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Chapter 13: Caught

Ciara didn't speak at first, caught off guard. She hadn't expected to be spotted so easily. After all, only a few had ever seen through the magic of her relic.

After a tense silence, she slowly got to her feet, pulling the hood down. Frigga's eyes immediately went to her hair, and Ciara almost pulled the hood back up before she looked back at her eyes.

"Ciara Ellis, yes?" Frigga asked, ending the silence.

"You know my name?" Ciara tilted her head, confused.

"My son told me a great deal about you," Frigga nodded. "A...mutant, you call yourself?" she asked, and Ciara nodded. "Who can move at impossible speeds. And somehow accompanied both of my sons back to Asgard," she accused.

"You're the Queen," Ciara realised, moving back against the wall with a wary look. Frigga's smile faded and she watched her careful but sharp movements. She was scared, either by Frigga, or by the whole series of events.

"Frigga," she said gently, trying not to spook the girl who watched her almost like a cornered animal. "You have nothing to fear," she said, and quickly realised that it was the wrong thing to say as a steely look shone in her eyes.

"I'm not scared," Ciara told her. Frigga brought her smile back to her face.

"I apologise," she said, her voice still gentle. "I must ask, how did you come to Asgard?" Frigga asked, curious. Ciara's brow furrowed, and for a moment Frigga wondered if she had said the wrong thing again.

"I dunno," Ciara answered with a frustrated shrug. "Thor and Loki used the Tesseract to come back here, and it sucked me along for the ride," she grumbled, clearly unhappy with the events that had taken place. "Now I'm stuck here," she shrugged again.

"You do not wish to be here?" Frigga asked curiously, fascinated by the mortal who didn't seem to care that she wasn't being respectful to the Queen.

"I'm sure Asgard is a nice place but...it's not..."

"Not your home," Frigga finished for her. Ciara gave a quiet, bitter laugh.

"I don't have a home. But I know that if I do ever find one, it'll be there," she said. Frigga couldn't help but feel sorry for the mortal girl, who was wary and untrusting, and jaded. Realising her expression matched her feelings, Frigga forced herself to smile warmly.

"Let us speak with the Allfather. He may have some wisdom to help return you to your world," she suggested. Ciara watched her carefully. "Or would you rather return to hiding in the shadows, pilfering from our kitchens?" Frigga asked, a gleam of teasing that almost made Ciara smile. Instead, she sighed.

"Okay, I'll go with you," she agreed. Reluctantly, she emerged from the shadows, following Frigga back out of the kitchen. "How did you find me?" Ciara asked suddenly, easily keeping up with Frigga's graceful strides.

"It was not easy," Frigga admitted. Ciara allowed herself some pride for that. "At first, the Allfather enlisted Heimdall's help, but even he was unable to locate you for long. Your speed made it difficult for him to keep up," she explained. Ciara smirked, feeling even more proud that the gatekeeper had trouble finding her. "Only one other has ever truly eluded Heimdall's gaze," Frigga's gaze grew sadder.

"Loki," Ciara realised from her expression. Frigga nodded.

"With that in mind, it occurred that you used a form of magic to keep yourself hidden from his sight. So we needed to locate you in a much more old-fashioned manner," Frigga's smile returned as Ciara's brow arched. "Thor once mentioned your appetite. That you eat far more than most mortals, almost to the point of one of our own," she continued her explanation.

"You figured I'd be in the kitchen based on my appetite?" Ciara was genuinely stunned by Frigga's intelligence. Frigga gave a crafty smile. "Betrayed by my own stomach," she complained under her breath, and Frigga laughed.

Ciara didn't like Odin.

She came to that conclusion within 10 seconds of meeting the Allfather. The way he looked at her, reminded Ciara of so many others who looked down on her as someone not worth their time. So, instead of kneeling and playing a subservient little girl, Ciara remained standing, meeting his gaze with a defiant look. Thor sighed, shaking his head, and Frigga hid her amusement, neither seeming very surprised.

"So," finally Odin spoke, his voice echoing. "The trespasser has deemed us worthy of her attention," he said, a little mocking.

"I was dragged to another world before I even realised, and then a bunch of huge dudes in armour with pointy sticks came at me. I think it was smarter for me to bolt," Ciara bit back.

"And she's disrespectful also," Odin laughed mockingly, shaking his head. Ciara didn't respond, watching him with a bored look. "So, girl, you claim to be unaware of how you came to Asgard?" he asked, getting to the matter at hand.

"Not a clue," she answered.

"And I suppose," Odin continued as Ciara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You do not know of the magic that allowed you to elude Heimdall's gaze?" he asked. His tone was even more mocking, and Ciara was glad that Frigga had already commented on it and rid the element of surprise.

"Same way I hide from everyone else, I guess," Ciara shrugged vaguely, unwilling to give the man any information. She saw his brow furrow very slightly, and smirked. Thor sighed in exasperation, knowing that it was going to go exactly this way.

"You think yourself entertaining. But what is to stop me from simply throwing you in the dungeon and being rid of you entirely?" Odin threatened, which only entertained Ciara more.

"Father," Thor spoke for the first time, his feelings on the threat obvious. He stopped at Odin's raised hand. Even Frigga didn't look very happy.

"Because," Ciara spoke as Odin ignored his son. "I don't want to be here, any more than you want me here," she answered honestly at last, and Loki's words echoed in her mind. "For me, Asgard is my cell," she told him, and Odin watched her with a piercing blue eye. She met his gaze, but sweat beaded on the back of her neck. Despite her attitude, she could feel his power. He was the Allfather for a reason.

"Very well," Odin leaned back after a quiet moment. "I suppose until the Bifrost is repaired, you are indeed trapped here. I will permit you to remain free until then," he decided, and Ciara's brow arched. "But within reason. The moment

I sense the slightest mischief, you will be placed in the dungeon until I see fit," Odin declared, and a bang echoed through the halls as he slammed Gungnir off the marble floor. Ciara didn't know how to react.

"I will show her where she will be staying," Frigga announced suddenly, and everyone looked at her quickly as she approached Ciara.

"Frigga," Odin sounded stern as his wife placed a gentle hand on Ciara's back. She felt Ciara flinch, but neither reacted visibly. Instead, Frigga smiled to Odin, and guided Ciara out of the hall. Odin sighed heavily, leaning back in his throne again as Thor hid his amusement.

Able to take time now that she was no longer being hunted, Ciara admired the palace as she and Frigga walked through the halls. Guards patrolled, making her nervous, but other than bowing respectfully to Frigga, they paid no heed.

"Something tells me that Odin didn't plan on keeping me in the palace," she finally spoke, sounding casual.

"What better way to ensure you don't get up to any mischief?" Frigga asked, smiling, and Ciara laughed. She might not like Odin, but Frigga was another matter entirely. She liked her attitude.

"You have a point," Ciara allowed. "Besides, I've no idea where else he would consider dumping me, other than the dungeons," she considered.

"You will find this a lot more hospitable than a cell," Frigga told her, stopping at a large door. "These will be your quarters. A maid will be with you shortly," she added. The speedster nodded, before frowning as she realised what she had said.

"Maid?" Ciara repeated, but Frigga was already walking away. Shrugging, Ciara pushed open one of the heavy doors, and whistled as she walked into the room. "Damn...this is where they put the trespasser?" she laughed, shutting the door and wandering around. It was huge; bigger than the apartment she'd been living in before going on the run. And far more luxurious than she was ever used to. A massive bed looked incredibly inviting, with the sheets soft and smooth, and Ciara had to resist from diving straight into it. There was a desk in the corner, with a couple of books sitting on it, and on the far side of the room was an entrance to a bathroom, and even a small sitting area.

Ciara cursed again, unable to stop herself from laughing. "If this is to be my cell for now, I guess it could be a hell of a lot worse," she commented, kicking off her long black boots. She stretched, before hearing a knock at the door. It opened, and a young woman wearing a pretty yellow dress. Her blonde hair was tied back in a braid, and she stood a good couple of inches taller than Ciara.

"Ciara...Ellis...yes?" the Asgardian asked.

"Uh. Yeah. You are?" Ciara asked, unable to stop herself from being wary around the beautiful stranger.

"Astrid, my lady. Queen Frigga asked me to be your handmaiden for the time you will be here," Astrid bowed deeply to her.

"Whoa," Ciara immediately raised her hands, alarmed. "That's cool and all but uh, you don't gotta bow at me or call me by a title. That's way too weird," she laughed, and Astrid straightened up. Her dark brown eyes stayed on Ciara as she tried to find the right words, taking in the scrawny Midgardian.

"I apologise. I've never met a mortal before. Nor have I been a personal handmaiden before," she confessed, before her cheeks coloured red. "And I should not speak so casually about that, I ap-"

"Don't worry about it," Ciara cut her off with a laugh. "Look. I'm not royalty. I'm not anyone special. I'm just...Ciara," Ciara gave a shrug.

"I see," Astrid blinked several times. "Well, Ciara, I will draw you a bath and prepare you some fresh clothes," she decided, and walked to the bathroom before Ciara could say another word. The speedster stared in the direction she'd gone, surprised that she'd suddenly taken charge after being so flustered. Though, she was a little grateful. She could definitely go for a long shower. "M-Ciara," Astrid corrected herself when she emerged a short time later. "The bath is ready," she announced, finding Ciara looking at the books on the desk.

"Oh sweet, thanks," Ciara looked up.

"You understand these books?" Astrid asked curiously as she approached. "I did not think you learned the Asgardian runes on Midgard," she confessed.

"We don't," Ciara shook her head, and Astrid furrowed her brow, confused. "But there is something similar on my planet, I learned them out of boredom. I can get the gist of what's being said. This is a fairy-tale, yeah?" she asked, and Astrid nodded.

"You learned another language out of boredom?" Astrid grew even more fascinated, before shaking her head. "Forgive me. Your bath will grow cold if I delay you. I will fetch you some clothes," she decided.

"Oh, Astrid?" Ciara called as the the maid went to the door. "No dresses, please," she requested. Astrid gave her a confused look, before nodding and disappearing out. Ciara went to the bathroom, and cursed once again. "Okay, they are trying way too hard to make this feel better than a prison," she laughed, seeing the huge bath. She pulled off her cloak, setting it aside, before tossing her silver power suit aside as well.

Ciara couldn't stop her delighted moan as she slipped into the hot water; muscles relaxing and her stress melting away. For just a moment, she forgot where she was and enjoyed the warmth and floral smells. She dipped her head under the water, letting her hair soak as well, and leaned against the side, eyes closed.

As she relaxed, she thought about the events of the last few days. It felt like an age had passed since she'd sneaked into SHIELD's base and encountered Loki. She'd watched as those under the control of the sceptre built a new portal. She'd gone to Germany and relived her days as a true menace, proven to SHIELD that she was on Loki's side. She'd been on SHIELD's Helicarrier and been right in the middle of the Chitauri Invasion in New York. "I am exhausted," Ciara declared with a laugh.

"Ciara?" Astrid arrived back in the bathroom, and Ciara sunk lower under the water, but Astrid had keen eyes, and saw the cuts and bruises from the battle, mixed in with scars, old and new. "Forgive my intrusion. I have brought you towels and fresh clothes. Would you like for me to help with your bathing?" she offered.

"No thanks," Ciara sank even further below the water. "I can do it myself," she insisted, blushing at the idea of someone else cleaning her.

"Very well. I will bring your clothes to be cleaned," Astrid lifted the clothes on the ground.

"Not the cloak," Ciara spoke quickly, making Astrid jump at the volume. "It's not dirty," she said, not about to let it out of her sight. Astrid nodded, and bowed before she realised what she was doing. She cleared her throat, and left with the clothes in her arms. When she was gone, Ciara relaxed again with a sigh, before moving over to where the soaps were. Rubbing shampoo into her hair, she scratched her scalp and groaned with pleasure, ridding herself of the sweat she'd built up running around the palace.

Eventually, when the water started to lose its heat, Ciara finally emerged, and lifted the clothes that Astrid had left her. To her relief, Astrid had done as requested and gotten her trousers. They were black, and stretchy, looking almost like leggings, and fit snugly as she pulled them on. She'd also been given a blue tunic, that went on over a grey long sleeved shirt. She left the shirt, instead just pulling on her tunic and admiring the soft material.

With her new shirt and cloak in her arms, Ciara left the bathroom and found herself tempted by the bed, and realised just how tired she really was. Ah lot had happened and she was both mentally and physically exhausted. She tossed her cloak onto the desk, and flung herself onto the bed, bouncing with a laugh. Despite her damp hair, she climbed under the sheets. "Oh man...amazing," Ciara sighed happily as she buried into the pillows. In a matter of minutes, she was fast asleep.

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