Prologue

King Antonius hurriedly jumped off his horse before he helped Queen Virginia down.

They had ridden the whole night, desperate to reach the mountain before their pursuers could do them harm.

Two armed knights came out of the shadows and stationed themselves at the entrance of the mountain. They nodded at their King as he and his lover passed through it.

They, along with the rest of SHIELD, Antonius' personal army, would take care of Killian's soldiers when the Fire King comes.

Inside the mountain, they were met by a man, his skin dark and his voice strangely deep... As deep as the mountain's legs on the Earth.

"Your Majesties," he rumbled, "the Ancient One is expecting you."

Virginia shivered. It wasn't from the cool night air but rather from the thick, palpable power that came from simply saying the Ancient One's name.

The man turned, beckoning them to follow him.

Virginia hesitated.

Antonius squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's alright. She shall help us."

Virginia nodded despite her trepidation.

It was her lover's idea to go to the mountains and seek help for no amount of SHIELD knights or weapons that Antonius invented could keep her mad husband from reclaiming her. She wondered how far Killian's army was, if Killian was with them... She shuddered at the thought of seeing him again and she held on to Antonius for comfort.

On they went through the passage that seemed to stretch forever, winding further and further up the mountain. Occasionally, Virginia swore she saw blinking eyes on the walls. She supposed they were to be expected. People from all over came to the Ancient One with all manners of requests. It was only logical for her to have servants watching the entrance and passageways, reporting who had come.

Finally they came to a vast space where lit candles floated above them, providing them with ample light. The power was even stronger here, Virginia could taste it in her tongue.

A bald woman stood waiting, hands clasped behind her back, chin high. Symbols were drawn on her scalp and she wore the same robes the dark skinned man did. Her skin was even darker than the man's, almost as dark as the walls of the mountain. They said the Ancient One was born in the mountain, born of it, in fact; she was as old as the rock they stood on and was just as strong. And yet... She did not look a day older than the virgins presented at Odin's temple, young and bright.

Despite outranking the Ancient One, Antonius bowed and Virginia followed. It was a sign of respect for someone as old as she.

When they rose, the Ancient One spoke, her voice melodious and clear.

"You cannot hide her here, son of Oward," said the Ancient One. "You of all people should know the consequences of stealing from the King of Aimes. Killian will burn the mountain to the ground to get his Queen back."

It was as Virginia feared. No one would help them. None were willing to brave her husband, not when Killian bore Extremis in his heart. It didn't matter that she was kept prisoner in her own palace, that she was queen only in name, that Antonius rescued her, not stolen her.

"I'm not asking you to hide her here."

"Then why—" the Ancient One's lips curled as she caught on. "You want to hide her in Time."

Virginia looked at Antonius. "You did not tell me—"

"It is the only way."

"'Tis true," stated the Ancient One, beginning to walk around them in a circle. "Time has hidden people before. Prisoners mostly, sentenced to atone for their crimes, away from the city. Far, far away."

Virginia turned to Antonius who spoke, "Until I find a way to destroy him, I cannot protect both you and my kingdom. If you hide in Time, Killian will have no quarrel with my people and you will be safe."

"You are not coming with me," Virginia realized.

Antonius cupped her cheek. "No, my love. But you shall return when it is safe."

"Time cannot be undone, Antonius," declared the Ancient One. "If Time agrees to provide Virginia refuge, she shall stay there until her soul joins her fathers."

That was not acceptable. Antonius did not fight his way out of Aimes only to be separated from Virginia.

"If she cannot return to me, then I shall come to her."

The Ancient One knowingly smiled and Antonius felt as if he had sold his soul by uttering those words.

He kissed Virginia's temple and whispered, "I would rather you were safe there than here where Killian would shackle you in the worst of chains."

Virginia remembered what it was like being Killian's wife, how he used her to bear Extremis' children who were in turn reared to be soldiers in his army, how she could not speak or be spoken to. If Antonius had not come to Aimes on a diplomatic visit, she would no doubt continue to be kept prisoner. She would return to that life if Killian captured her again.

"I will do it," she said to the Ancient One but kept her eyes on Antonius. "If Time will have me."

"There is a price."

"Anything you ask," said Antonius. Gold was no issue, neither were land or weapons.

"Very well."

The Ancient One waved her fingers in complicated swishes and flicks and then something appeared from thin air, glowing green and hovering between her pointer finger and thumb.

Virginia could not tear her eyes away from sight.

"Time shall have you, Virginia, and Time shall keep you until you are reunited with your love."

Knowing she only had a few moments left, Virginia forced herself to look away from Time.

She pressed her forehead to Antonius'. "I'm sorry it has come to this."

Antonius shook his head. "You are worth more than what he made you to be."

Time glowed stronger and Virginia pressed her lips to her lover's, desperate to have this one last moment with him for who knows when they shall be reunited.

Time's glow reached Virginia who could no longer look away, who was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

When Antonius blinked, Queen Virginia was gone.

"Is she safe?"

"He will not find her here. But I must warn you, the King of Aimes has powerful sages. He shall turn to them once he knows of what Time has done."

"She's safe for now."

"As for your payment—"

"How much gold do you need?"

"I live in a mountain, Antonius, what need have I of trinkets? Nay, it is not I who demands a price but Time. She will have you."

"Me?"

"You belong to her now. She shall decide when your soul will be released to your fathers. You will live out your life and will be reborn over and over until Time has no further use of you, until you and Virginia will meet again."

Antonius squared his shoulders. If he could not die, then he might have a shot at destroying the Fire King. He had an infinite lifetime to do so. But he needed to know one thing.

"Will I remember her when I am reborn?"

"You will remember everything."

...

When Antonius emerged from the mountain, Killian was there. A sizeable number of SHIELD knights lay sprawled around him. Dead.

Only three remained. Chief of his guard Jarvis was among them.

"The Ancient One cannot protect her for long," Killian said, Extremis glowing red underneath his skin.

"No," Antonius agreed, "But Time can."

"Time?" sneered Killian and then he chuckled. "You hid her in Time. Away from the both of us." He sighed. "I will have to be content with killing just you then."

In two quick strides, Killian had his hand through Antonius chest. Antonius hadn't even felt it, could not have reacted to defend himself.

"That is for stealing what is mine."

Antonius choked. He heard Jarvis cry out.

Killian pulled out Antonius' heart and Extremis burned it in his palm.

Afterwards, he turned to Jarvis and said, "Take your king back to Pointe Dume and let your court know what is to come should they cross the King of Aimes."

Jarvis glared at him until Killian and his soldiers left.

Then he fell on his knees next to Antonius' body.

"I have failed you, my lord!" Jarvis wept, the blood from his King continuing to drain out of the place where his heart used to sit.

It was how the Ancient One found him and his two men, weeping.

"I suggest we bring the King inside to rest, my lords, lest you fail him a second time," she said.

"Rest?" asked a grief-laden knight. "Our King is dead, witch, and even you with all your power cannot bring him back."

"Of course not. I am merely a vessel. I have no power. But your King has struck a bargain with Time. He will be reborn in the morning and he needs a bed to wake up to, not a pool of his own blood."

Jarvis, puzzled, exchanged looks with his men. The Ancient one was known to speak in riddles.

"Tomorrow, we will bring my sire's body back to the palace. His cousin shall succeed him."

"I should hope so," said the witch. "For a babe could hardly rule."

The three SHIELD Knights lifted their King's body and carried him into the mountain.

They laid the dead king on a slab of stone.

When the sun rose, King Antonius' body was gone. In its place was a newborn babe.