What Happens In Asgard

Chapter Sixteen

The procession from the citadel back to the Bifrost portal was considerably more sombre than the arrival parade. It seemed to have sunk in to the Asgardians that they were losing both their princes- one in disgrace, and one as a champion to another realm they knew little of.

Odin rode at the front of the procession on his extraordinary eight-legged horse Sleipnir, the sight of which had given all the mortal pause, and caused Steve's mouth to drop open.

"Does that... does that horse really have eight legs? Am I seeing things?" he whispered when Odin had first ridden out of the royal stables.

"Eight legged horse? Where?" Tony asked, pretending nothing was amiss. Steve was just about to point at Sleipner, when he realised Tony was teasing him. He huffed. "I suppose you own two or three back home."

"I own horses, sure, but eight-legged ones? That's way too many feet to keep track of" Tony said casually.

Thor and Frigga rode behind Odin, and between them was Loki. Thor had spent a private morning with his parents, and as a family they collected Loki from his prison.

Loki looked pained and tired, and he was shacked at the wrists and had to be helped up onto his mount. Despite the discomfort from Clint's arrow from the previous day, he still managed to look more at ease riding than Steve or Bruce. They had been provided with the two most placid horses in all of Asgard, and they plodded along towards the rear of the group.

Clint, Natasha, Tony and even Fury looked calm and confident astride their fine mounts. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three made up the rest of the retinue.

Children cheered as Thor passed them, and Thor received the attention modestly, smiling and nodding to them.

The adults look sad or concerned, though some smiled kindly at the out-worlders. Some looked at Loki with pity or open dislike, and then their eyes widened at the sight of his sewn mouth. Some continued to stare, some looked away with shame in their eyes.

Loki pointedly ignored them. Instead he looked up at the city as they passed through it, and out to the mountains and sea. He knew it might be the very last time he looked upon the place where he'd grown up; his home.

He could not keep the sadness off his face. Thor saw his expression and understood, and it made his heart heavy. He knew there was nothing he could say that would put his brother at ease.

They arrived at the Bifrost portal, where Heimdall was keeping his watch as always.

"So you take the traitor Loki with you to Midgard" he affirmed.

"That's the plan" Tony told him.

"I will turn my eye on him whenever I can, for though he is bound by Asgardian and Dvergar magic, he is still not to be trusted."

Loki's eye narrowed at the gatekeeper. Heimdall studied Loki impassively.

"You are in safe hands, Loki, Son of Laufey. Remember it" Heimdall told him.

The group entered the chamber, and began saying their goodbyes.

Bruce was slapped on the back and subjected to much forearm gripping by The Warriors Three, who had appointed him their unofficial Fourth Warrior.

"I hope one day to fight alongside you" Hogun told him. Fandral and Volstagg nodded enthusiastically.

Bruce was about to say that he sincerely hoped they'd never have to meet in battle, but change his mind. "It would be glorious" he told them.

Clint, Natasha and Fury made polite goodbyes to Odin and Frigga. "You have our sympathies, and our thanks" Odin told them.

Fandrall, who had barely said two words to Natasha the entire time she was there, was suddenly before her, bowing and kissing her knuckles. "Fair lady, I hope we meet again" he told her.

She looked openly baffled and tried to not roll her eyes.

"Fair lady" Clint muttered, teasing her "Clearly he's never tried to take a punch from you."

Frigga pulled Tony to her and kissed him on each cheek. "You have my thanks," she murmured. "Please take care of my sons."

Tony broke protocol and pulled her into his arms, hugging her hard. "You know I'll try."

She chuckled and hugged him right back. Next to them, Odin raised an eyebrow.

"Aw, please don't smite me" Tony said to him.

Thor grinned and shook his head, and Loki simply looked baffled.

Frigga broke off from the hug, and moved to her eldest son.

The rest of the group suddenly became fascinated by the interior design of the Bifrost portal, and moved away to allow the family their last goodbyes.

"Do not weep, Mother" Thor murmured, allowing himself to be pulled into a desperate hug. "We shall soon meet again."

Frigga managed a brave smile. She stepped back, one arm still around Thor's waist, and summoned Loki to her. Hesitantly he went to her, and she drew him to her with her free arm. She hugged both her sons, and they leaned in, pressing their foreheads to hers.

"Please behave yourselves. Heimdall will be watching you, and he will be reporting back to me" she said firmly.

Thor grudgingly agreed, and Loki grunted.

"I will miss you both so desperately" she admitting, her voice wavering. Thor hugged her again, extra tight, and then stepped back.

Frigga folded Loki into her embrace and just held him. She could feel him trembling slightly. He rested his head on her shoulder.

"You will be safe" she whispered to him. "You will suffer in some ways, but you will be cared for by good people. Let them guide you. Do not be provoked into anger,or violence; I know you are better than that, Loki. Find your way back to us."

She felt him nod as she pressed a kiss to his cheek and let him go.

Odin stepped forward and clasped his eldest son's forearms.

"Be well. Remember your duties" Odin told him. "You will learn much on Midgard, but what you retain of the experience is your choice."

Thor nodded. Odin stepped over to Loki. He held a hand over Loki's shackles and uttered an incantation. The shackles sprang open, and Odin removed them.

Odin reached out and took Loki's forearms. "I would give you the same advice as I just gave your brother. But I would also ask you to remember that you were found once by a loving family: it can be so again, but it is up to you..."

Loki looked warily at Odin, and then gave him a curt nod.

Odin sighed inwardly, knowing that was the best he could expect.

Odin stepped up to the platform and inserted Gungnir into the device. The chamber began to spin faster and faster, and the effect was dizzying. Frigga and Odin stepped back, and the Avengers and Fury, plus one, stood ready.

"Go safely, Avengers. And remember that you always have friends in Asgard" Odin called.

The bright white channel of energy built and focused, something like electricity seemed to crackle around and through them, the whirring noise built to a crescendo, and they were embraced by the rainbow light again.

This time the sensation was like controlled falling, slow motion, blinding and beautiful. With a sound like a whip-crack they were deposited firmly back on red, patterned earth in the middle of nowhere.

They were all disoriented for several moments. The horizon stretched on forever around them, and the sky was twilight, but none of them knew if it was dawn or dusk.

They looked around at each other as they recovered, checking that they had all arrived and in one piece. Slowly, they all turned to look at Loki.

The thread from his mouth seemed to have vanished.

Loki reached up and experimentally touched his mouth. He grimaced with discomfort, but was able to open it slightly. He gingerly touched his lips, opening his mouth more with a slight wince, and seemed smugly surprised.

"Brother, are you well?" Thor asked.

Loki turned, and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He flinched and looked puzzled for a second, and then tried to speak again, only to remain silent. He frowned and sighed.

Bruce moved over to him. "Open up."

Loki looked like he wanted to disagree, but slowly opened his mouth. Bruce reached up to hold Loki's chin, and Loki swayed backwards, a mix of suspicion and princely offence on his face. Bruce fixed him with such an authoritative look that he quickly relented, leaning forward again. Bruce steadied Loki's chin, and Loki opened his mouth so that the doctor could see inside.

"Wider" Bruce ordered.

Loki gaped at him hissing with some discomfort, and Bruce peered inside.

"Say Ah" Bruce asked.

"Ahh" Loki managed, the sound issuing from far back in his throat. He looked surprised.

"Everything looks fine in there. Say Tay Tee Taa Toe Too" Bruce instructed.

A scowl flicked across Loki's face, and then tried to repeat the sounds. His mouth formed the words, but once again no sound came out.

"Well. It looks like Eir's suspicions were correct. You should be able to use your mouth for eating and drinking, but you're probably almost completely mute. I can run some more tests once we get back to the lab" Bruce offered.

Loki tried to speak again, caught himself, and broke off, frustrated.

"We'll have to get you a slate and some chalk" Natasha drawled. Loki glared at her.

"So now what?" Steve asked, looking around them. The sky was slowly getting lighter, it was dawn, and they all wondered how long they'd been away.

"Cavalry's on it's way to pick us up and take us back to the airport" Fury told them.

"Be good to get home" Tony sighed.

"Yeah... but there's just the small matter of what the hell we're going to do with Loki" Clint said flatly. "We never actually discussed it."

"His presence stay between us. We're all clear on that, right?" Fury said darkly.

"What happens in Asgard is supposed to stay in Asgard," Natasha muttered, eyeing Loki. "Fail."

"We'll come up with a back story for him. He'll have to go through an orientation program for living on Earth, Thor, too. As to what we'll do then... I'm open to suggestions" Fury told them.

Thor nodded.

"Looks like our ride's here" Tony said. In the distance clouds of dust were being kicked up by several approaching cars.

While everyone watched the approaching vehicles, Natasha turned and walked casually towards Loki, checking him hard with her shoulder as she passed. He made a quiet oof as he doubled over. She stopped next to him.

"You better play nice, Loki. All it takes is one word to the World Security Council, and you go into a hole and never come out. Are we clear?" she said in a dangerously low voice.

Loki had straightened up again. He met her eyes and just smirked.

… … … …

Frigga watched them depart, and her eyes were dry. She stood in silence for a moment as the Bifrost device slowed. Odin stepped up to the platform and retrieved Gugnir, and then returned to her side.

Silently, she followed her husband from the Bifrost portal. An attendant held her horse's bridle so she could mount for the ride back to the palace.

"I wish to walk" she said lightly.

Odin studied her. "Then I shall walk also. Unless you prefer solitude?"

Frigga shook her head no.

The attendant nodded, and led both horses away.

Lady Sif and the Warriors Three bowed deeply to their king and queen.

"You have once again proved yourselves good and reliable friends" Odin noted. He and Frigga bowed, dismissing their company.

Odin reached out his hand, and Frigga took it. Hand in hand they walked much of the way back in silence. Finally Odin turned to his wife.

"You see the futures of all men... and you are bound to never speak of what you see..." he began.

Frigga nodded.

"Yet... can you tell me any of what you have seen for our sons?" Odin asked casually, unable to hide the hope in his voice from his wife.

Frigga sighed gently. "Loki's future is clouded, I cannot see it clearly. But from what I can see of it...I have seen trouble."

Odin closed his eyes, sighed and nodded slowly. "I fear trouble will follow Loki wherever he goes."

Frigga shook her head. "The trouble is not Loki's alone, and he may not been the cause. I see trouble for them all. But also... I see adventure. And love. And sacrifice..."

The End...

… … … …

Author's notes: So many gorgeous reviews. So many times favoured. SO many readers!Thank you to everyone who read, and an especially big thank you to everyone who took a minute to leave feedback. Even when you didn't especially like where I was going, you were all still constructive and respectful. I appreciate it so deeply. As you know, I never make any money from this sort of thing, so feedback really makes it worthwhile.

Now... I set up a lot of different ideas, and I certainly will be continuing Loki's mute adventures on Midgard! (How's that for a title? LOL!) At this stage I don't know what I'll create, but I doubt it will be another big series like this; probably more like a mini-series or two, some stand-alones and a bunch of drabbles, all interconnecting. I'm about to go in to hospital for a few days, so hopefully I'll be able to get started once I'm back home and recovering. Please follow me on Twitter Bombshell1701, I'll be able to keep you apprised of what I'm up to!

Thanks again so much for sticking with me. This is probably the most ambitious series I've done, and I enjoyed presenting it to you.

Bibliography

I grew up reading a lot of the mythology, but these were my go-to books for fact-checking:

*Oxford World's Classics edition of The Poetic Edda, translation by Carolyne Larrington.

*Penguin Classics edition of The Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson, translation by Jesse Byock.

*Norse Mythology by John Lindow.