Gwen stood to the right of Loki. His hands were shackled. They stood beside Thor and Jane Foster. Gwen was in her armor; It had been cleaned and polished after the battle. She had a war skirt on. She would have preferred a dress but her actions during the battle with the dark elves and the aftermath of the dungeon escape had cemented her as a warrior in the eyes of the Asgardians. Her days of being considered just a human child to the citizens of Asgard were over. The entirety of the population of Asgard were gathered for the funeral of Queen Frigga and the rest of the fallen.

As Queen Frigga's funerary boat passed Gwen put her hand on Loki's shoulder. Frigga looked every bit the warrior queen even in death. A flaming arrow was launched, and her boat burst into flames. Then more were launched igniting the rest of the fallen. Odin slammed his staff down and as the boats passed the horizon and fell into space the bodies became stardust and floated up into the void. Then glowing blue orbs were released and floated up and up. Then one by one the mourners turned away and walked back to the city. When it was their turn Gwen and two guards walked Loki down to his cell. They released his bindings. Before he went back into the cell Gwen put her hand on his cheek. He touched it with his own hand.

"I am sorry, Loki. If I had known… if I had known she was in danger I would have rushed to her side."

Loki released her hand and stepped back into his cell. The barrier shimmered into existence and the guards left the pair alone.

"If you had, the Kursed would have killed you. Even when you were not limited by your morals and ethics you were no match for him. She would have wanted you as far away from her as possible."

Gwen turned and leaned against the barrier and slid down it. She looked at the dungeon. It had been cleared of the dead and the blood was gone. Loki joined her so they were back-to-back. They sat there in silence. Gwen did not know what to say and Loki was still lost in his grief. Even so they were content to be silent together. Both looked up when they heard footsteps. Fandral came around the corner and looked at Gwen.

"Gwen, your presence is requested at the war council."

Gwen blinked a few times.

"Why?"

Fandral shrugged.

"The king says, I do. Come along."

Gwen looked back at Loki.

"I'll be back as quickly as I can be."

Loki nodded to her. She followed Fandral through the palace. It was still in shambles. It had only been a few days since the battle. Hardly enough time to repair the extensive damage. Odin, Thor, and the other Warrior's three were looking at a hologram of Asgard. Fandral hurried up the steps it appeared it was his part of the briefing.

"We have not been able to repair the shield. Our gunners cannot see the ship, they could be floating up there right now. We are vulnerable to attack."

Odin waved his hand shutting the hologram down.

"Are the Einherjar prepared?"

Volstagg stepped up.

"As prepared as they can be."

Hogun spoke up.

"The bifrost has been locked down."

Thor was pacing back and forth.

"Father we should be taking Jane Foster to the dark world. Malekith is intent on getting the Aether. He will return and many will die. If we take her to the dark world, we can lure him out, when he removes the Aether from her it will be vulnerable. We will destroy it."

Thor closed his fist. Odin didn't seem to be in agreement based on his expression.

"And if you fail? The conjunction is at hand. With the power of the Aether he could cast all the realms into darkness. No, we will keep her here."

Thor threw up his hands. Gwen stood back and said nothing. She still wasn't sure why she was here. Odin's gaze fell upon her finally.

"Gwen Stacy, Champion of the Nine Realms, step forward."

Gwen stepped closer. She was still confused. She was still a fifteen-year-old girl regardless of what the Asgardians thought.

"You have proven yourself in battle many times over. You will join the warriors three and Thor at the vanguard of our defense."

Thor stepped between Gwen and Odin.

"Father, she is a child. We should be sending her home. If we fail and Malekith gets the Aether, that is where he will make is attack on the realms. She can warn them."

Odin frowned.

"Her return to Midgard is quite impossible with the bifrost shut down. Even if it was not, her place is here now. She earned it."

Gwen blinked a few times, the dark elves attacking Earth, without a warning they would not stand a chance. So soon after the attack by Loki and the Chitauri. She spoke up.

"All-father, if we fail Earth will be the last line of defense. I have to go home and warn them what could be coming."

Odin waved his hand dismissively.

"You will incite a panic, and for what? An attack that will never come? We will stop them here. We were unprepared last time."

Thor grabbed his father's arm and spun him around, so they were facing each other.

"At what cost father? Look around you."

Odin smashed his staff into the ground.

"Every last Asgardian if need be."

Thor shook his head.

"And how does that make you different then Malekith?"

Odin stood up straighter.

"I will win."

Odin looked at everyone in turn.

"You have your duties. Dismissed."

Thor did not look happy with the outcome. Gwen wasn't really ready to argue with Odin, not a few days after his wife died. Communicating with her own father after her mother's death even over a year later was fraught with pitfalls. She spoke quietly to Thor.

"He's grieving for your mother."

Thor nodded.

"I know, but he is a king, he is not allowed time for grieving he has his people to consider. Nor is he allowed to put his lust for vengeance before their safety."

Gwen glanced up at him.

"And you putting Jane's life above the safety of the rest of the Nine Realms is any better?"

Thor continued walking on without responding. Gwen gave up and went back down to Loki's cell. She was over it at this point. She could not get home. Even if she could, she did, she felt ill at the thought of facing her father again. She leaned on the barrier with her forehead again. Loki spoke.

"What did my father want?"

Gwen didn't open her eyes before speaking.

"Just to update us on the status of Asgard's defenses. No shield. No way to see their cloaked ship. Basically, Asgard is like Germany at the end of World War Two with a leader too blinded by arrogance to see the end coming."

"My father is being himself and he no longer has my mother to temper him."

Gwen sighed.

"The bifrost is closed and I have no way to warn Earth. Malekith is going to get the Aether and he is going to go there. They won't even see it coming."

Loki moved closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear it.

"Hope is not lost to you, my future Queen."

A group of Einherjar walked by and Loki lapsed into silence. Gwen looked up at him. They continued speaking when the patrol passed.

"There is another way?"

Loki nodded.

"If the time comes, I will tell you of it. We are not there yet."

Gwen leaned back on the barrier and slid down it.

"I am so tired Loki."

He leaned against the barrier behind her.

"Then sleep."

Gwen's breathing became rhythmic, and Loki left her alone. A few hours later Thor appeared. He looked at Gwen's sleeping form. Then to Loki. Loki didn't hold back. Thor hadn't even spoken to him at their mother's funeral.

"Have you come to gloat dear brother? Mock me?"

Thor frowned.

"No."

"Well in your absence from my cell you certainly weren't protecting our mother."

Thor's eyes narrowed.

"Neither were you!"

Loki punched the barrier.

"I was in this cell."

Thor glared at him.

"You put yourself there with your actions!"

Gwen stirred in her sleep. Loki glanced at her and moved away. He lowered his voice.

"What do you want, why are you here?"

Thor moved away from Gwen and spoke in low tones.

"Our father is mad with grief. He is blinded by it."

"And that matters to me how? You're here because you need something, and you must be truly desperate if you're asking me for help."

Thor pointed at Gwen.

"Do you care for that human?"

Loki waved his hand dismissively. Thor shook his head.

"If you do then you will help me. Father intends Gwen to be on the front line of the defense of Asgard. Her actions in the dungeon, during the battle with dark elves, and most importantly she can wield a weapon that is death to them have made him think she could make a difference. She is a child."

"You have my attention brother, what do you need?"

"I offer you vengeance. Malekith seeks the Aether. I say we take it to him. When he extracts it from Jane, we destroy it, then him. I need you to help us escape Asgard. You know the secret paths. Then you return to this cell."

Loki glanced at Gwen.

"Only if you help her escape Asgard as well. She will need access to the burial chamber of Fenris and the berserkers. Something only, you and father can grant."

Thor looked disgusted by the thought.

"Dark things roam the halls beneath the burial chamber. Beyond her kin."

"You have my cost. Pay it and I shall help you."

Thor looked at Gwen.

"You mean to kill her?"

Loki shook his head.

"She is in no danger from what lingers in the catacombs. She faced the Kursed warrior and not only survived but managed to draw its blood. Wake her please."

Thor looked like he disagreed, but he kneeled down beside Gwen and shook her gently.

"Gwen wake."

Gwen blinked a few times. It took her a couple of moments to recognize her surroundings.

"Thor, is there any attack?"

He shook his head.

"My brother bid me wake you. I will let you speak with him in private."

Gwen stood up and looked at Loki.

"What is going on?"

"You are going home. Listen to my instructions carefully…"

Loki related the path she should take through the burial chamber past Fenris into the catacombs below. He assisted her in building out a map on her holo-phone. Thor returned and lowered the barrier. Gwen looked between the brothers.

"What are you doing Loki?"

Loki touched her cheek with his palm.

"Paying the price for your freedom, my future queen. May I borrow your necklace?"

Gwen stepped back from him.

"Loki, your father was merciful, if he finds out you escaped… he might have you executed. You're going with him to help with Malekith, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Gwen clenched her fists.

"I told you what vengeance costs and you're still doing it?"

Loki held out his hand.

"Your necklace please to remind me what I have left to lose."

Gwen reached back and unclasped her necklace balled it up in her palm and slapped it down in his.

"You better give it back to me."

"I will. Now go with Thor while I prepare for our journey. Follow the path and you will get home."

He winked at her.

"See you soon."

Thor led Gwen to a piece of wall which he touched with his palm. It slid open and a set of stairs led downwards into darkness. Thor motioned towards it and offered Gwen a pack with the belongings she had collected in her time on Asgard.

"You can still choose to ignore Loki's foolishness. There are dangers beneath our feet that not even the All-Father is willing to face. These paths are forbidden for a reason."

She looked up at Thor.

"Thank you for your concern. I trust Loki."

Thor frowned.

"Your trust is misplaced."

"He is not as lost as you think. See you around."