toned broad shoulders, buxom breasts and long legs. She wore a green, skin-tight Asgardian suit which left her shoulders bare and a matching mini skirt. She also wore tight green arm sleeves that went almost up to her shoulders, black tights with green circles on the sides and a green tiara.
It was Amora the Enchantress!
"You weren't even going to say hello first?"Amora asked smugly."It's not exactly the welcome I was expecting."
Brielle ignored her and simply went to sit on her desk to look over her scrolls.
"What does an enchantress have to do to get your attention?"Amora scoffed.
Using magic Amora takes the scroll from Brielle's hand much to her dismay.
"What's the matter?"Amora mocked with a fake sad tone."Has life got you down?"
Brielle glared at Amora and stood up from her seat.
"None of your business."Brielle replied coldly.
"You really don't know who I am, do you?"Amora asked.
"I know exactly who you are."Brielle answered with a bitter tone."You're Amora the Enchantress."
Amora smirked. "Is that all?"
"I'm not that interested."Brielle retorted.
Brielle attempted to leave her chamber, only for Amora to suddenly appear in front of her and wearing a different dress.
Amora wore a long pale purple dress with thin lght blue rope strands circling the chest, bodice, and upper-arm. The sleeves were long and loose with a slit in the center while the skirt was folded over itself.
"Please, allow me to probably introduce myself."Amora declared."As you suspected, I am Amora the Enchantress."
Brielle's glare sharpened upon seeing the Enchantress wearing one of her dresses.
"That's my dress."Brielle scowled.
Amora simply smirked at Brielle.
"I had to take it in a little bit at the hips but it looks better on me, don't you think?"Amora suggested.
"I think, you should never have left the land of the Norns."Brielle answered with a hint of sarcasm.
Brielle looked away, only to see Amora once again in front of her and wearing her attire from before.
"My visit shouldn't surprise you, Puppet Princess."Amora declared with fake admiration."Asgard had always been my home before being banished and Odin's palace is such a place of wonder. Besides, I've already seen everything worth seeing. Your closet. Your scrolls. Your own diary."
"Just how did you come inside the palace under the All-Father's sight?"Amora asked suspiciously.
"I didn't."Amora declared with a smug look.
Brielle's frown deepened.
"Nothing ever escapes the All-Father's sight."Brielle stated."No one's that powerful."
Amora simply smirked at Brielle's declaration.
"Iris really never told you."Amora responded.
Brielle raised an eye at the mention of her late mother.
"Tell me what?"Brielle asked.
The smug look on Amora's face changed into a soft smile.
"The truth about us, Brielle."Amora said gently.
Brielle scoffed and smirked at Amora's reply.
"What are you talking about?"Brielle chuckled and then became suspicious."And, how do you know my mother?"
Amora's smirk grew as she looked at the confused adopted Princess of Asgard.
"Same way you do."Amora responded and leaned closer to whisper in Brielle's ear."I'm your sister."
Brielle's eyes widen in utter shock.
Did the Enchantress say she was her own sister?
"Actually, half-sister."Amora admitted with a unfazed look as she moved away a bit."But, details, details."
"That's not possible."Brielle replied with a hint of anger."You're an evil enchantress that seduces others well versed in magic and learning their secrets."
"And you're just another of Odin's rude yet valuable pawns that still has further use."Amora admitted with a venomous tone."Iris had me first. Before she found her way into the dregs of royalty. Well, you clearly know I'm telling the truth. How else could I have come here without Odin noticing me? Our mother gave me up and didn't care if I got banished from Asgard. But you, you she kept. You she gave everything."
"The only reason you were banished by the All-Father because you began learning magic as an apprentice of Karnilla, Queen of the Norns."Brielle scowled."To be more clearer, Queen Karnilla is known entirely in the Nine Realms as the Empress of Evil."
"And yet she is known to others as the Mistress of Magic, Mistress of Mysticism, Queen of Enchantment or Enchantress Supreme. But then again, so what?"Amora asked with a smirk."Queen Karnilla is still one of the most powerful sorceresses in all the Asgardian dimension and second only to Odin's power. It's thanks to her, I'm the powerful sorceress that I am today. Unlike you, who is just trapped in a grand royal cage and learned magic by Queen Frigga that is suited only for weaklings."
Brielle gives Amora a sharp yet deadly glare.
"At least I use my magic to not harm others for my personal gain!"Brielle snapped angrily.
Amora rolled her eyes, unfazed by Brielle's outburst.
"Anyway, I've studied all the basic arts of Asgardian magic until Queen Karnilla expelled her for being too undisciplined."Amora admitted and glanced at Brielle."What have you been doing recently? Weren't you supposed to prepare yourself to be the next Queen of Asgard?"
"I don't need to tell you something that you already have the answer to."Brielle replied with an annoyed look.
Amora gives Brielle an evil smile.
"Oh yes, of course."Amora chuckled in amusement."The handsome Thor causes an unexpected announcement of war to Jotunheim because three Frost Giants suddenly appeared and ruined his big day."
"And you're not sad about it even though you're one of his strong admirers?"Brielle asked with a hint of disbelief and her eyes widen when a realisation hit her."It was you. You're the one who showed the Frost Giants to the Weapon's Vault! Because of you, Thor is-"
A scoff escaped from Amora's mouth.
"I may be someone with the habit of seducing men, hence gaining the title of Enchantress, but I wasn't never the type for mischief, little sister."Amora replied and frowned in disapproval."Come now. I expected you smarter than this, Brielle. The Frost Giant incident on Thor's coronation was caused by none other than someone in Odin's household, who always lived in his shadow."
Brielle suddenly paled at Amora's reply.
She didn't want to believe it, but the Enchantress' words filled in the missing pieces of the puzzle that is how the Frost Giants were able to get into the Weapons' Vault and who probably showed them the way.
One always hidden in Thor's shadow and less popular than he was.
It was Loki.
No one else fitted this description.
Throughout their childhood and into adolescence, Loki became resentful of how differently he and Thor were treated by the general Asgardian citizenry.
Valuing great strength, tenacity, and battle-bravery above all, the Asgardians clearly favoured Thor. Loki's gifts, however, lay in other areas, most notably sorcery.
As the two grew, Loki became increasingly jealous of Thor's high status, and resented the distance that grew between them as their paths in life diverged.
But it couldn't be him.
"L-Loki showed them the way in?"Brielle said in disbelief and became hurt."No. He couldn't have."
"Are you sure?"Amora asked with an amused look, enjoying how troubled her younger half-sister was."Odin always favoured his only biological son and rightful heir while treating the other son as a lesser being. What do you think the results will be at the end?"
Brielle shook her head.
"You're just messing with me."Brielle retorted."The All-Father is a kind and caring father despite being the King of Asgard. He loves Thor and Loki equally."
A sigh escaped from Amora's mouth.
"Goodness. You still believe that like every other fool here in Asgard?"Amora replied with a frown."Believe it or not, Odin is such a terrible father. He had three children and managed to mess up all, but one of them. He lied and murdered more within his lifetime than anyone ever did, and yet he painted himself as a 'wise and benevolent king' while punishing his own kids for becoming just like him."
An outraged look appeared on Brielle's look.
"What?"Brielle snarled."How dare you judge others when you-"
"I might as well leave now."Amora interrupted with a smirk."Keep enjoying your time in your royal cage and being Asgard's puppet princess, Cassiusdottir."
Amora then disappeared in a cloud of green smoke before Brielle could say anything.
Brielle let out a soft yet irritated groan as she rubbed her forehead, trying to make sense to just what happened to her.
First the Enchantress comes unexpectedly and claims to be the older half-sister she was never told about.
Secondly, the wretched woman then says Loki was the one who let the Frost Giants in to ruin Thor's Coronation as well as other things about the All-Father that weren't even true.
Loki was her friend.
After she calm down, Brielle left her bedchamber to go look for Loki herself and get answers from him.
She needed not just answer, but the truth.
Would Loki tell her though?
He was known as the Prince of Mischief and Lies besides the Trickster.
It would be tricky, but she had to try.
Brielle headed to the Great Library, only to find Emmy clearing up in the room.
"Emmy, have you seen Loki?"Brielle asked.
Emmy shook her head as she placed away a couple of books.
"Sorry, mistress."Emmy apologised.
Suddenly, someone threw the doors open with such force that they banged against the back walls.
Brielle and Emmy turned around to see who came in and saw it was Loki.
"Prince Loki, Princess Brielle was looking for-"Emmy started kindly.
"Get out of here!"Loki snapped in anger.
Emmy became terrified and immediately headed out of the Great Library, leaving Brielle by herself with Loki.
"Loki, what's the matter?"Brielle asked in confusion.
"Did you know?"Loki demanded.
Brielle looked at Loki and saw he was utterly angry about something, but had no clue what it was.
"What?"Brielle said.
"Did you know?!"Loki shouted, making Brielle flinch."Did you know about my true parentage?"
"Loki, what are you talking about?"Brielle questioned."You should at least answer-"
"Bri, I want answers!"Loki growled, stepping forward and forcing Brielle to walk backward and trapping her against the wall."Did you know?!"
"Know what?"Brielle asked with a terrified look.
"My fath, no, Odin had been lying to me this whole time! To all of us!"Loki admitted, his proactive voice mixed with rage."I am not Loki Odinson. I'm a Frost Giant. I am…Laufey's son."
Brielle's eyes widen in shock.
"What?"Brielle said softly.
"During our fight against the Frost Giants in Jotunheim, one of them touched my hand and it turned blue."Loki explained, clutching her hand tighter, unwilling to let go."It turns out Odin didn't only take the Winter's Casket on that day. All this time, I've been living a lie."
Brielle moved her hands to touch Loki's face.
"Loki. That can't be true."Brielle responded with a soft yet strong tone."I grew up with you and Thor. I played with you both. I grew up with you both. You're nothing like Laufey and the other Frost Giants. You're Loki Odinson. A Prince of Asgard and my friend. Nothing can ever change that no matter what."
Loki looked down at Brielle's words in silence before he moved his hands to take hers.
"I care about you a lot, Bri."Loki admitted softly.
Brielle smiled at Loki's words.
"I care about you too, Loki."Brielle remarked."You're one of my best friends."
"No. I mean more than just a friend."Loki stated."You're beautiful, Bri. Your golden hair. Your burning eyes. Your strong yet exquisite personality. You are truly the most unique woman I have ever met."
Brielle's smile shrunk a bet at what Loki just said to her.
Loki moved his hands to Brielle's waist to bring her closer to him.
"I don't think I've ever cared about anyone as I do for you."Loki admitted with a smile.
Brielle looked at Loki in the eyes.
She saw there was rage, hurt, fear and betrayal.
Now there was also desperation and hope because he just revealed to her that he cared about her more than just a friend.
"Loki, I-I don't know what to say…"Brielle started with an unsure look.
Loki just smirked slightly as his hand to caress Brielle's cheek.
"Say you feel the same and I'll be happy."Loki insisted.
Then without warning, Loki planted his lips onto hers.
Brielle's eyes widen in pure shock, too stunned to do anything.
It was a fierce yet passionate kiss.
Despite her unexpected surprise, Brielle felt losing herself and began moving her hands to Loki's shoulders to deepen their kiss.
Loki smirked at this as he moved his hands to her bare shoulders to then plant a kiss on her neck, making her whimper a bit at his touch.
However, that's when she remembered something.
The memory of when she and Thor speaking in the garden and nearly kiss came rushing back to her.
She was Thor's bride.
Not Loki's.
"No! I can't!"Brielle thought in shock."I'm betraying Thor!"
SLAP!
Brielle then slapped Loki across the face causing him to yelp in pain as he leapt back and releasing her.
Instead of being angry, Loki just smirked smugly upon being slapped by the woman he loved.
"I guess that was too much."Loki complemented, rubbing his slapped cheek.
"Loki, have you lost your mind?!"Brielle snapped and pointed at him aggressively."I'm engaged to your brother!"
A scoff escaped from Loki's mouth.
"And the mere idea of that makes me more angry than you can even imagine, Bri."Loki replied bluntly."You clearly told me you have no desire to marry Thor. You should be-"
"Making my own decisions."Brielle interrupted.
"No, Bri. You should be mine."Loki responded in a stern tone."Thor or any other man doesn't deserve you. It s catastrophically unfair that not only does he get the throne of Asgard handed to him, but also-"
"Stop it!"Brielle demanded in anger, interrupting Loki."I see. This isn't about me, or...or us at all! Regardless, your issues with Thor, with the throne, with this...this jealousy you have! Kindly remove me from it! I'm not a prized possession for you or anyone to use for their own pleasure!"
Brielle moved past Loki and left the Great Library as the Prince of Mischief watched her go in silence.
Oh dear…
See you all in the next chapter!