A/N: Hello, dear reader, I'm glad you picked this fiction to read. I'm following Movie-verse Thor, with a little original legends mix in. There are no great changes to the plot. This story will tell Thor from a different angle, some scenes you didn't see, and some you did, but shown in a different light. And who provides this new insight? A snarky shieldmaiden with flighty tendencies, a penchant for fire and a sneaky streak a mile wide. Without further ado, I give you the trial chapter of 'The Orbit of an Icy Sun'.

The whole of Asgard was full of life, reams of material snaking between servants, warriors carrying whole deer on their shoulders, even an ox or fifty were seen being bought to the kitchen. Every surface shined that bit brighter and the cellars of the place were overflowing with mead and wine. Every inn was full and still more travelers arrived. Amongst them, farmers, Lords, Ladies and blacksmiths alike, all chatting together and helping one another. No one could slack when the kingdom was preparing for so grand a celebration.

But in the palace gardens, the stables and the training grounds, everything was much the same. Any preparations here had been done months in advance, the place looking more beautiful than any mortal would believe possible. The standard of detail was the same in every crevice of the citadel, in preparation for the coronation of Thor. The only exception being the central training ground. That was ever changing with every practise and even the Allfather himself couldn't keep up with the mess created by the sparing that occurred in that small, confined arena.

At that moment, a huge line of earth was gouged out of the tightly packed dirt, ending in a pile a few feet across. In the mound, a slightly smoking, groaning lump was moving. Dust filled the air, mingling with the smoke, making it hard to see just what was going on. The air was as thick with dust as it was silence. The familiar sounds of clashing steel, the singing of cut air and yells of friendly fury had all halted. Every eye turned, anticipation clutching each thumping heart.

The lump rose, groaning still. It began to unfold like flower petals, slowly, with a peculiar grace. It moved stiffly, despite the delicacies of grace, into the shape of a warrior. The mud that caked the figure started to crumble, falling off the now obvious, but somewhat dulled, shine of armour. Clods remaining in the long hair that was pulled tightly back, the reddish earth wedged tightly in between the plates and joins of the armour. The previously unmarred armour now had a slight dent and significant blackening to the chest plate.

On the far side of the dirt arena, a few feet from the start of the trail, a proud figure stood with arms crossed, weight shifted to his back foot and a single eyebrow raised. This was a rapid shift from the shocked position mere seconds early; hands by his sides, trembling, eyes wide with fear, flitting between his fallen opponent and his audience behind him, rocking and unsure. Should he dart forward, running to the aid of his opponent, or fall back for fear of admonishment at his over-zealous and unrestrained attack?
Neither was necessary as the dirtied warrior shook herself down, wincing slightly at the shift of buckled steel over bruised muscle and cracked bone. What might have been a cough sounded like a wheezing bellows, the sound forced over cracked lips and fell slowly and heavy in the still silent arena. A series of short, barking coughs followed in rapid-fire, shoulders shaking as more mud rained down around her. The coughing merged into a rough laughter as forgiving blue eyes met fearful green. A slight nod of her head, accompanied by a playful smile, comforted the proud warrior; he fought well and had defeated her, yet she was free of lingering harm.

The wind picked up, and her hair whipped over her shoulder tickling her face. The laughter carried across the ring and all at once the four warriors that had acted as spectators to their fight rushed forward. Jabbering and jostling to reach her, they laughed merrily, all previous panic forgotten, while her opponent held back, wary in spite of her happy mood.

Volstagg spoke first; his great gut still swaying, though his frame had halted several seconds earlier. "Well matched and well met! I'll warrant a flagon of ale is needed after such a spectacle! I know an ale-house in the lower town that has the most wondrous pork-belly, an old maid that ensures your cup never runs dry and th-"

Fandral cut in, having hesitated in coming over and arrived slightly breathless. "I thought you'd finally thought it fit to visit Hela! What a shame it would have been to lose one of the finest shieldmaiden in the Nine Reale-OW! Sif, I-One of the finest, one!"

Sif had approached more gracefully, with as much presence as any other, and had taken to beating Fandral round the head in a light-hearted, yet heavy-handed, manner at his second remark. She interjected her heated opinion with a backward glance to the still figure left behind in the dust. "Indeed, I thought perhaps Loki had finally done away with you."

Hogan had arrived with Fandral, but had maintained his usual silence. However an unusual half smile rested on his face, and stood from stooping and with a slight bow handed her the fallen wrist guard. The leather had snapped from the pull of dirt she has been forced through. A simple "My Lady." exited the mouth of the solemn man, and meant the realm times over to her.

Thor had stood chuckling deeply from his chest through this all, and reached forwards to brush the remaining larger clumps of mud from the woman stood before him. "I think we have all, Loki himself included, underestimated the force of this particular trick of Loki's. Indeed I believe he had done the impossible and rendered himself speechless! Where is your silver-tongue now?" Thor had turned to call back to Loki, but found himself talking to an empty space.

The others turned, seeing Thor's puzzlement, and in those brief seconds a heavy heat fell on the shoulder of the dusty warrior. "I am truly sorry." a voice whispered. She knew not to turn, not to react or draw attention to his…was it his presence? No, to his projection of voice. She was well-versed in his seemingly unfathomable behaviour. "I had not tried that spell before and you are the only person I believed strong enough to withstand the potential power, and whom I trusted to test it upon." She snorted at this. Trusted? Trusted enough to not tell her what he was planning. He picked up on this, his projection reacting accordingly. "I did not think it would be half as powerful as it was." Well, that was something. The burn was fading, her cheek feeling pink and a voice that she knew the others could hear came from behind Volstagg's great mass.

"It is evident that it is not my tongue you should worry about, Thor. You are a little slower today, Lady Imera, are you not? I did not think I would hit you, but I see you've paid the price for your weaknesses. Perhaps another round tomorrow?" The ever impish voice of Loki seemed to originate from Volstagg's stomach but his horned helmet came into sight, as ever, before he did. His helmet, along with his armour dissolved in the familiar shimmer of magic, and he leaned jauntily against the crudely fashioned fence that penned in the grounds.

Imera, the warrior woman, chuckled. She knew she would suffer in the coming days, but she would be no worse for wear in the long run. This was not the first time one of the pair had miscalculated their power, or tried out a new spell. Though Imera usually warned Loki beforehand. Usually. While he gave the impression of nonchalance, she knew he was fretting about her reaction. His initial hesitation and the fact that he had projected his voice to her alone meant he was unsure. Even now she glanced at his face and caught him staring at her, at the damaged chest plate, scanning her body for any marred skin. When he realised she was looking at him he dropped his eye too fast for the action to be dismissed. His forehead was creased ever-so-slightly and the bones in his fingers pressed a little tighter, skin a little whiter.

The other warriors were not so observant and took offence on her behalf at his teasing words. Volstagg huffed, Hogan and Fandral stiffening, shifting to shield her slightly. Thor spoke up first.

"Come now brother, Imera is a great warrior and-"

"And you could have killed her!" The fiery Sif moved forward, gesticulating wildly. "You talk and talk, yet all you do is tricks! I would fight you here and now without your magic and kill you where you stand! Choose your weapon and fight, or else I shall-"

"Peace, Sif!" Lady Imera spoke up, quiet and rasping, before coughing hard, stopping Sif in her tracks. Imera bent double, lurching headfirst towards the ground.

Everyone moved to catch her, but a flash of green and black wove between them all, long fingers grasped her upper arm firmly, arm pressed across her chest while the other hand ghosted over her back, rubbing comfort into her tense shoulders. Kneeling beside her, he had moved without thought and now felt the burn of curious eyes upon his back.
Loki's hand moved purposefully from her back once her breathing had eased and he helped her to her feet, allowing her to lean on him a while. He fixed his face into a neutral position, reeling in any apparent signs of concern. Let them make of that what they will, he thought, a spike of spite jolting through him as his eye flickered to the glaring Lady Sif who stood, still defensive.

"I think Loki may be right," Imera said. "I am best to continue tomorrow, after some rest. I wish you would enjoy the rest of the fine weather today." Imera pushed off gently from Loki's side and turned to walk away slowly.

"You will visit the healing bay, Imera? I wouldn't wish you to suffer any more than necessary. And I will bid the Royal Blacksmith to repair your armour this afternoon." Thor called after her, his sunny disposition slipping under the weight of his concern.

Imera turn to face the mis-matched band, walking backwards all the while. "I'm not so frail as you believe, Thor. In case your memory fails you, I have some impressive skills in healing." Her left eyebrow wrinkled up, the right arching down. The barely hidden smirk that stole onto Loki's face and the flush that claimed victory over Thor's suggested a story hidden in that comment, but the friends did well not to ask. "And I thank you, but are you sure the Blacksmith has workings with Elven armour? I have not travelled to Alfheim for a while and I have yet to collect a debt from a metal-worker there, I am sure he would be more than happy to help."

Volstagg spoke in Thor's stead, as Thor struggle to fight the pinkness in his tanned cheeks. "You would do well to visit Alfheim. I'm sure your blood sings for the lands. 'Tis a place that I do so love, the mead is like nothing you have ever tasted, light yet strong, though they drink it more sparingly than I. I might chance it to say that is why they are so svelte, much like yourself, little half-elf!"

"Not so little as to be beaten by the likes of you, Volstagg! She turned away, lightness in her voice. "My agility and skills make up for more than what I may lack of my adversary's muscle," Imera paused in her walking, throwing an assessing eye over her shoulder at him, catching his eye with a glint of playfulness in her own. "Or mass, as the case may be…Come with, if you will, to Alfheim. No? I shall acquire a barrel of mead for you in my travels. I wish you happy sparring and I shall take my leave."
Imera turned finally, shoulders slumping with weariness, dragging herself on. She took note of her posture, and straightened. Looking about, she made a decision, and walked onward through the grounds, toward the central gardens.

A/N: So what did you think? I'd love to continue this, but I won't publish it here if there isn't the audience for it. Just let me know what your view is, what you like/dislike/would change. Please no nonconstructive (is that a word?) hate, but if you spot any mistakes please tell me. My grammar (I believe) is terrible and my spelling has been described as "a bit 'Winnie the Pooh'." I didn't bother getting a beta just for a trial chapter, but might look for one if people wish for me to continue.

Many thanks for reading and please review!