"What do you mean?" asked Sigyn.

Loki grinned. "I mean we're on a special kind of quest," he said. Sigyn raised her eyebrows, as did Sif.

"We aren't trying to slay a dragon or find a magic cauldron or anything like that," he elaborated, "we're on a quest to help Thor."

Sigyn brightened. "Oh, I can certainly help with that!" she chirped. "What about you, Sif?" she asked.

Sif nodded. "I'll do anything to help my friends," she answered with a determined tone. Loki glanced over at Thor, who looked rather pale. "It's going to be fine," he assured him quietly, "they won't judge you."

Thor took a deep breath and nodded. "We should go back home," he said at last, "Mother and Father aren't there, it will be more private."

The small questing party agreed, and they set off for home again.

Once they arrived, they gathered in the sitting room, and Loki returned with Frigga's sweets, stolen off the top cupboard, which he now no longer needed to climb to reach.

"So," began Sif, swiping a biscuit from the jar, "how can we help?"

"Well," Loki started cautiously, "we were mainly looking for Sigyn's help-," he was cut off by Thor elbowing him in the side.

"But it's possible you could help as well," finished Thor, "after all, out of everyone here, you've known me the longest."

"Nice save," chortled Sigyn as she grabbed a biscuit.

Loki rubbed his side and glared at Thor. "Why don't you just tell them why we need their help," he said bitterly.

Thor repeated his story to Sigyn and Sif, who listened and nodded understandingly. "Well," said Thor when he had finished, "what do you think?"

"Well," Sif began slowly, "your story does explain some things." Thor knitted his brows. "It does?" he asked. Sif nodded.

"Yes," she replied, "I've noticed when the lot of us need to read something, you finish long after the rest of us. I thought perhaps there was something wrong with your eyes, but I thought it would be rude to mention."

Thor nodded slowly, and Sif continued. "Then there's the matter of your writing. Some of it's all backwards or jumbled together. Again, I thought it would be rude to mention. Your story does explain it, though," she said, "and I really don't believe you're stupid, you're far too brilliant."

Thor perked up like an excited dog. "You really think so?" he asked. Sif nodded.

"Yes," she said, "remember that time you figured out how to open that secret passageway that led us to the palace vault?''

Thor blushed slightly and lowered his head. ''It really wasn't that hard…,'' his voice trailed off.

''Not that hard!?'' exclaimed Loki. ''I couldn't even solve that and you all make me out to be the smart one!''

"Loki is right," Sif explained to Sigyn, who had not accompanied them on this particular adventure, "as soon as we came across the enchanted lock, we let Loki have a go at it. It was nearly two hours before Thor decided to try it, and he solved it right away!"

"I wouldn't call it 'right away'," said Thor modestly.

"It was much faster than I could have done it," replied Loki.

"So," said Sif at last, "where do we begin?"

Sigyn spoke up. "I believe our first step should be researching all possible disorders that this could be. We can start with this book," she picked up the large volume Loki had given her, "and then we'll move on to the books in the library." Her companions all nodded in agreement.

"If we go to the library right now," suggested Sif, "Loki and I could get our own books, and with the three of us looking we'll be much more effective."

Again, the other children nodded. Loki stood up. "We should get going, then," he decided. With that, the group set off for the library.

Thor followed his companions to the library, though he didn't know what good he would do since he read so slowly. When they reached the library, Sigyn and Loki shot off towards the back of the room. Thor and Sif hurried after them, as they didn't know their way around nearly as well as their counterparts. Loki and Sigyn were in their element and knew exactly where to find the sort of books they would need. The group reached the back of the library and found a towering shelf labeled Sicknesses and Healing.

First, the questing party examined the titles of the books on the lowest shelves. They found two promising volumes, one titled "Common Maladies of the Eyes and Their Remedies," the other, "Common Mental Afflictions and Their Treatments." The first they chose because Sif had thought something was wrong with Thor's eyes, the second because Thor was worried something was wrong with his brain.

"Do you really think it will be in either of these?" Thor asked.

Loki shrugged. "We won't know until we look," he replied, "there has to be close to a hundred books that might have something to do with you. We have to start somewhere, it might as well be here."

"I agree with Loki," Sigyn said quietly, "it may take a while, but we will find a solution, I'm sure of it."

"Even if we don't," Sif piped up, "you can always count on us to aid you."

It was then that Thor thought he felt tears prickling at his eyes, but he quickly rid himself of them.

"I am the luckiest person in all the Nine to have you as my friends," he said to Sif and Sigyn. "And you as my brother," he said to Loki.

His companions smiled, and Loki clapped him on the back, just as Thor would do to him. "Enough sentiments," he said with a grin, "get going, or they'll think we're here to cause trouble."

Thor returned his brother's smile and the small questing party made their way back home.

Over the next two weeks, Loki, Sigyn, and Sif poured over their books, searching for anything that sounded similar to Thor's problem. Much to their disappointment, nothing turned up.

"This took us two weeks, who knows how long the next books will take," said Sif. "I say we call for more help," she decided.

"We are not telling my parents until we figure out what this is," said Thor with a slightly panicked tone, as if he feared she had already told them.

"I'm not talking about them," said Sif, "I'm talking about Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogunn"

Thor sat up a bit. "Yes, you're right," he said. "Why didn't we think of this sooner? After all, Volstagg is older than any of us, he may have already heard of this! And Hogunn likes reading anyway, since it doesn't involve people, and Fandral would probably be willing to help all the same."

At this, Loki sighed. "Hogunn is visiting his family in Vanaheim, remember?" he asked.

"Oh," said Sif in a slightly defeated tone, "well at least we can call on Volstagg and Fandral."

Sigyn shook her head. "Volstagg told me he would be gone to the Northern Mountains to take his officer training exam."

Sif gave a little huff. "Please tell me we at least have Fandral," she said to no one in particular.

Thor pursed his lips and then spoke up. "Actually," he said slowly, "I seem to remember him telling me his father was taking him on a hunting trip on the Southern Plains."

Thor, Loki, and Sif slumped in their seats, but Sigyn remained undefeated. 'I know it seems hopeless, but we can't give up,' she said. 'Besides, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogunn will be back soon. We just need to keep going.'

Sif sighed. 'Sigyn, I love you as if you were my own sister, but sometimes you're just too perky.'

Sigyn smiled and blushed, then suggested they all get back to work.

They went on researching like this for several weeks. When Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogunn returned they gladly joined the quest. Meanwhile, Loki used his free time to help his brother with schoolwork. To return the favor, Thor helped Loki with his sparring. Frigga and Odin were pleased with their sons' improvements. Despite all this, the little questing party was in low spirits. They still could not find Thor's problem in any book.

They lay sprawled out on cushions and chairs in the back of the library one night, exhausted from research.

'Have you considered we might need more help?' asked Loki, eyes threatening to droop shut.

'We already have everyone we know,' groaned Thor, gradually sliding out of his chair like a great blond slug.

'No,' said Loki, 'I mean do you think we should ask Mother?'

Thor's eyes widened, and he stopped his slow descent to the floor.

'I thought the whole point of this was to avoid telling Mother and Father,' he replied as heaved himself back into the chair.

'I think we've reached the point where we're beyond the help of those in this party,' Sif remarked dully. 'They're your parents, they've got to understand.'

Thor's eyes darted to the floor. 'I'm worried they'll think something's wrong with me…that they'll think less of me,' he said.

'I think at this point you just have to put your trust in them,' offered Sigyn.

In the end, Thor decided he had no choice but to tell his parents. He thanked his friends and bade them good night, and he and Loki made their way home. Thor drew a shuddering breath as they stood outside the doors to the house. He felt Loki put his arm around his shoulders and squeeze.

'I'll stay with you,' he said.

'Thank you.'

They found their parents in the sitting room. Odin was reading some scroll, no doubt with some sort of political accords on it, and Frigga was reading a book of poems. Thor gulped as he slowly made his way towards them.

'M-mother, F-father,' he said shakily, 'I need…I need to talk to you.'

Frigga sat up in her seat. 'Of course, Thor, anything you need.'

Thor looked over to Odin, who gave him a nod. Slowly, Thor began his story.

'When I try to read things, they don't look like they should,' he said, 'they're sort of…mixed up. That's why I take so long to read things, that's why I'm so bad at schoolwork. The only reason I've been doing well lately is because Loki's been helping me.'

Odin and Frigga listened intently. When he was finished, they both looked at him, and then at each other.

'I am glad you told us this, Thor,' said Frigga, 'you were right to ask for help.'

Odin nodded. 'Yes,' he said, 'and Loki, it was very noble of you to help your brother. I have seen Thor helping you in the practice arena. It would seem you have learned that you are strongest when you work together.'

'We'll work with the healers to see what we can do for you,' Frigga assured him. 'Until they find a solution, I suggest you come to us for help.'

'So,' said Thor slowly, 'you don't think anything is wrong with me?'

Frigga and Odin shook their heads.

'No, Thor,' said Frigga, 'we think you are a little different, but that is all. Now, I think you two should get to bed.'

Thor stopped holding his breath. His knees shook for a second, then he nodded and followed Loki upstairs. Everything was going to be fine.