Chapter 14: An Interrupted Coronation
Months had passed on Earth and Tony was still no closer to finding Brigid since the day he lost her. Tony was nearly losing his mind. He played back the phone call, ran holograms and still he could not determine Brigid's whereabouts. The emotional toll drove him to a haggard appearance with a scraggly beard and he would not eat. It did not escape Pepper that Tony's mental state was in decline since Brigid disappeared. Although she loved Brigid, she saw the toll it was taking on Tony and she was worried.
"Tony, how long are you gonna do this to yourself?" Pepper asked as she watched Tony go over the evidence again and again.
"Well, it's been months so you tell me," Tony replied, at a loss for answers.
Pepper shook her head. "Tony, you gotta stop doing this to yourself."
"Stop what? Looking for my daughter?" Tony questioned with a sideways look at Pepper. "Is this your first day?"
Pepper shook frustration. "Tony, this is madness! It's been months. If you haven't found Brigid now, you're never going to."
Tony gave her a sour look. "So what? I give up on her? You know I can't."
Pepper sighed. "I'm talking about accepting what is. It's been months and we haven't found her. I think it's time to accept it. I know you don't want to, but there's no point in pretending. Brigid's dead, Tony."
"If she were dead, then we would have at least found a body," Tony countered. "I don't care how long it takes, I'm not giving up on her. And then there's Brigid's cell phone. She took it so I could track her."
"And why haven't you found her then if you can track her?" Pepper asked, her brow wrinkling.
"It's not that I can't, but her location is blocked by some kind of disturbance and all my toys can't get past it," Tony explained. "But she's out there somewhere and whoever has her doesn't want to be found."
"Why would they not want you to find her?" Pepper asked. "That doesn't make sense."
"Hopefully, it's because they know what parents do to people who steal their children," Tony said vengefully.
"You really think whoever took Brigid is afraid of you?" Pepper asked, skeptical.
"If he's smart, he'd be shitting himself. I would be," Tony replied.
Brigid made her way down to the treasure room, Loki's magic aiding in her mission. Veiled in smoke, she made her way to a hidden gateway where she was greeted by a towering blue giant with glowing red eyes.
Brigid did not tremble but it would not be a lie to say she was intimidated by the creature before her. "You must be the Frost Giant friends I've heard of. I am a mutual friend of yours. The Casket you seek is down the stairs under the throne room."
The Frost Giant glared at her. "Why should we trust you? Why would you lead us to betray Asgard?"
"Let's just say we have a mutual dislike for Odin and want to see him get his comeuppance," Brigid said with a smirk.
"If you deceive us, I will snap you in two," the frost giant growled.
"Agreed," Brigid acknowledged. "Now, go find your treasure."
Brigid smiled confidently as the Frost Giants scowled at her as they made their way to the throne room.
Lumbering idiots, Brigid thought. I don't remember them being this dumb but it suits me.
"Another!"
Thor slammed his goblet into the fire as he strutted into the anterior chamber, followed by Loki, in his golden armor with his horned helmet upon his head. It had taken many years but today was finally Thor's day of triumph. Loki could not lie and pretend he was not jealous but he was still proud of his brother as they stood in the chamber.
"Nervous, brother?" Loki asked, with a sly smile.
Thor laughed heartily. "Have you ever known me to be nervous?"
Loki wrinkled his brow. "There was that time in Nornheim."
"That was not nerves, brother," Thor argued. "That was the rage of battle."
"Ah, I see," Loki acknowledged.
"How else could I have fought my way through 100 warriors and pulled us out alive?" Thor questioned.
Loki frowned, as he remembered it differently. "Uh, as I recall, I was the one who veiled us in smoke to ease our escape."
Thor chuckled as if enjoying their old battles. "Yes! Some do battle, others just do tricks."
A servant entered the chamber with a second goblet of wine and offered it to Thor with a bow. Loki waved his hand and the servant screamed and dropped the goblet as two skinny blue snakes slithered from the cup on the floor. Loki could not help himself but laugh at his prank, but Thor frowned.
"Loki!" he scolded, "Now that was just a waste of good wine."
"Oh it's all in good fun," Loki whispered as he waved his hand and the snakes disappeared.
A second servant appeared and bowed before Thor, offering him his silver winged helmet.
"Ooh, nice feathers," Loki teased.
"You're not really going to start that again, are you, cow?" Thor snapped back with a crooked grin.
"I was being sincere!" Loki snapped.
"You are incapable of sincerity!" Thor laughed.
"Am I?" Loki questioned.
"Yes!" Thor replied.
Loki smiled warmly at his brother. "I've looked forward to this day as long as you have. You're my brother and my friend. Sometimes I'm envious, but never doubt that I love you."
Thor lovingly clasped his brother's neck, as he appreciated his brother's sentiment. "Thank you."
Loki leaned in with a smile. "Now give us a kiss!"
Thor pulled away in mock disgust, unable to contain his laughter. "Stop it!"
The doors opened, and the two brothers knew the moment had come.
"It's time," Loki said, knowing what this moment meant to his brother. "Go on, I'll be along."
Thor donned his helmet and proudly entered the great hall. As he did, Brigid approached Loki, who smiled at her. "I trust you received our guests?"
"Indeed I did," Brigid replied. "What happens now?"
"Now we let the Frost Giants play their part, and my brother will do the rest for us," Loki whispered.
"You are certain after this I won't have to marry that murdering oaf?" Brigid asked dubiously.
"If all goes well, my father may send you back to Midgard a free woman before he marries you to such a fool," Loki replied.
"Good," Brigid replied, growing more excited by the moment. "Then let's not keep everyone waiting. Shall we?"
"You seem eager to humiliate my brother," Loki said, amused.
"Well I get to humiliate my parents' murderer and go home? Of course I'm eager!" Brigid said enthusiastically.
Loki chuckled heartily before offering his hand. "Well, as long as we agree. Come, Lady Brigid."
Loki led Brigid out before the cheering crowd as they bowed before Odin and took their place at his side. The crowd roared as Thor entered the chamber, and he relished their admiration. Thor knelt and removed his helmet before Odin, who pounded his staff, Gugnir.
"Thor Odinson, my heir, my first born," Odin boomed. "So long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mijolnir, forged from the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal as a weapon or a tool to build. It is a fit companion for the king. I have defended Asgard since the beginning of time and now it is time that my son continue my legacy. Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"
"I swear," Thor replied.
"And do you swear to preserve the peace?" Odin asked.
"I swear," Thor promised.
"Do you swear to protect the innocent and cast aside all selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of the Nine Realms?" Odin asked.
"I swear!" Thor declared loudly, raising Mjolnir high.
"Then on this day, I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you…"
Odin stopped speaking, and there was a troubled look in his eyes.
"The Frost Giants," he whispered before pounding Gugnir.
Without hesitation, Odin raced down to the vaults, followed by his sons and Brigid. The depths of the vault were left coated in ice and there were bodies of Asgardian soldiers and Jotun scattered on the floor. Odin observed the cryptic scene calmly as he inspected a large glowing cube. Thor was furious as he observed the scene.
"The Jotuns must pay for what they've done!" Thor said vengefully.
"They have paid with their lives,"Odin countered calmly. "The Destroyer did its work, the Casket is safe, all is well."
"All is well?" Thor questioned, incredulous. "They broke into the weapons vault. If the Jotuns had stolen one of these relics-"
"But they didn't," Odin interrupted.
"Well I want to know why!" Thor argued.
"I have a truce with Laufey, King of the Jotuns," Odin replied.
"He just broke your truce!" Thor snapped. "They know we are vulnerable."
Odin calmly turned to his son. "What action would you take?"
"March into Jotunheim as you did. Teach them a lesson. Break their spirits so they'll never dare try to cross our borders again," Thor replied.
"You're thinking only as a warrior," Odin declared.
"This was an act of war!" Thor snapped.
"It was the actions of a few, doomed to fail," Odin countered.
"Look how far they got!" Thor shouted.
"We will find the breach in our defenses and we'll be safe," Odin reasoned.
"As King of Asgard-" Thor began.
"But you're not king!" Odin snapped, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Not yet."
As his brother and father argued, Loki's eyes darted back and forth, relishing every moment. Odin left the chamber and Thor stormed off, rage plain for all to see.
Alone in the chamber, Loki smiled proudly at Brigid. "You played your part well. Well done!"
Brigid smiled and bowed. "Why thank you, my prince. So, what now? We wait until your mad big brother throws a tantrum and does something foolish?"
"Indeed," Loki agreed. "We have done our part, and my brother will do the rest for us."
Brigid giggled. "Did you see the look on his face when your father told him he's not king? He looked like a child whose toy had been snatched away!"
Loki chuckled. "Truly, my brother does not know about not getting his way."
Brigid observed the large glowing box on the pedestal. "So what's the magical box there and why did the Jotuns want it so bad?"
"It's the Casket of Ancient Winters," Loki explained. "My father took it from Jotunheim the day he defeated them. It contains the source of Jotunheim's power."
"We have those on Earth. We just call them freezers," Brigid said with a half smile.
Loki chuckled. "You Midgardians are a wonder."
"You forgot I'm not Midgardian. I'm a Norn, hence why we're in this," Brigid replied. "Have you met many Midgard-Norns?"
"None at all," Loki answered. "But upon meeting you, I fear what becomes of me should I incur the wrath of one."
Brigid blushed. "Good. And if your brother has any sense about him, he'll run before I cut his pretty balls off for killing my parents."
"Now, now, Brigid, let's have none of that," Loki soothed her. "My brother is a fool, but I don't wish him maimed just humiliated, if that is enough for you."
"Good enough," Brigid shrugged. "So what now?"
Loki and Brigid were interrupted by a loud roar from overhead.
"That'd be my brother throwing a tantrum," Loki said.
"Well damn," Brigid commented. "Let's not miss a minute of it!"
Brigid excitedly ran upstairs to the main hall, while Loki followed, with a smile as he observed his new accomplice's enthusiasm and knew all too well what would follow.